The Melbourne Royal Wine Awards is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected wine shows recognising and rewarding excellence in Australian winemaking. Established in 1883, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards annually attracts around 2,500 entries from over 400 wineries from across the country.
Melbourne Royal invites Professional members of Sommeliers Australia to express their Interest in stewarding the Judging and Exhibitor & Trade Tasting of the 2024 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.
Judging will take place at Melbourne Showgrounds in Ascot Vale from Monday 21 through Friday 25 October 2024, with the Exhibitor & Trade Tasting taking place on Friday 1 November.
Stewards are responsible for ensuring a seamless and professional judging process, with a focus on pouring and delivering exhibits to the judging panel.
Duties include
- Take direction from the Melbourne Royal Team, Chair of Judges and Chief Steward
- Set up glasses for judging & judging tables
- Open and pour wines for judging
- Clear and replenish glassware and palate cleansers, spittoons and bins
- Keep all areas, both front and back of house, clean and tidy
- Observe a Code of Conduct and OH&S regulations
- Maintain strict confidentiality at all times
Requirements
- Ability to follow direction
- Professional in approach and well mannered
- Ability to carry tray with glasses
- Ability to pour wine in a measured way
- RSA (if stewarding the Exhibitor & Trade Tasting)
Benefits
- Industry engagement, networking and the opportunity to gain insights into the judging process
- Access to Australia’s best wines in the biggest competition of its kind – stewards will have the opportunity to sample product at the end of each day (but not during judging) and gifted a dozen bottles of wine for each shift.
- Lunch and refreshments provided each day
Shifts
There are shifts available across the five days of judging and the Exhibitor and Trade Tasting:
Judging – Monday 21 October to Friday 25 October
All Day Shifts – 8am – 6pm
Exhibitor & Trade Tasting – Friday 1 November (RSA Certificate required)
8.30am – 12.30pm
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: Steward to Associate Program
Sommeliers Australia Professional members who commit to at least two days of stewarding will be eligible for a half-day rotating Associate Judge position, which will be allocated by Melbourne Royal. Only four (4) Steward to Associate positions are available.
To be eligible to participate in the Steward to Associate program, Professional members need to complete the online stewarding application then send their wine-related CV to Sommeliers Australia Executive Officer, Nicola Reid, via [email protected] to be shortlisted.
Applications are open to Professional members nationally, however please note that successful candidates are responsible for their own travel, accommodation or associated costs.
Steward to Associate Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to participate in the Steward to Associate program, applicants must:
- Be a current Professional member of Sommeliers Australia;
- Have prior experience in wine show stewarding or associate judging, or have completed WSET Level 2 or CMS Certified or higher qualifications;
- Complete the online Melbourne Royal Stewarding Opportunities application and commit to at least two days of stewarding;
- Submit their wine related CV to Sommeliers Australia, outlining stewarding or judging experience, or wine related qualifications;
- Commit to being available to attend their nominated stewarding shifts – no-shows on the day may jeopardise future Melbourne Royal opportunities.
To apply
Step 1: Visit the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards website and submit your application via the Stewarding Opportunities page. Select Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, then click “Apply for this role” and complete the required details.
Step 2: Once your Stewarding application has been submitted, forward your wine related CV (see Eligibility Criteria) to [email protected] with the subject: Melbourne Royal Steward to Associate.
Applications for the Steward to Associate program close on Monday 30 September at 5pm.
Melbourne Royal will confirm selected Steward to Associate candidates by Friday 4 October.
