Food Wine Sleep

Rob is the author of four books on wine, most recently, Australian Wine Vintages 2011 Edition known as the “The Gold Book,” and works as a presenter and freelance journalist to the wine trade, consumer wine or travel magazines.

Based in Sydney, he is in demand for his executive level presentations on wine, as a lecturer and after dinner speaker, and educator. He is the former owner and Managing Director of WineStream, Australia’s only drinks specialist public relations business.

Rob’s passion for the drinks industry goes without saying and his strength in communication is proved by considerable presentation experience with radio and television which includes over 15 years with ABC radio in various guises and lecturing in most English speaking international wine markets as both educator and after dinner speaker. According to The Age “He's free with his opinions and years teaching, marketing and studying wine (for his Master of Wine) have armed him with a mix of fascinating trivia, informed research and the ability to place himself comfortably in the shoes of the wine drinker.”

Rob was the founding executive of the Wines of the Riverina Promotion Committee in 1992 and became Australia’s third Master of Wine in 1993. He gained extensive marketing experience working with Rosemount Estate for eight years and after that Fosters. Rob has been a judge at numerous national and international wine shows including on one occasion tasting wines from the wreck of the William Salthouse sunk 1838.

He is a frequent visitor to interstate and overseas educational events and premium wine regions maintaining his knowledge of changing trends and the thinking in production and consumption. These include the 2006 Masters of Wine symposium in Napa Valley and visiting owners and marketers in Bordeaux and Champagne, and all of the wine regions in Australia.

Rob has expanded his experience of both sides of the drinks media coin. His first book on Australian wine, A Good Nose and Great Legs, has been described by the Sydney Morning Herald as “not just a great title for a wine book, it covers just about everything that should matter to Australian drinkers.” He annually publishes the Australian Wine Vintages Gold Book tasting over 3000 wines for the book alone. Rob has written and narrated a set of CDs for drinks consumers in the USA market. He is currently the tastings editor for Drinks Trade magazine as well as a frequent contributor to Selector magazine, Drinks Trade magazine, and Holidays Away Magazine.

Diverse experiences such as these allow Rob to be able to communicate in the media based on shared experiences and to be respected for his wide range of knowledge.

Robs books include; A Good Nose and Great Legs - the art of wine from the vine to the table, published in 2007 (see www.agoodnoseandgreatlegs.com.au for more information). Australian Wine Vintages since the 26th edition with the 28th out in July. The Joy of Wine - a talking book, audio written and narrated by Rob on wine for the USA market, only available from Amazon.com