2023 Sydney Royal Professional Development Scholarship

Matt Buchan was the proud 2023 recipient of a Sydney Royal Professional Development Scholarship, supported by the Len Evans Foundation. Matt completed the AWAC in December 2023 and said, “The AWRI Advanced Wine Assessment course has been high on my list of career achievements. I was able to identify my strengths and weaknesses at a sensory level and can now improve the way I approach wine assessment at both the judging bench and within the winery. Thanks to the RAS NSW and the Len Evans Foundation for the opportunity.”

Matt’s career in wine has spanned more than 20 years. Over this time, he has gained experience working in McLaren Vale, the Napa Valley, Central Otago and Mosel Valley before moving to Margaret River in 2012, where he now holds the position of senior winemaker at Deep Woods Estate. In addition to completing a Bachelor of Applied Science (Wine Science) through Charles Sturt University, Matt is also a regular wine show judge both locally and interstate.

Since 2021, the Len Evans Foundation has sponsored an annual scholar to attend the Advanced Wine Assessment Course (AWAC) provided by the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI).