Get to know us

Sydney Wine Tasting is a collaboration of wine industry friends. After running a range of wine tasting events together, we realised that there was a huge gap in the market for an events based business that focused on bring all the elements that make wine such a captivating drink together. From Art, history, geology, chemistry and of course people, wine brings elements of each together. Telling these stories in a fun and informative way is what we are all about.  

David Messum is a winemaker, wine marketeer, and presenter. He is the winemaker at Born & Raised Wines, a wine brand that follows his love of Italian wine varieties and minimal intervention winemaking across Victoria’s unique vineyards. David has worked in vintages in New Zealand, and has hunted out the winemaking secrets of Nebbiolo, his favourite variety, in its homeland Piedmont.

David is also the founder of wine, food and hospitality marketing agency, Just the Drop where he works with some of Australia’s most exciting wine and lifestyle brands and has seen articles published in Wine Business Magazine. Not content with making and marketing wine, he also talks about wine, as the wine guy on Fairfax Media and Virgin Australia’s What’s Cooking radio show, as well as hosting corporate tasting events and trade training programs. When not thinking about wine, you’ll find him out riding his bike or planning the next overseas eating and drinking expedition.

Charlie is one of 3 Australians to have successfully completed the unique international Masters Degree, the MSc OIV - Masters in International Wine Management, since its inception in 1983. Charlie graduated in Paris in 2013 with Special Mention. Charlie is currently the Managing Director of Virtuous Vine - importer/distributor of high quality French natural wines and is a partner in Sydney Wine Tasting, Australia’s premier Wine Tasting Event and training company.

A very experienced public speaker in the world of wine, he speaks particularly often about the transition from 20th century mechanisation in agriculture toward sustainability and small-scale farming for quality. He previously worked in numerous roles in the vineyards and wineries of France, where he lived as an expat for 8 years. Speak to him about anything French, food, wine and good times! Oui Oui!