DRINKS CURATOR Meira Harel

Meira Harel is a wine and restaurant professional who has managed many of Australia’s top venues.

Originally from Israel, she moved to Melbourne in 2012 and quickly built a reputation as a sommelier and manager of restaurants including The Town Mouse and Daylesford’s famed Lake House.

Recognised as a leading beverage authority in Australia, Harel was named Victorian sommelier of the year by The Age Good Food Guide in 2016 and has judged many national wine and spirit awards. She has also held an advisory position for Sommeliers Australia, written extensively on flavours and food matching with tea, and co-founded hospitality conference GROW Assembly.

Harel relocated to Adelaide in 2019 and this year became general manager of the reinvigorated Press Food and Wine, along with Peel Street Restaurant and Leigh Street Wine Room.

In late 2022 she joined the creative team of Tasting Australia as the Drinks Curator for the festival. She now focuses on consulting work and growing wine education and development for the next generation of professionals in South Australia.