Michael Hill Smith

Master of Wine

 

In 1988 Michael Hill Smith became the first Australian to pass the rigorous Master of Wine examination winning the inaugural Madame Bollinger Tasting Medal the same year. Michael is a co-founder of Shaw + Smith and Tolpuddle Vineyard wines and a champion of Australian fine wine. In 2008 he was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for his contribution to the Australian Wine Industry. He has been a wine judge since 1980 and from 2017 will Co-Chair the Decanter World Wine Awards, the worlds largest and most influential wine competition. He is also a mentor judge for the Decanter Asian Wine Awards.