MEG BRODTMANN, MW
Meg’s life before wine involved Immunology research and a B. Sc. (Hons) degree. There she would regularly devour wine magazines and read Epicure voraciously during breaks. This sparked her initial interest in wine – an interest that was compounded when she drank the first ever vintage of Cloudy Bay (NZ) Sauvignon Blanc, amazed that a wine could have so much perfume and flavour.
After realizing spinning cells in a centrifuge wasn’t for her, she went back to University to study Winemaking at Roseworthy, then on to vintages here and in France before accepting an offer with U.K. based winemaking consultancy, Cellarworld International. There Meg oversaw winemaking projects in France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Chile & Argentina for the next five years.
The following seven years saw Meg in Chile as a Senior Winemaker, launch a wine brokering consultancy (Southern Cross Wines – Chile), introduce WSET Courses to South America (Chile & Brazil) AND in 2002, become Australia’s first female Master of Wine.
Since then Meg and her family have returned to Australia where she has continued with winemaking consultancy and wine education, not only teaching WSET levels 3 and 4 with the Prince Wine Store, but also training WSET Educators in Australia for WSET U.K. Her wine judging accolades include The International Wine Challenge (UK), current Chair of the International Cool Climate Show, judge for Sydney International Wine Show (Top 100), AND she is also involved with the Master of Wine Australasian Events Committee and the annual Educational Residential Seminar.
Meg is in awe of Riesling in all its guises, calling it the most versatile, delicious, cheeky, racy grape ever put on this planet. Though she’d never say no to anything sparkling – Champagne (1st choice of course), Prosecco, Blanquette de Limoux, and a not-so-secret love of Frizzante or sparkling Moscatos (much to the horror of many winemaking friends!)
Meg is also co-host of the award winning podcast Wine with Meg & Mel.
We are so very pleased to have Meg Brodtmann on board as such an integral part of the WSET Programme at the Prince. She teaches at our South Melbourne store, as well as Rob Dolan Wines in the Yarra Valley.
KATE MCINTYRE, MW
Kate’s family started Moorooduc estate when she was 10 years old, and after studying language and theatre – and doing some travel – she came back to the wine industry; first through retail, then with an importer wholesaler.
In 1998 Kate was the inaugural winner of the Negociants Working with Wine Fellowship and in 2001 was the professional winner of the CIVC Vin de Champagne Award. In July 2003 Kate was inducted into the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne.
She returned to the family business in 2004. She writes, teaches, and talks about wine. Kate became a Master of Wine (MW) in 2010. She chaired the Mornington Peninsula International Pinot Noir Celebration in 2013 and 2015. Kate lives on the Mornington Peninsula and is the marketing and business development manager of Moorooduc Estate. She helps with the winemaking and travels as often as she can to wine regions she loves around Australia and further afield: Champagne, Burgundy, Alsace, Piedmont, Tuscany, Alto Adige…
Kate teaches at our South Melbourne store and at Moorooduc Estate on the Mornington Peninsula.
ANNETTE LACEY, MW
Annette has a strong background is Hospitality, having been a Sommelier at some of Sydneys finest 2 and 3 hat restaurants and is currently the Group Beverage Manager at Solotel.
With a passion for wine education Annette has taught WSET 1 – 4 for the almost a decade and has excellent pass rates with her students.
She completed WSET Level 3 and Diploma and was a finalist in the 2014 Professional Vin de Champagne Awards. Annette completed her Master of Wine qualification in 2020.
Annette heads up the Sydney eductor team.
ADELINE ZIMMERMAN, DipWSET
Adeline is currently studying the Master of Wine.
She teaches at our South Melbourne store.
AIDAN CUTLAN, DipWSET
Aidan manages Bream Creek Vineyard Cellar Door in Tasmania.
He has recently graduated from the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine program and WSET Educator Training Program (ETP). Aidan loves Sake just as much as he loves wine, and will be completing his Sake ETP in January, after which he hopes to teach WSET Sake as well.
Aidan is currently teaching at our Hobart venue.
