The 13th annual Len Evans Tutorial has named Lak Quach as Dux for 2013. Lak works for the fine wine distribution company Cellarhand. He is also well known for working with many previous LET Scholars at Melbourne’s European Group.

The week long Len Evans Tutorial mixes blind judging brackets and open book masterclasses. By week’s end, Lak had shown to have an exceptional palate but was pushed all the way by runner up Toby Barlow, winemaker at St Hallett in the Barossa Valley.

Tutor and Trustee James Halliday in announcing Lak Quach as Dux summed up the feelings of all Tutors, “Lak demonstrated at every turn an excellent grasp of world wine styles, culminating in picking 4 of the 6 Grand Cru vineyards in Friday’s DRC Masterclass. A very worthy Dux.”

The main prize is a return Business Class airfare to London courtesy of long term sponsor Qantas and then onto Europe with introductions to some of the great wine houses.

Many of the greatest, rarest and oldest wines of the world were opened during the course held in the Hunter Valley from 4 – 8 November 2013 when 12 young(ish) Australian wine personnel were put to the sternest and most rewarding tastings of their lives. Rarities included 1945 Cos d’Estournel, 1966 DRC Echezeaux, 1893 Chateau Guiraud and 1955 Lindeman’s Coolalta Hermitage.

Len Evans Tutorial convener and tutor, Iain Riggs said, “After 13 years there are now 156 scholars in the industry that have been through the Tutorial and the wine industry is seeing the rewards with sommeliers, retailers, restaurateurs, wine writers as well as winemakers looking to take Australian wine up the quality scale and to the consumers of the world.”

Twelve fully paid scholarships are offered each year. The scholarships come with wine, food and accommodation valued at $12,500 each. The only cost incurred by the scholars is physically getting to the Hunter Valley.