| Name: Ramon Arnavas, Key Account Manager On Trade & Fine Wine Retail at Negociants Australia. |
| How long have you been in the wine industry? I started being serious about wine when I arrived to Australia from Italy in 2004. As a wine waiter I was very lucky to be exposed to some of the greatest wines of the world by very generous customers and mentors.In the last 16 years I have been lucky to work as a Sommelier in some of the best restaurants in QLD; this opened great opportunities for my wine career both as a wine judge and as a wine rep. |
| What is the most memorable moment you have experienced during your wine journey? The greatest week of my wine journey has been hands down the Len Evans Tutorial in 2016. During the LET I was lucky to try wines that I have never seen before and that I am not likely to taste again for the rest of my life. However, the pinnacle of that experience was day 2 when at dinner we had the privilege to taste a set of old Hunter Valley reds including a 1948 Seabrook M/O claret and a 1965 Lindemans Bin 3100 Hunter River Burgundy amongst other rarities. These wines to this day set the benchmark for me on how brilliant Australian wines can be. |
| What is the most recent addition to your cellar? I have just purchased a bottle of 2018 Pierre-Yves Colin Morey Chassagne Montrachet ‘Morgeot’ that I don’t think is going to last long in my wine fridge. |
| If you could only take two things to a desert island (that has a fridge), what would they be? A bottle of 2011 Roulot Meursault and a fishing rod. |
| What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone wanting to start their career in wine? Study hard, taste as much as you can, surround yourself by likeminded people and look beyond the label. |
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Samuel Smith & Son incorporating Negociants Australia is the proud sponsor of Yuki Hirose in the Best Sommelier of Australia 2020. |
