| I AM: Marcell Kustos, Beverage Director at Restaurant Botanic + winemaker at LUDO Wines (Nat. Exec & SA Committees) |
| I BECAME A COMMITTEE MEMBER TO: To drive positive change in the wine and hospitality industries, learn from like-minded professionals and create a platform that offers education and mentoring for the next generation. |
| MY BACKGROUND IS: Originally from Hungary. I fell in love with wine at the age of 10 when picking grapes in my family’s small vineyard. After obtaining a degree in Food Engineering and Winery Operations, I started my career in the food industry but ultimately my heart led me back to the wine industry. Worked as a wine researcher, a winemaker and now enjoying a more customer and business focused role while exploring native Australian botanicals. I’m thankful for all lessons learned and mentors who helped me along the journey. |
| ONE THING PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME IS… I’m a certified wine nerd with a Phd in Food, Wine and Emotion Pairing. |
| THE MOTTO I LIVE BY IS: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” (Benjamin Franklin) |
| MY GREATEST INDULGENCE IS: Jamon Iberico and dry Furmint from Szepsy (Tokaj). |
| WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A PART OF THE WINE INDUSTRY IS … How welcoming and open everyone in this industry has been. Hospitality has no borders, gender, race, or age. We all are here to have a good time and learn from each other! |
