The 12 successful applicants for the 13th Len Evans Tutorial, to be held in the Hunter Valley on 4-8 November, have been announced with an extraordinary caliber of scholars including a Master Sommelier and wine professionals at the top of their game.

Each year, the Len Evans Tutorial welcomes some of the most elite professionals in wine, hospitality and sales from across Australia and the world to develop their wine appreciation with the nation’s top wine experts at Tower Lodge in the Hunter Valley.

Many of the greatest, rarest and oldest wines are opened, tasted and scrutinised in one extraordinary week when 12 young(ish) leaders in their field are put to the sternest and most rewarding wine course of their lives.

2013 Len Evans Tutorial Scholars

Name Company Position
Adam Foster Syrahmi/Foster e Rocco Winemaker/Director
Alex Retief Alex Retief Wines Owner/Winemaker
Amanda Yallop Quay Restaurant Head Sommelier
Andrea Frost Journalist/Writer
Banjo Harris Plane Attica Head Sommelier
Charlie Seppelt Yangarra Estate Vineyard Winemaker
Eddie McDougall Fine Wines of Australia Director/Winemaker
Franck Moreau MS Merivale Group Sommelier
Julian Langworthy Fogarty Wine Group Chief Winemaker
Lak Quach Cellarhand Consulting Wine Buyer
Nick Butler Cogito Wines Founding Director
Toby Barlow St Hallett Wines Senior Winemaker

The Tutorial program is designed to define the demands of wine show judging and to define quality by exposing the scholars to the great wine styles of the world. A team of five tutors will put the scholars through their paces in what James Halliday described as “the most exclusive wine school in the world.” The tutors include: James Halliday, Ian McKenzie, Iain Riggs, Gary Steel and Michael Hill-Smith.

Scholars from the past 12 Tutorials are now gracing the judging benches at all major wine shows across Australia.