Scholars in the "world's most exclusive wine school" announced

The Len Evans Tutorial, an annual wine intensive that James Halliday has called “the most exclusive wine school in the world”, has just revealed details of the 12 scholars that will take part in this year’s program.

The successful applicants will take up residence in the Hunter Valley for five days and gain access to esteemed wine industry tutors, as well as some of the globe’s rarest and oldest wines.

The Tutorial program is designed to define the demands of wine show judging and determining quality by exposing the scholars to the great wine styles of the world.

The chosen professionals come from backgrounds that span winemaking, viticulture, hospitality and sales, and are from across Australia. They include:

• Simon Killeen, winemaker at Simao & Co Wines

• Tim Dolan, senior winemaker at Peter Lehmann

• Sarah Lawler, wine buyer / wine list consultant at Ishizuka Restaurant

• Brendan Carr, winemaker at Xanadu Wines

• Alex Kirkwood, head sommelier at Aria Restaurant

• Lance Parkin, winemaker at Amberley Estate

• Rauri Donkin, winemaker at First Creek Wines

• Tim Lovett, senior winemaker at Leeuwin Estate

• Sarah Andrew, national on premise business manager at House of Fine Wine

• Steven Paul, general manager / director-shareholder at Oakdene Wines

• Cath Oates, owner / winemaker at Oates Ends

• Michael Downer, winemaker at Murdoch Hill

The 18th Len Evans Tutorial will take place between November 5 and 9, and the tutors are James Halliday, Ian McKenzie, Iain Riggs, Gary Steel, Michael Hill Smith, Vanya Cullen, Tom Carson, Sarah Crowe, David Bicknell, Jim Chatto, Tyson Stelzer, Samantha Connew and Patrick Walsh.