Mike Hayes

Mike Hayes is in his 40th year in the wine industry. He has designed over 100 vineyards and worked in 16 regions across Australia and New Zealand. He is currently Director of Viticulture and Winery Operations at Sirromet Wines. In 2012, Mike received a Churchill Fellowship to tour Europe and search for grape varieties that can handle climate change. He visited 50 regions and viewed over 650 varieties, going on to develop the Vineyard of the Future concept for the Queensland College of Wine Tourism to aid the Australian wine industry as the climate changes.

In 2017, Mike was awarded the ASVO Australian Winemaker of the Year, adding to 900 medals career-wide with 140 Gold medals (27 National). Mike is an Adjunct Professor with Univerity of Southern Queensland and holds a Masters in Alternative Wine Grape Varieties. He is also a Wine Judge and Educator