Venture Wine Tours Australia: Hosts

Venture Wine Tours Australia is pleased to offer a unique opportunity to enhance your tour even further by choosing one of the following wine experts. Jim, Chris, Joan and Graeme all have their own special interest and would be happy to share them with you. While each specialise in their own geographical regions, they are able to act as your wine host in any of the major wine regions of Australia.

James Smith
Specialising in South Australian wine regions
Winner of the 'Vin de Champagne' award in 1986 and presented with the 'Order of St Vincent' by the Champagne industry in 1997, James Smith is one of Australia's most experienced wine industry educators, and an acknowledged expert in a number of areas particularly sparkling wines and Champagne.

Regarded as an enlightened communicator, he is able to pass on to clients his love of wine and the wine industry. Coupled with his many years of industry experience, students have benefited greatly from someone who knows not only what goes into the making of great wines, but also how they are marketed and enjoyed.

James Smith's experience spans from 1968 when he joined Hamilton's Ewell Vineyards as Tasmanian manager, to managing retail and wholesale liquor establishments, lecturing in wine marketing at the Roseworthy Campus of the University of Adelaide, and guest lecturing in wine studies at the University of South Australia and Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.

Since 1990, he has been designing and presenting various wines studies courses at the Adelaide Institute of TAFE, writing wine studies manuals and texts, guest lecturing, and working with the Centre for Wine Business Management to establish a nationally recognised tertiary level wine course.

An active member of the Australian Society of Wine Education he has served as State Councillor, and is a member of the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology. Since 1985 he has presented conference papers on wine education and Champagne for the Australian Society of Wine Education, the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Australasian Marketing Educator's Conference.

Chris Barnes
Specialising in Victorian wine regions
Chris Barnes can best be described as a wine educator. He is one of the best in the country and is well respected by his peers in wine journalism and winemaking. Chris is also a consultant to the wine industry in marketing and promotion. Through teaching, writing, video and now radio, Chris conveys the wine message with dry wit and vigour.

Born and educated in Melbourne, Chris' background and training in wine matters is impressive. After a short stint running a pub in the UK, then traveling the world, Chris studied wine production and marketing at the world-renowned Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia. Upon graduation he took up a position as Marketing Manager with Tyrrell's Wines. Next came a return home to Melbourne to a marketing consultancy with Nick's Wine Merchants.

Chris became involved in education with the formation of his own company: Australian Wine Education and Training Company. He taught the general public to be excited rather than intimidated by wine and showed the industry how to improve profits through wine knowledge.

Two years ago, Chris joined forces with Mark Shield on the "Discover Australian Wine" video, which has appeared on Foxtel and was sold recently for distribution in the U.S. His other achievements include a well-received wine and wine service training manual for the hospitality industry and a weekly food and wine radio show on Melbourne's 3AK. Currently, his other clients include Mildara Blass wines and the Australian Wine Selectors wine club.

These days you can find Chris teaching at TAFE or speaking, with glass in hand, to groups as diverse as lawyers, doctors and harness- racing identities. That is, of course, when not taking students all over Australia to visit wine regions and taste hundreds of wines, or walking his ever-faithful pooch Reilly, around the MCG.

Joan McGuren
Specialising in Western Australian wine regions
Joan started her journey through the industry in the Western Australian Wine Information Bureau, coordinating wine education for approximately 850 students per year, and providing information to government, industry, consumers and students on all aspects of the Australian wine industry.

In 1988, Joan became the Executive Director of the Wine Industry Association of WA (Inc.) & Wine Education Centre. As the officer in charge she was responsible for the efficient functioning of the Association's Secretariat and the Wine Education Centre. She was directly responsible for assisting in the development of the Western Australian wine industry and its emerging wine growing regions.

Recently Joan's career path took a new direction with a challenging position with the Law Society of Western Australia, although she still remains close to her life's passion – wine. Joan is proud of her wine industry affiliations, a Foundation Member of the Australian Society of Wine Education and Western Australian Wine Press Club, Member of the Western Australian Wine Academy and Honorary Member of Wine Barons.

There is no person who knows better the who, what, when, where, why and how of the wine industry in Western Australia. With 18 years experience and expertise in the wine industry, Joan has gained the respect of her peers. She has made numerous contacts and has developed a keen knowledge and understanding of a growing and ever-changing industry.

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