Previous State Champions

Sam is a Winemaker at Castle Rock Estate in the Porongurup, a boutique winery that produces premium cool climate wines from the Great Southern wine region.
Sam started out working at Voyager Estate in Margaret River while studying Oenology and Viticulture through Curtin University. After attaining his degree, he moved to Frankland River to work at Alkoomi Wines. These early years spent in the Great Southern exposed him to the region and seeded his passion for its wines, particularly Riesling.
Following a vintage in Southern Rhone and then a year in the Clare Valley at Pikes Wines, Sam moved back to the Great Southern to join Castle Rock Estate ahead of the 2020 vintage and has quickly become an integral part of the winemaking team.
“I put my hand up to be the WA State Champion for the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the future of the Australian Wine Industry. It’s critical that our industry grows and flourishes to ensure its longevity. What better way to achieve that than working with the youth of industry who will ultimately inherit it?”

From a young age Laura has always had an appreciation and fascination with wine, growing up on her family vineyard and winery, Alkoomi Wines. Her first vintage was in 2011, where she really found her passion for winemaking from her mentors.
This then led to her decision to undertake a Bachelor of Agribusiness, with a major in Oenology and Viticulture at Curtin University in Margaret River in 2013.
It was Laura's mission to work in as many areas as possible of the industry to broaden her knowledge on all aspects of wine, to be best equipped to one day manage the family business.
A semester abroad in the Niagara Wine region in Ontario, Canada was an incredible experience that really amplified her thirst to learn more about winemaking throughout the world.
This also inspired the creativity of winemaking behind Laura and husband Tim's brand Three Elms.

Mia brings a wealth of experience to the role, with a diverse career spanning premium dining restaurants and fine wine retail in Brisbane.
Her passion for wine ultimately led her to Tasmania after a vintage experience, and she quickly made it her new home. Mia is now an Area Business Manager for Joval Wines, a testament to her dedication and expertise in the industry.
Mia is incredibly excited to step into the role of State Champion. She's eager to play an active role in supporting and enriching the Tasmanian wine industry, focusing on connecting people to vital opportunities and valuable connections. Her unique background gives her a fantastic perspective on both the hospitality and retail sides of the wine world.
We can't wait to see the impact Mia will have in fostering growth and development within the Tasmanian wine community through Rootlings!

Meet Brent Harris, a Vineyard Operator at Jansz Tasmania, whose passion for fishing, wine, and gardening has rooted him deeply in the Tasmanian wine scene.
Brent's journey into the wine industry began with a start at Dan Murphy's. His interest quickly blossomed, leading him to travel across Australia in a van, exploring numerous wine regions to expand his knowledge of the industry. It was during these travels that he fell in love with Tasmania and its vibrant wine community.
Transitioning from cellar door to vineyard, Brent has now completed his third vintage, with his second at Jansz. He's incredibly enthusiastic about cultivating a strong youth culture throughout Tasmania and fostering connections between the various wine regions.
Brent is thrilled to network with industry leaders, aiming to highlight the next generation of wine professionals. He considers it an honour to be part of Rootlings, an initiative he believes is vital for the future of the industry. He's particularly excited to collaborate with Mia, whom he sees as a great mentor, as they work together to build a promising future for Tasmania's wine industry youth!

As Sevenhill Cellars’ Direct-to-Consumer and Marketing Manager, Sarah is passionate about building meaningful connections between heritage wine brands and modern consumers, leading strategy across customer engagement, sales, membership clubs and brand experience. Originally from a small town in the Riverina of NSW, she first studied education before transitioning into the wine industry, where she first started in Cellar Door and Events management. Moving to the Clare Valley in 2020, Sarah quickly fell in love with region.

An engaged industry voice, Sarah is an alumni of the Wine Australia Next Crop and Wine Communicators of Australia Mentor Program, and sits on the committee of the Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association. Sarah is passionate about regional and state advocacy, committed to fostering sustainable practices throughout the entire value chain, and building tangible pathways for young professionals in the wine industry—values she actively promotes through a range of current regional projects.

Sarah is proud to represent South Australia and is deeply committed to creating opportunities for leadership development of young professionals in regional wine communities, and sees Rootlings as a valuable platform to connect, learn, and drive meaningful change. She’s excited to collaborate with other champions across the country and continue advocating for a resilient and inclusive future for the industry.

“I put my hand up to be the SA State Champion because I believe in the power of young voices to shape the future of our industry. If we want Australian wine to thrive for generations to come, we need to invest in the people who will carry it forward—through innovation, collaboration, and strong regional leadership. Rootlings is exactly the kind of initiative that makes that possible.”

