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

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

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

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

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