AINE CONRAN, DipWSET
Aine teaches at Rob Dolan Wines in the Yarra Valley.
ED MERRISON, DipWSET
The founder of Vininspo! Ed is a highly skilled wine writer and educator.
Ed has always been fascinated by connections between people and places. He studied modern languages and travelled extensively on the way to a career as a journalist, at first in print and then in digital media and television. From there he took the plunge into wine to further explore the relationship between people and place, and to share with others the wonders of nature and culture.
This skillset has been given unparalleled potency by specialism in the field. Ed spent almost a decade spearheading the education and marketing drive at top Australian importer and distributor, CellarHand. He followed this up with his role as editor with another cutting-edge wholesaler, Bibendum Wine Co. Over this time, he has judged at wine shows, taken part in the Len Evans Tutorial and been named Australian Dux of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust’s Diploma program, which he continues to teach, as well as Level 2 and Level 3 Awards in Wine.
Ed teaches at all our Victorian venues.
EMMA MORDUE, DipWSET
Emma’s education began with an interest in food, wine and all things hospitality when she completed a BA Hons in Hospitality Management in the UK. This interest soon turned into a passion for wine when Emma completed her WSET Level 3 and Diploma. With thorough wine and hospitality credentials Emma moved to Australia where for 10 years she worked as a successful sommelier in the competitive Sydney restaurant scene.
Her work in restaurants led to an interest in wine at a more grassroots level and she did a vintage with Willow Creek, Mornington Peninsula. Emma managed the Port Phillip & Kooyong Cellar Door over the past couple of years and currently enjoys teaching at Moorooduc Estate on the Mornington Peninsula.
FLORENCE DIFFEY, DipWSET
Florence Diffey is a Newcastle-based wine educator and co-founder of Vera Wine.
She began her career in the hospitality industry at the age of 14, working for venues in Melbourne, London, San Sebastian and Copenhagen.
Upon return to Melbourne, Florence completed her WSET Diploma and moved into wine events and education at the Prince Wine Store.
Florence became a certified educator of Level 2 Award in Wines in 2018 and the Level 3 Award in Wines in 2024.
GABRIELLE POY, DipWSET
Gabrielle Poy is a key part of the sales team at leading independent Melbourne wine retailer, the Prince Wine Store. Prior to that, she spent 13 years as wine buyer at another Melbourne hospitality icon, the City Wine Shop. She’s also a reviewer for The Real Review and wine judge at both national and local wine shows.
With over 20 years in the wine industry she's worked vintages overseas in both Italy and Spain and is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, as well as a diploma holder from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
Gabrielle is an educator at our South Melbourne store.
JOSHUA ELIAS, DipWSET, CMS Advanced
Joshua Elias graduated from a Bachelor of Law at Monash University in 2008. During his time as a student he worked at restaurants as a part-time waiter and he quickly ‘up-skilled’ and self-educated to become a sommelier.
Upon completion of his law studies he made the choice to continue his hospitality work in deference to taking articles and being approved to practice law. “Working at Bistro Vue and Vue de Monde I frequently served solicitors and barristers most of whom had a keen interest in wine. I figured I’d bypass the legal practice and end at the same destination — wine.” After Vue de Monde, Josh worked for just under two years at Attica restaurant during the formation of its current reputation; when it was awarded 53rd best restaurant in the world. Subsequently Josh worked on the floor at Grossi Florentino before acting as a wine consultant and editor in- chief at Alquimie Publication.
As one of a small group of Australians to hold an advanced diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers and Dux of Victoria’s first WSET diploma intake, Joshua is highly qualified in his wine pursuits. Travelling regularly for his wine education, Joshua is an alumnus of the Sommeliers Australia National Scholarship amongst many other industry awards.
Josh teaches at our South Melbourne store.
KAYLEEN REYNOLDS
Kayleen was a 2023 Len Evens Tutorial Scholar. She iscurrently studying her WSET Diploma.
Kayleen teaches at our South Melbourne store.
LISA CARDELLI, DipWSET
Lisa Cardelli is a sommelier and award-winning wine writer. A WSET Diploma holder since 2016, in mid-2018, she began teaching WSET level 2 and, lately, level 3 at Prince Wine Store.
