Wine Show of Western Australia

2020 Judges

Chief Judge

Courtney Treacher

Searching for a career with a difference Courtney studied a Bachelor of Science (Viticulture and Oenology) through Western Australia’s Curtin University. Courtney worked brief stints in the vineyards of the Perth Hills and Swan Valley before doing vintages in Margaret River at Redgate Wines and in the Hunter Valley at Tamburlaine Wines.

Courtney has long been a part of the Houghton Winemaking team, racking up 17 vintages across the Houghton Swan Valley and Nannup sites. In 2013 Courtney was appointed the winemaker responsible for Brookland Valley Wines. Courtney continues to enjoy being part of a dynamic team and the challenge of making wines of varied styles under the Houghton, Brookland Valley, Goundrey, Amberley and Moondah Brook ranges.

Courtney has been involved in wine show judging at a number of local and national wine shows, and was a scholar at the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial in 2011. An experience she describes as once in a lifetime.

Panel Leaders

Kim Horton

Kim is senior winemaker at Willow Bridge Estate in the Ferguson Valley. He is a winemaker in Western Australia with 25 years experience. Kim is an advocate of the wine show system and it’s ability to showcase the high quality of Western Australian wines and to highlight the hard work and enthusiasm of those involved in the industry. 

He has previously judged at the WA Wine Show and the capital city wine shows, Perth, Adelaide and Hobart. Kim counts himself fortunate to also judge at many regional wine shows which are exciting from a wine perspective but also for the opportunity to meet the many hard working growers and winemakers within the regions. 

Glenn Goodall

Glenn Goodall is the senior winemaker at Xanadu Wines in Margaret River WA.

He has an intuitive approach to making wines, with a deep respect for the vineyard. An experienced winemaker with well over 30 vintages under his belt including Australia, Bordeaux, South Africa, New Zealand and California. Glenn moved to Margaret River in 1998 and took on the senior winemaking role at Xanadu Wines late in 2005.  

Glenn has been a senior wine show judge for many years and has achieved numerous accolades during his time at the helm of Xanadu, including 98 wine show trophies.  He is a Jimmy Watson trophy winner, a finalist in the 2013 Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year Awards and was named Winemaker of the Year in the 2015 West Australian Wine guide. 

Judges

Matt Byrne

Matt is a passionate surfer, diver and fishing enthusiast who lives in Margaret River with his wife and three children. In his spare time, he makes wine and has been the custodian of Evans & Tate winemaking since 2001. 

 

Matt has completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) from Charles Sturt University and an Associate Degree in Viticulture and Bachelor of Horticulture (Honours) from Curtin University of Technology in WA. He has undertaken 28 vintages throughout Margaret River and Mildura, in Australia; Stellenbosch in South Africa; and Santa Cruz Mountains, California in the United States.

 

Matt’s winemaking mantra is “making grape growing the centre of attention to in-turn produce charismatic and memorable wines that wine lovers seek out again and again…”.

Emma Gillespie

After commencing her Bachelor of Science degree in at Curtin University in Perth, Emma moved to Margaret River, to complete her studies and to begin work within the region.

After completing an overseas vintage in the Willamette Valley, Oregon in 2014, Emma returned home to Margaret River, securing a cellar hand position at Deep Woods Estate for vintage 2015.

This lead to the role of Winemaker in mid-2016, a position still held today.

Virginia Willcock

As a teenager, Virginia saw the happiness and joy wine brought to her parents and their friends after a hard day’s work in their small vineyard. It was here she decided winemaking was going to be her career. "I loved the idea of growing fruit, and then turning it into something that could be more beautiful and would make people happy."

Virginia is the Chief Winemaker behind some of Australia’s most critically acclaimed wines, at Margaret River’s founding vineyard and winery, Vasse Felix. She joined as Chief Winemaker in October, 2006.

A respected authority on Margaret River winemaking, Virginia has represented the region as presenter and panellist of numerous international media and trade conventions and masterclasses, in addition to being a sought-after regional wine show judge. She also served on the board of the Margaret River Wine Industry Association for several years.

Virginia has completed 29 vintages in Margaret River, and worked international vintages in Albania, Northern Italy, Sicily, Abruzzo and New Zealand.

Erin Larkin

Erin is an independent wine writer, judge and presenter based in Perth, Western Australia with an individual, grass roots approach to her work.
Multi-skilled when it comes to the business of wine, she is WA Regional Taster for the Halliday Wine Companion Magazine, a prolific presenter and educator across multiple platforms and is an active Australian wine show judge. Erin is a judge for the Gourmet Traveller Wine List of the Year awards and the China Wine List of the Year Awards and an active consultant for retail and private clients.
Erin has a keen eye for quality and creativity in wine, marrying classic and contemporary perspectives. 

Associate Judges

  • Andrew Dawson
  • Kim Tyrer
  • Foni Pollitt
  • Japo Dalli Cani