I AM: Kim Bickley, Owner and Director of The Sommeliers Studio (NSW Committee) |
I BECAME A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO: Help other sommeliers around Australia to connect with others and improve their opportunities within the industry. |
MY BACKGROUND IS: I am Australian born and bred. Having grown up on an oyster farm on the Gold Coast – yes, oysters were grown on the GC many years ago! I found myself like many from the Goldie, working at the Casino (Conrad Jupiters at the time) alongside an amazing team of hospo and fine wine devotees. there I developed a passion for wine and wanting to hone my skills I moved to Sydney. I spent most of my adult life in Sydney working under some legendary somms like Stephane Carrier and John Clancy, from there I ran wine programs for places such as Hilton Sydney, Glass Brasserie and Black by Ezard. After I left the floor I worked for Fine Wine Partners as the national manager for their Museum and Rare program. I now live in Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley where my partner Andrew Thomas makes the best wine in the Valley and where we are raising our 6 year old son while opening a new venture called the Sommeliers Studio. |
THE MOTTO I LIVE BY IS: In the wine or restaurant game, WE ARE NOT SAVING LIVES, be humble be kind and be the best you can be even when you’re cleaning the toilet. |
THE PERFECT MEAL WOULD BE: With a bunch of my favourite somms from all around Australia, many whom I have not seen for years and miss dearly |
WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE WINE INDUSTRY IS … The people and their stories. Customers, winemakers, suppliers, chefs and sommeliers. |