Born and bred in Tuscany, she has worked in the finest Australian restaurants for ten years.
She works at Halliday Wine Companion as an account coordinator and freelance wine writer. Lisa also reviews wines for WinePilot, curates the wine column for the Law Institute of Victoria journal, and judges at local wine shows. She is also a member of the Qantas/Neil Perry wine selection. Lisa has been accepted as a 2024 Len Evens Tutorial Scholar.
Lisa teaches at our South Melbourne store.
MEL GILCRIST
Mel is co-host of the award winning podcast Wine with Meg & Mel.
She currently teaches at Rob Dolan in the Yarra Valley and at our South Melbourne store.
NICOLA REID, DipWSET
After graduating with a degree from University of Bristol in Politics and Spanish BA, Nicola worked as a Sommelier in the UK, while gaining her Yachtmaster qualifications, after which she worked on luxury sailing yachts around the world, taking her across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to French Polynesia, the Galapagos, Norwegian Fjords, Hebrides, and beyond.
With her feet firmly back on the ground, Nicola worked four vintages as a Cellar Hand between England and Australia, before moving to Australia permanently. Given her deep love of and connection to Spain, Nicola spent six years working for The Spanish Acquisition, leading Australian importer and distributor of Iberian wines.
Nicola is a graduate of the WSET Diploma, for which she was awarded the John Avery Vintners' Bursary by the Vintners' Company. Nicola now teaches WSET Levels 2, 3, and 4 in Wine in Melbourne and Geelong and is the Executive Officer at Sommeliers Australia.
Nicola has experience judging wines domestically and enjoys writing about wine. Nicola lives on the coast and loves surfing and spending time with her family at the beach.
Nicola currently teaches at our South Melbourne store.
NICOLE BILSON, DipWSET
After starting her professional life as a Pharmacist, Nicole had a change of plans. She perfected her spitting technique, and moved from sunny Queensland to the wine-drenched laneways of Melbourne.
Enrolling in the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 at Prince Wine Store was her first step. She went on to do Level 3 before completing the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits in 2016 and became a certified WSET Educator the following year.
She has worked in wineries, retail, sales and marketing and as a sommelier and wine buyer. After winning the Negociants Working With Wine writing prize in 2016, she has forged a path in freelance writing. She is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and judges regularly in Australian wine shows.
Nicole teaches at our South Melbourne store.
PAUL HUET, DipWSET, CMS Certified
Born and raised in Paris, Paul turned his back on a career in medicine to pursue his love of food and drink. After seven years in London under the tutelage of industry heavyweights like Michel Roux at Le Gavroche and earning his WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits, Paul swapped The Swinging City for sunny Sydney.
Joining Master Sommelier Franck Moreau at hospitality giant Merivale in 2013, Paul has been part of Felix, Mr. Wong, est. before heading the wine program of the Eastern suburbs portfolio of venues in 2017.
In 2020 he decided to take his restaurant skills to a broader audience and created The Wine Tip, his own consulting and education business to fully live his passion of transmitting his love of wine.
Paul teaches wine and spirits at our Sydney and South Melbourne stores.
PAUL MEDDER, DipWSET
Paul is a Kiwi who went to London and well and truly got the wine bug. He completed his first WSET course in 2006 and soon after began working for market research specialists Wine Intelligence.
He moved on to the WSET Level 3 in 2008, winning the WSET’s Champagne Academy Scholarship as one of the year’s top students. The prize was a week’s study trip to Champagne, spurring a life-long passion for the region’s wines and producers.
He completed the WSET Diploma in 2010, becoming a Certified Educator in 2013. He taught WSET levels 1-3 at the WSET’s London HQ between 2014-2019.
Paul has been teaching at Prince Wine Store since 2019. During his day job, he sells wines and spirits for distributor Bibendum. He has also worked in wine buying, wine retail, as a sommelier and as a wine judge.
Paul is an educator at our Sydney store.
SABINE DUVAL, DipWSET, CMS Certified
With over 20 years in the Wine industry, Sabine has accrued extensive experience in her chosen field.
