Western Australian Sparkling Symposium
Support the future of sparkling wine
Join us for a full day event featuring interstate and local experts presenting in-person and virtually to discuss technical elements of premium sparkling production (méthode champenoise and non-traditional methods) across the areas of viticulture & winemaking and feature market insights into the category.
Continue on into the night with a fabulous dinner over looking the lake by Karri Valley Resort and enjoy great conversations with some industry legends.
Meet the Speakers
Trina Smith - Winemaker Pernod Ricard
With 20 years of winemaking experience, Trina Smith is a skilled winemaker in all styles of wines. Trina became interested in wine after numerous wine appreciation courses and in 1997 completed a Degree in Oenology (University of Adelaide). After finishing her degree, it was time to travel and put the study into practice with
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Nick Dry - Foundation Viticulture
Nick graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Viticultural Science) from the University of Adelaide in December 2000. He was first employed by the Orlando Wyndham Group and spent three years working as a viticulturist in the South-East and Riverland.
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Kate Laurie - Winemaker Deviation Road
Clocking up 25 years as the sole winemaker for two small wineries, Kate has been hands on in all facets of grape and wine production. Stone Bridge Estate was created in partnership with her parents, and Deviation Road with her husband, which gave her the freedom to create the wine styles and have input on the direction
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Mick Griffith - Vineyard Operations Manager Domaine Chandon
Mick started his career in viticulture 24 years ago working and studying in the cool-climate region of Orange, NSW. After a vintage in the Napa Valley, he returned to Australia and began working with Brown Brothers in 2004, where he held various positions across their vineyards including Viticulturist.
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Nic Bowen - Winemaker Howard Park
Nic Bowen joined the Howard Park winemaking team for the 2021 vintage. Born in the Great Southern region into a winemaking family, he was for a time a professional triathlete, before completing a commerce degree and working in financial planning.
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Mick Langridge - Senior Winemaker Vasse Felix
Mick Langridge joined Vasse Felix in October 2010, bringing with him years of experience as a winemaker and brand advocate in Margaret River, a region in which he has now completed over twenty-five vintages.
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Lee Hasselgrove - Viticulturist
Lee Haselgrove is a well known Viticulturist, a recent winner of Viticulturist of the Year, Gourmet Traveller Wine, for services to the Great Southern of WA, and also the inaugural winner of the National Vineyard of the Year, YGOW, in 2020.
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Yuri Berns - Winemaker Sitella Winery
Yuri Berns started his career off at Sittella as a trainee in winemaking in 2004. He worked vintages at Clos Pegase Wines in the Napa Valley/California, at Howard Park in Margaret River. Yuri Berns commenced Curtain University in 2009, graduating in oenology and viticulture in 2011.
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Peter Bailey - Wine Sector Intelligence Wine Australia
Peter Bailey is Manager, Market Insights at Wine Australia and has over 15 years’ experience in providing analysis and insights into the Australian grape and wine sector. Peter keeps the sector up to date with the latest trends in global supply and demand and is a regular presenter at industry conferences
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Larry Jorgensen - CEO Wines of WA
Larry Jorgensen is Chief Executive Officer of Wines of Western Australia, starting in the role in 2013. He has worked in the wine industry since 1996 in a variety of roles with focus on sales and marketing and management.
Richard Fennessy - Grape & Wine Research Scientist DPIRD
Richard holds the position of grape and wine research scientist at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional development (DPIRD) and has more than 20 years’ experience working in the wine industry.
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Venue – Karri Valley Resort
Located on the edge of Lake Beedelup and surrounded by forest, RAC Karri Valley Resort offers a choice of studios and self-contained chalets. Each has a private balcony with lake or forest views.
Guests at RAC Karri Valley Resort can enjoy a range of leisure activities including visiting the animal farm, trout fishing, sailing, mini golf, tennis, archery and mountain biking. Resort facilities include a shared laundry, games room, non-motorized water sports and barbecue area.
Overlooking the lake, Lakeside Restaurant is air-conditioned in summer with an open fireplace in winter.
The lakeside rooms overlook Lake Beedelup and have an outdoor dining area. The secluded chalets include a fully equipped kitchen, open-plan living/dining area and a log fireplace.
From The Blog
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Margaret River Vintage Report 2024
Margaret River Vintage 2024: There is exciting potential from the earliest vintage on record The 2024 vintage in Margaret River was early, fast-paced and bodes well for some superb-quality wines. The vintage was also blessed with one of the most spectacular and...
Geographe Vintage Report 2024
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