Dr Ron Georgiou, the man behind the wine experience at the recently launched Hilton Sydney’s Glass Brasserie,

takes us through a career that’s combined dentistry with becoming a Master of Wine.

Give us a brief description of your company and your title?

The Wine Oracle is a wine consultancy company focused on delivering innovative wine concepts and events to clients around the world. It encompasses wine training, employing staff, buying wine and creating unique concepts to give our clients a unique wine program. I have the Master of Wine qualification (London).

What are the major responsibilities in your job?

Designing concepts, tasting over 300 wines per month and documenting the tasting results, answering emails from five different time zones, events MC, meeting with clients, wine companies etc

Who do you report to and what are you required to communicate?

I own the company so no-one to report to.

Who reports to you and what are they required to communicate?

I have a business manager and a client coordinator. The client coordinator acts as the bridge between me and the clients. She looks after their day to day requests, obtains the relevant information required and coordinates major wine buys for export. The business manager looks after the paperwork and the financial side of the business.

Tell us about your work with the Hilton Sydney? How did it come about and what is your responsibility there? Have you worked with many other hotels or restaurants in this capacity?

I started working with the Hilton Group in the Maldives in 2001. From there the work extended to Malaysia and now the Hilton Sydney, with the Conrad in Phuket a future project. My responsibilities are the same as with all the Hilton properties. They include designing and implementing the wine program, employing and training wine-related staff, regularly tasting the wines and managing the buying of all wines for each property, analysing trends and having input into the changes to improve the quality of the wine product, conducting special tastings and events on behalf of Hilton and doing media interviews.

What other jobs have you had in your career? How did those experiences lead to your current job?

I am currently a practising dental surgeon also. I have been a trained dentist for 21 years. My passion for wine led me to do weekend courses, followed by TAFE courses, then some research for publication, and then I went on to the Master of Wine program, which I passed in 2000.

Have you undertaken any study/training as part of your career? Are you currently studying or planning to do so?

I spent five years in the Master of Wine (MW) program. I regularly attend tastings. I travel internationally as part of my ongoing wine education to wine destinations around the world.

What’s your advice to someone interested in your role?

The Master of Wine qualification is a wonderful opener of doors around the world. If you are serious about obtaining a highly-regarded wine qualification, then I would recommend the WSET Diploma and then the MW program.

If you could do it all again what would you do differently?

Nothing. I’ve had a ball. To do something I love and be paid for my time is a great privilege.

What is your dream job now?

My two careers; dentist and Master of Wine.

Your favourite way to wind down after work is..

Spend time with my family, have a nice meal with a good glass of wine that I can enjoy without having to analyse it.

What’s your favourite food and drink?

Favourite food is pasta or risotto. I love Italian wine in particular—Chianti and Amarone. I also love wine from the Northern Rhone.