Rob started his career in the vineyards of the Clare Valley to become one of the first Australians to join the Institute in 1992. He has immersed himself in every aspect of the wine industry for more than 40 years, from brand development, export sales, judge, presenter, consultant and lecturer. He has a passion for writing and is the author of 11 books, including 'Australian Wine Vintages' book and an award winning app. His book 'A Good Nose And Great Legs: The Art Of Wine From The Vine To The Table' has been described as "everything you need to know about Australian wine". He currently has a new and exciting book in development.

Rob is a highly respected independent wine expert both locally and internationally. He is frequently invited to participate in numerous prestigious wine events and to speak at conferences on; consumer behaviour, brand development and the culture of wine. In 2018 he was recognised as a top 10 Wine Influencer in China becoming the first person not born in China to do so. His audience is diverse including American college students, international wine industry, Chinese wine trade, the Australian general public and the international wine research community. He is a regular on Australian radio and TV.

In addition, he has been called on hundreds of times as a wine show judge by regional, national and international competitions and uses this extensive knowledge in his wine quality consulting, corporate entertainment and wine reviews.

Through all his work, he aims to turn the complex science of wine into simple-to-grasp concepts. He educates and entertains with an affable, raconteur style that makes people laugh. He has a large social media community serving quality content that aims to improve the understanding of his followers.

Primary area(s) of work: Strategy, Communication

Industry sector(s): Broadcasting, Events, Viticulture, Winemaking, Marketing, PR, Sales, Business owner, Journalism, Author, Educator, Consultant, Wine judge, Wine tourism, International trade, Academic, Wine business strategy

Wine styles: Champagne, Fortified wines, Marsala, Still white, Still red, Still rosé, Still wines

Wine region expertise: Australia, Central Otago, Germany, Greece, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough, Mendoza, Mosel, New South Wales, New Zealand, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, South America, France, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Champagne, Spain, Valencia, Jerez, Italy, Tuscany, Tasmania, China

Market expertise: Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, China, South America, Spain, Portugal

Specialisms: Wine varieties, Establishment of vineyards, Acquisition of vineyards, Factors affecting grape growing, Cultivation of the vine, Processing of grapes, Fermentation, Economics of wine production, Wine styling, Whole cluster fermentation, Elevage / maturation, Blending, Packing and labelling, Quality assurance and control, Bottling, Sensory evaluation , Marketing wine, Investment strategies, Supplier/customer relationships, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Routes to market, Importation, Distribution, Direct to consumer, Supermarket and multiple retail, Events, Broadcasting, Podcasts, Food and wine pairing, Restaurant wines, Wine and health, Wine labels, Wine laws and regulations, Wine tourism, Branding, History of wine, Training, Digital communications, Ecommerce, Education, New business development, Intellectual property, Wine marketing research, Wine judging