Sebastian Crowther

Sebastian Crowther has spent more than 15 years immersed in the world of wine. After traveling the world over as a child, he developed a deep fascination for geography and history. Wine has allowed Crowther to explore his passion.

In 2013 Crowther became the second person in Australia to pass the stringent Court of Master Sommeliers’ examination held in London. He now enjoys helping to run the MS exams in Australia each year and is an enthusiastic mentor to the next generation of sommeliers.  

During Crowther’s time working in restaurants he was awarded the coveted Sydney Morning Herald Sommelier of the Year title in 2015, the Gourmet Traveller Judy Hirst Award for best wine list in Australia in 2012 and featured in the 2015 Netflix series Restaurant Australia.  

He is regularly invited to judge at national wine shows around Australia, and in 2018 was asked to judge the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards in London. In 2019 Crowther was selected to be a scholar at the Len Evans Tutorial and was also chairman of judges at the Canberra Regional Wine Show from 2016 to 2018.  

During his career Crowther has worked as a sommelier with the Merivale Group in Sydney, and spent two years as food and beverage director with award-winning chef Dan Hunter at his three hatted Royal Mail Hotel. Following his time in Dunkeld Crowther moved to Sydney to work with Neil Perry, becoming beverage director of the Rockpool Dining Group, which led to him being appointed as head of wine selection for Qantas.  

Aside from this involvement in the industry Crowther is director of Real Wines, a wine wholesale distributor and importing business.