Wine

Meet The Panel - Dave Mavor

Wine Selectors Tasting Panellist, Winemaker, and Wine Show Judge

A self-confessed Hunter Valley Semillon and Clare Valley fanatic, Dave joined Wine Selectors in 2008.

My obsession with wine began when some friends dragged me along to a wine appreciation course - Dave explains. After that, I was hooked!

His newfound passion led Dave to Tyrrell’s in the Hunter Valley, where he spent seven years rising through the ranks from cellar hand to Assistant Winemaker while studying for his Wine Science degree. Later, he was appointed the Senior Winemaker for Kirrihill Wines in the Clare Valley and worked as a consultant and contract winemaker for several other local regional brands.

Dave has also completed four vintages in France and is a renowned national and international wine show judge.

“Being invited to judge at the Vinalies Internationales in France several years ago is a real career highlight,” Dave says. “Judging at that show has led to many more international judging experiences, including the Mundus Vini in Germany, the Bacchus International in Spain, and the Concurs Mondiale in Sardinia, which I was honoured to judge at in 2024.”

“Wine is such a fascinating beverage, and it gives pleasure to so many people right around the world,” he says. “Even after all of these years in the business, I’m still pumped to taste and savour new wines, and love that I never stop learning.”

With fantastic relationships with Australia’s winemakers and incredible exposure to their wines, Dave is right on the mark when it comes to changes and trends in the industry.

“The move towards lighter, fresher styles in Australia is really exciting,” Dave says. “They are much more suited to our climate and the foods we enjoy.”