Maddie LeMire is the Winemaker at Balnaves of Coonawarra, where she
draws on a rich and varied background across Australia and France.

After completing a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide, she has worked vintages at leading wineries including Shaw and Smith, Yangarra Estate, Brokenwood, and Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey in Burgundy. Most recently, she completed a vintage at Le Pin in Pomerol, Bordeaux.

Maddie has contributed to wine production, cellar operations, and
brand storytelling across multiple regions. At Bekkers in McLaren Vale, she worked as Assistant Winemaker, involved in both crafting the wines and supporting brand and cellar door activities. She has also been part of wine sales, distribution, and hospitality teams, giving her firsthand experience across the supply chain.

Now based in Coonawarra, Maddie is deeply involved in the day-to-day
winemaking at Balnaves, working closely with the team to continue the estate’s tradition of producing regionally expressive, quality-driven
wines.

Originally from the heart of Champagne, Alexandra Alavoine brings over a decade of winemaking expertise to her role at Kirrihill in South Australia's Clare Valley. Since joining the team in 2018, she's become vital to the winery's success, leading winemaking operations since late 2022.
Alexandra's global wine journey spans from Champagne grower vineyards to Provence cooperatives, and across to California's Napa Valley, where she worked with Mumm Napa. This diverse background has shaped her thoughtful, detail-driven winemaking approach, particularly influencing her method for crafting Rieslings at Kirrihill—mirroring Champagne's precise juice fractioning to achieve a broad spectrum of blending components.
Beyond her work at the winery, Alexandra is deeply involved in the industry, regularly judging at national and regional wine shows, and she's a graduate of Wine Australia's Next Crop Leadership Program (2022). She's also a proud mum to four-year-old Oliver and shares her passion for Champagne through "Champagne with Alex," her side project offering engaging Grower Champagne Masterclasses.
For Alexandra, the true reward of winemaking comes from knowing her wines are cherished for special moments, like a recent anecdote of a 2023 Regional Riesling saved for a Christmas celebration. "To have our wine seen as so special that they are opened for dear occasions with loved ones, that makes all the hard work that goes into it so worthwhile. This is why I make wine."
An advocate for Australian wines, Alexandra now almost exclusively drinks them, having fallen in love with South Australia's exceptional diversity of wines, terroir, and gastronomy. The Clare Valley, in particular, ignited her passion for Riesling, a versatile grape she finds exciting to work with, appreciating its ability to be enjoyed young or aged, thanks to the region's climate that allows for incredible ageability.

As a proud SA State Champion for the Rootling Wine Network, Michelle Li is a dynamic winemaker based in the Clare Valley, skilfully balancing her role at Knappstein Wines with leading her own boutique label, Ms. L Wines.
With over a decade of diverse winemaking experience across South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria, Michelle is passionate about crafting wines that reflect a strong sense of place and purity of style.
Her commitment to innovation and sustainability is reflected in her involvement in the Hack the Future of Shiraz project—highlighting her interest in progressive winemaking and authentic storytelling through wine. She is also a respected wine show judge and is currently completing her WSET Diploma, further deepening her expertise and connection to the global wine industry.
Michelle is excited to bring her energy and experience to the Rootling Wine Network, connecting with fellow emerging voices to help shape a more dynamic, inclusive, and resilient future for the Australian wine industry.

Meet Allanna Wigley, a leading young voice in the Hunter Valley wine scene, bringing over eight years of invaluable industry experience to the forefront.
As Direct Sales Manager at De Iuliis Wines, Allanna is instrumental in connecting consumers with premium wines. Her entrepreneurial spirit shines through with Thea Wines, her acclaimed label launched in 2023, known for its outstanding Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Allanna is not just building her own legacy; she's actively shaping the future of the Hunter Valley wine industry. Through her role as Vice President of Hunter Wine Cru, her contributions to judging, and her dedicated efforts to mentor and attract new talent, Allanna is committed to ensuring the vibrancy and growth of the wine community for years to come.

