Meet our judges for 2025

Having spent over 15 years working in wine retail, boutique and multi-national wine-making businesses here and abroad, John moved back to his hometown of Ballarat in Western Victoria to team up with his wine-loving in-laws, the Mitchells, to create Mitchell Harris Wines. 

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In 2013, Mitchell Harris Wines opened its urban cellar door, wine bar, and event space in the heart of Ballarat, where it quickly became an award-winning beacon for wine and food-loving locals and visitors to the region. 

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With the experience of 8 years working at Yarra Valley icon Domaine Chandon and its sister companies within the Moet Hennessy group, John specialises in crafting cool-climate sparkling and table wine from Central and Western Victorian wine-growing regions. 

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Having consulted to the Vinesmith winemaking team for a few years, John joined the crew for the 2024 harvest and, in July that year, signed on as Senior Winemaker, helping to manage the Blue Pyrenees Estate and Glenlofty Estate range of wines. 

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John has been an active wine show judge for nearly 20 years, having judged at many regional and capital city wine shows.

A former Pharmacist, Geoff saw the opportunity to transfer his skills to the wine industry and began studying winemaking at the University of Adelaide in 2002. He successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) (Oenology) in 2004, along the way collecting the Brokenwood Wines Prize (top second year student) and a University Medal for outstanding academic achievement.

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Having completed the 2004 vintage at Brokenwood Wines in the Hunter Valley, Geoff joined the Brown Family Wine Group as winemaker ahead of the 2005 vintage.

Geoff is responsible for a portfolio of red, white, sparkling and fortified wines at a range of price points including the Innocent Bystander brand from the Yarra Valley. He is particularly interested in the development of new varieties and wine styles, something for which the Brown Family Wine Group is rightly famous.

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Geoff has judged at numerous wine shows including Rutherglen, Swan Hill, Cairns, The Australian Small Winemakers Show, the Australian Cool Climate wine show and the National Cool Climate Wine Show.

Bio to come

​Jess Clark has worked as a winemaker at Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley for the past six years. She is currently helping her family business, Dexter wines, here on the Mornington Peninsula. 

Jess has been actively involved in the wine show circuit both front and back of house stewarding and judging since graduating her Masters of Oenology at Adelaide University and University of California Davis. Jess's specialty and passion is cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Since finishing her studies, Jess has followed this passion around the world working in the Mornington Peninsula, King Valley, Adelaide Hills, Rhine, Burgundy, Rhone, Alsace, Napa Valley and British Columbia both in Winemaking and as a Sommelier. 

Originally from the Champagne region, Romi has built his career around a deep passion for wine, with a particular focus on cool climate winemaking. He has worked in various wine regions across Europe, Australia and Japan, exploring organic and regenerative farming practices, and learning from a new generation of growers. Particularly interested in terroir expression, he is currently based in the Macedon Ranges, where he works as the winemaker at Curly Flat Vineyard, producing cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

He holds WSET Level 2 and 3, and took part in 2024 in the Advanced Wine Assessment Course (AWAC) at the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide, further developing his tasting and wine evaluation skills.

Judging at ICCWS is an opportunity for him to keep learning from others and contribute to a shared appreciation of wine

Chris Bendle was raised on Melbourne’s eastern fringe on the edge of the Yarra Valley and a chance opportunity to work vintage led to career and study change. His new found passion for wine led him to hands-on roles in Tasmania, New Zealand, and Oregon before joining Hoddles Creek Estate where he has been making wine for 15 years. He has a particular passion for cool climate varieties, mainly focussed on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Balancing his role at Hoddles Creek with his own label, Chris continues to craft wines that resonate with both critics and consumers, embodying the evolving spirit of the Yarra Valley wine scene.

Judging at the International Cool Climate Wine Show allows him to continue learning from fellow industry professionals while contributing to a collective appreciation of wine, an experience that reflects his collaborative approach and commitment to thoughtful winemaking, both in the vineyard and the cellar.

Bio to come

Victoria is the Winemaker at Oakridge Wines in the Yarra Valley, with a career built on a deep-rooted passion for fine wine and winemaking. Raised on a vineyard in the Clare Valley, Victoria’s early exposure to her family’s vineyard and wine production inspired her path in the industry.

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She has gained hands-on experience through vintages in a number of regions around Australia, as well as the Napa Valley, and New Zealand. Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology from the University of Adelaide.

Victoria continues to refine her craft in the Yarra Valley, focusing on producing high-quality wines and is particularly passionate about cool climate expressions of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

In addition to her winemaking expertise, Victoria is actively involved in the wine community, contributing at various wine shows, and is excited to judge at this year’s show.

Grace’s winemaking journey began in South Australia, where she studied a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology, with Honours, at the University of Adelaide. A formative first job at Tapanappa in the Adelaide Hills, gave her a strong foundation in and passion for cool climate winemaking.

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In 2020, Grace moved to the Mornington Peninsula and worked at wineries including Stonier and Ten Minutes by Tractor, where she served as Assistant Winemaker. When international travel kicked back in, Grace completed two vintages in Burgundy - experiences she credits with significantly shaping her winemaking style.

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In her current role as Vineyard Manager and Assistant Winemaker at Eldridge, Red Hill, Grace has the chance to expand her passion for sustainability and true site expression in one of the most iconic vineyards in the area. Additionally, she takes part in the regions technical committee with a focus on education.

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She has stewarded various wine shows, established a training day for new judges and is looking forward to being part of the ICCWS panel.