My wine journey started working the graveyard shift at the Norwood Hotel drive-through in Adelaide. Somewhere between late-night customers and quick chats over the counter, I realised I not only enjoyed a good drop — I really liked talking to people about what they were drinking and why. When the bottle shop was renovated and a wine attendant role opened up, I jumped at the chance. From there, things snowballed in the best way. I spent time working across fine wine retail in Adelaide before heading back to my home turf in McLaren Vale, where I managed a few cellar doors and got to share some of the region’s best wines with locals and visitors alike.
Along the way, I picked up a number of WSET qualifications, which eventually led me into wine education. I spent over seven years teaching at the Wine & Spirits School at TAFE SA, helping students at all stages of their wine journey build confidence and knowledge. It’s something I found incredibly rewarding (and still love doing in any capacity).
