“Wine has shaped my life. I have embraced every situation that has arisen involving wine."

I first became interested in wine as a career while working at a fine dining restaurant in Vancouver, Canada in 1997. Here I had the privilege of working under Canada’s first female Master of Wine Barbara Philip, who was then Wine Director. While in Vancouver I commenced wine studies in earnest with Australian Mark Davidson, received my Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild and completed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust  Certificates.

From Vancouver I traveled east to Halifax, Nova Scotia, again working as a Sommelier. I was also employed by the Nova Scotia Liquor Commission to help educate store managers on wine and alcoholic beverages. While in Halifax I found a passion for wine judging and wine writing, contributing a column to the local paper and an international online web magazine.

I have traveled to the wine regions of Europe, North America, New Zealand and Australia. These excursions allowed me to experience first hand the regional growing conditions, harvests and the culture that create some of the finest wines in the world.

Since returning to Australia I have worked vintages in the Yarra Valley in Victoria, with DeBortoli Wines for whom I work in Brisbane. I have also completed the Australian Wine Research Institutes, ‘Advanced Wine Assessment Course’ which aims to produce competent wine judges in Australia. I believe that wine shows are an integral part of the wine market and always try to keep an informed palate by tasting as often as possible from as many regions as possible.

The evolution of the Australian Wine Show is extremely promising and exciting with the addition of a new class at the 2008 Melbourne Wine Show for Wines with Character, Charm and Interest which could lead to the evolution of Australian wine styles not only domestically but in international markets. In addition to being passionate about wine judging  I am a strong believer in building the hospitality industry from the inside, I currently hold the role of Secretary with the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Sommeliers Association. I am a firm believer in fostering the growth of the wine community by making the subject accessible and understandable to those who are working in the forefront of the industry, restaurant floor staff and retailers. Bree continues to write about wine in the industry magazine ‘Food Gone Nude’ for Clubs Queensland again aiming to help educate, inspire and create wine industry professionals.

You will continue to find me around Brisbane with glass in hand at various wine tastings and hospitality industry events.