Maggie manages export and sustainability for her family business, See Saw Wines. Despite growing up in the wine industry with no initial plans to join, her path changed after university when she landed a role as a Viticulture Development Officer at NSW DPI. This position drew her back into the industry and helped her realise it was where she truly wanted to be. Following an overseas vintage experience in Oregon, USA, she returned to embrace her role in the family business.
As a 2025 Nuffield Scholar, Maggie is investigating how to build strong, adaptive innovation ecosystems in Australian agriculture. Her research will take her across diverse industries and countries to explore successful models of collaboration and innovation. She aims to identify strategies that overcome fragmentation, minimise duplication, and enhance value creation from farm to consumer—knowledge she plans to apply to add significant value to the Australian wine industry.
Maggie is passionate about enabling the next generation to contribute meaningfully to the wine industry and is excited to be involved in the NSW state chapter.

As a leading winemaker at De Iuliis Wines in the Hunter Valley, Emily is a force in the Australian wine industry. Her extensive background includes key roles with Brokenwood Wines and Agnew Wines, complemented by invaluable international vintages in Burgundy and Napa Valley, which have significantly broadened her winemaking perspective.
Emily's discerning palate and deep knowledge are evident in her widespread contributions as an judge for prominent wine shows, including the Royal Queensland, Royal Melbourne, Royal Sydney, NSW Wine, Hunter Valley, Rutherglen, Cowra, and Single Vineyard Wine Shows.
Emily’s winemaking style is a thoughtful blend of classic techniques and modern innovation, honouring the industry’s history while courageously exploring new possibilities. A passionate advocate for sustainability, she champions practices that protect the environment and uplift local communities, ensuring a legacy of quality wine for years to come.
Emily’s entrepreneurial spirit also shines through her own brand, Glover Wines, launched in 2022 with a celebrated Hunter Valley Semillon and now including a rosé. Her remarkable achievements were formally acknowledged in 2024 when she was named Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year.

Georgie is proud to hold the position of Assistant Winemaker at De Bortoli Family Wines in Rutherglen where she oversees day-to-day winery operations, supports production planning and works closely with cellar teams throughout the year. Working across styles from Prosecco to fortified wines and powerful Durif, she thrives in the fast-paced energy of harvest and values the teamwork and problem-solving that makes each vintage unique.
Originally trained as a classical trombonist, she swapped the orchestra pit for the cellar floor, completing her Master of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of Adelaide in 2023. Her experience includes multiple Australian vintages, small-batch sparkling production in the UK and premium red winemaking in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux.
Holding a WSET Level 3 qualification and aspiring toward the Diploma, Georgie is deeply committed to continual learning. She is passionate about giving back to the wine community and hopes to support and mentor young women entering the industry. Above all, she is driven by her love of people and the shared moments that make wine such a powerful connector around the world.

ourtney is a driven and knowledgeable wine professional and currently working at Dan Murphy’s as a Wine Merchant! With a lengthy background in hospitality and liquor retail, Courtney combines strong product knowledge with a keen eye for customer service, helping people to discover wines they truly love.
She thoroughly enjoys sharing the stories of the people and brands behind the labels, discovering emerging wine talent and highlighting some of the classic wine regions of the world all while fostering an inclusive and dynamic retail environment.
As part of a new generation shaping the future of wine, she’s focused on education, accessibility, and genuine connection.

Lucy Austen-Paine is an Assistant Winemaker who is currently completing her fourth vintage in the Australian wine industry. Her winemaking journey began in 2022 with three vintages at Summerfield, an 80–100 tonne boutique winery. She then transitioned to her current role at Blue Pyrenees Estate, a 1,000 tonne winery.
Lucy's passion for wine was ignited at a young age, with her first visit to the Pyrenees wine region occurring at 12 years old. This same region later became the starting point for her career. She is also pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Wine Science) and a Bachelor of Business (Leadership) through the University of Southern Queensland.
This dual degree approach allows her to combine technical expertise with strategic knowledge, supporting her development within the industry.
Lucy is deeply passionate about the wine industry and actively participates in both regional associations and broader Australian organizations, including Rootlings.

Lachie, the talented Winemaker at Eastern Peake and Latta Vino, has been named the Rootlings State Champion for Victoria.
Lachie is renowned for crafting small-batch, premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay under the Eastern Peake label, alongside his innovative negociant winemaking for Latta Vino.
His extensive expertise has been honed through experience at numerous acclaimed wineries across South Australia and Victoria. Furthermore, Lachie has served as a judge at several wine shows, showcasing his discerning palate and deep understanding of the industry.
Lachie is passionate about fostering the growth of the next generation of wine professionals through the Rootlings Wine Network.
His aim is to connect young industry members who may face geographical or demographic isolation, providing them with opportunities to interact, develop, and collaborate with their peers.

• State Chapters

• State Chapters

Current Rootlings State Champions

Previous State Champions