Our speakers

Rob Geddes, Master of Wine

Rob has been immersed in every aspect of the wine industry for more than 30 years as an author, consultant, judge and educator.

He was only the third Australian to become a Master of Wine and has spent a good deal of his varied career working overseas. His love of the wine industry has led him to be an organiser of the annual Masters of Wine Revision Course, a presenter at Master Classes and a judge at numerous national and international wine shows.

Rob has also acted as convener of the NSW Wine Industry Tourism and Promotions Committee and Managing Director of Winestream, a wine public relations firm.

Taking up pen and corkscrew full time as an author, he is the publisher and author of Australian Wine Vintages, popularly known as ‘The Gold Book’, now in its 32nd edition, and A good nose and great legs: the art of wine from the vine to the table. He regularly travels overseas to maintain his knowledge of trends and production in the industry; most recently to Italy, France and a tour of the Chinese Wine and Trade markets.

In 2015 his app, Australian Wine Vintages, was the winner of a Gourmand Award for Best Wine Guide (Australia) and short-listed for the international award.

David Messum, Winemaker & Wine Marketeer

David is a winemaker, brand owner and wine marketeer. Having run a specialised Wine Marketing agency and with clearly way too much time on his hands David started Born & Raised Wines just a few years ago.   Born & Raised Wines are based in Heathcote in Victoria and specialise in small batch alternative varieties such as Nebbiolo, which he’s rather fond of.

One of a handful of Australian based WSET Diploma graduates and with vintages in Australia and New Zealand under his belt he has made some stunning wines for well-known brands along with a few not so great Kiwi Savs, for which he is truly sorry.

If you want to know about winemaking, wine business, the nuances of fancy glassware, cellaring wines for fun or investment David’s your man.