As Brand Ambassador for The Sydney Wine Academy and Brand Manager Hungerford Hill, Dalwood and Sweetwater wines; she brings a unique trade perspective to the judging scene.
Sabine has over a decade’s worth of experience as a Senior Wine Buyer; blind tasting thousands of wines and selecting the very best.
Sabine is a certified sommelier, awarded by The Court of Master Sommeliers in 2010. She completed her WSET Diploma and teaches WSET L1, L2, L3 and Diploma at Prince Wine Store, as well as other venues.
She is an active wine judge and has judged at both regional and national shows.
Sabine is part of our Sydney and Newcastle education team.
SCOTT McWILLIAM, DipWSET
Scott McWilliam is a sixth generation winemaker, so it is fair to say that he was born into the Australian wine industry.
Needless to say, it didn’t take long before he started working in the family business, McWilliam's Wines.
Scott was only 14 when he began helping out at Hanwood Estate in the Riverina.
After leaving school, Scott headed to the famous Bordeaux region in France, for his first full harvest at the age of 19.
Scott then completed a Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University and a Postgraduate degree in Oenology (Winemaking) at the University of Adelaide.
Scott also gained enormous experience during his time working for the prestigious Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide.
Scott moved to the Hunter Valley, to Mount Pleasant Estate, as Winery Manager & Senior Winemaker in charge of making some of the most highly prized wines in Australia, including James Halliday Shiraz of the year for the 2011 Maurice O’Shea Shiraz, and the multiple trophy-winning and globally praised Lovedale Semillon.
Since then Scott turned his love of wine education into a reality, completing the prestigious Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma, which he now teaches at the highest level, across multiple venues to all levels.
Scott also recently joined the team at Qantas, facilitating wine education for inflight crew.
Scott has visited over 50 wine regions globally, and currently represents Australia as a professional wine judge in Europe's second largest wine show, held annually in Germany.
He and his wife have recently started a wine travel side hustle in conjunction with Travelrite, hosting wine tours throughout Europe's most famous wine regions.
In his spare time, Scott brews beer and distills spirits, and he just loves to travel.
Scott teaches at our Sydney store.
ALEX WILCOX
Alex’s lifelong passion for wine and food was inspired by his mother, Sue, and it was only a matter of time before his passion became his career.
After deferring his studies, Alex decided to cycle, eat and drink his way around Europe . Not since WWII had Europe’s food stocks been placed under such strain and after a short meeting at the Hague the nations of the EU decided to deport Alex back to Australia. Exhausted but inspired, Alex returned to undertake an Honours degree in Agricultural Economics at Sydney University , specialising in the international wine trade, the third degree year of which was spent at the University of California, Davis.
Alex’s wine industry life embraced all facets of the trade including wholesale, restaurants and retail before becoming a partner at Prince Wine Store. Having worked several vintages in Victoria, Western Australia and Tuscany , Alex is committed to educating customers and friends alike on all the joys wine has to offer. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of the South Melbourne store.
He lives in the country with his wife, Kirsty and their children, Henry, Jemima and Charlie.
MICHAEL MCNAMARA
Michael’s family immigrated to Australia in 1962 from a small village in England called Ireland. After wandering various paths, Michael decided to try the wine industry, joining retailer Philip Murphy in 1996. Michael was the Imported Wine Manager for the Philip Murphy Group for four years before establishing his own business; a small wine export company specialising in premium Australian brands.
During this time, Michael created a number of new labels for overseas markets and helped to shape the wine styles of these export brands. Michael became a partner in the Prince Wine Store at the beginning of September 2004 after commencing at the store in March 2003. Michael has a passion for all styles of wine, particularly the wines of Italy, California, Burgundy and Bordeaux.
As wine is both his passion and profession, Michael spends much of his work and leisure time travelling the world’s wine areas. This includes regular trips within Australia, Italy, France and the occasional trip to California. When not drinking wine, Michael likes to relax with a beverage and indulge his other great love, Trugo. He is married to Julia and they have two children, Vinnie and Maeve.