Winemakers
Accolade Wines has some of the most highly awarded winemakers at its helm who have excelled in their field for many decades. Worldly experience, attention to detail, passion and commitment combine to ensure all our wines – from everyday drinking to the very best of what we have to offer – are treated with care and respect. It is through our winemakers that we bring you the diverse styles and varietals that shine in New World climes.

Ari MervisExecutive Chairman
Ari has an established track record as a senior executive in the global beverage industry spanning more than 30 years, including over 25 years with leading brewer SABMiller, during which time he spent nine years as Managing Director, Asia Pacific, five of which were also as CEO of Foster’s. Most recently, Ari was CEO and MD of Australia’s largest dairy processor, ASX listed Murray Goulburn.
Ari has a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in Economics, Commercial Law and Marketing.
He is passionate about driving top line growth and maximising return to all stakeholders in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.
Ari has a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in Economics, Commercial Law and Marketing.
He is passionate about driving top line growth and maximising return to all stakeholders in a sustainable and socially responsible manner.
Our head winemakers have a collective experience of over 200 years in winemaking.

That’s 200 vintages worth of blood, sweat and tears...

eyeballing 20 billion grapes...

tasting over 500,000 wines...

inspecting 400,000 barrels of wine...

and downing enough coffee to keep the world awake for 50 years!
Head Winemakers
Nigel Sneyd MW
Director of Global Wine, Quality and Compliance
Profile
Nigel Sneyd MW
Director of Global Wine, Quality and Compliance

Ed Carr
Chief Sparkling Winemaker
Profile
Ed Carr
Chief Sparkling Winemaker

Craig Stansborough
Group Premium Winemaker
Profile
Craig Stansborough
Group Premium Winemaker

Cleighten Cornelius
Senior Winemaker, New Zealand
Profile
Cleighten Cornelius
Senior Winemaker, New Zealand

Gerhard Swart
Head Winemaker, South Africa
Profile
Gerhard Swart
Head Winemaker, South Africa

Winemakers
Michael Symons
Stonier Winemaker
Profile
Michael Symons
Stonier Winemaker

Courtney Treacher
Profile
Courtney Treacher

Helen McCarthy
Profile
Helen McCarthy

Paul Burnett
Profile
Paul Burnett

Penny Jones
Profile
Penny Jones

Natalie Cleghorn
Profile
Natalie Cleghorn
Senior Winemaker
Viticulturists
Samantha Scarratt
Director, Grape Supply
Profile
Samantha Scarratt
Director, Grape Supply
