About
Oliver’s lifelong quest is to engage with people passionate about producing and sharing the best food and wine.
With his heart deeply anchored in Mediterranean food and wine culture – traveller, wine educator, hospitality manager, sommelier and self-confessed “wine tragic” – Oliver Budack is now ‘living the dream’.
German-born – but having lived in Australia and the South Pacific since the early-90s – in 2015 Oliver returned to Germany to obtain his ‘somm’ qualification through Berlin’s prestigious IHK/Deutsche Wein und Sommelier Schule (German Wine and Sommelier School).
In 2017 he moved back to Australia to fulfil a long-held dream: to live and work in “God’s country”: the McLaren Vale wine region of South Australia, on Kaurna Country.
He’s been super-busy ever since working as a sommelier and restaurant manager in the region. In 2018 Oliver was awarded the coveted Wayne Thomas Scholarship (for 2019), and that same year studied the renowned Advanced Wine Assessment Course (AWAC) at the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). He was an Associate Judge for the 2019 McLaren Vale Regional Wine Show and a judge for ‘New Release’ tastings for Winestate Magazine (2021, 2022).
In 2020 he completed his Spanish Wine Scholar certification with ‘Highest Honours’. He also received ‘Highest Honours’ after completing French Wine Scholar certification in 2021. In 2023 he will undertake the Wine Scholar Guild Italian Wine Scholar course, supported by a grant from the Food and Beverage Development Fund SA, embracing the never-ending learning experience in the wonderful world of wine.
From February 2021-22 Oliver worked for award-winning McLaren Vale boutique producer Sherrah Wines, facilitating Cellar Door tastings at beautiful venue, Sparrow’s Cottage.
Since February 2021, Oliver has worked as part of the Front of House team at iconic SA restaurant The Salopian Inn – one of McLaren Vale’s most cherished and accomplished – co-owned by renowned local chef, Karena Armstrong.
In February 2022 he was welcomed as Restaurant Supervisor and Sommelier at ‘hatted’ restaurant Victor’s Place, located at the gateway to McLaren Vale on the edge of the spectacular Onkaparinga Gorge. There he works with award-winning chef Chris Bone, winemaker Alan Varney (Varney Wines, winner of Halliday’s ‘Best New Winery’ 2021) and a Front of House ‘A’ team.
It might not be Spain or Italy, but it’s equally as good. Oliver’s found home, at last, in one of the Great Wine Capitals of the world…
Oliver Budack IS the Enjoyment Aficionado…
“An Enjoyment Aficionado shares an unpretentious philosophy about how to get the BEST from food and wine, by taking people beyond their expectations”.
“It’s about fun, unlocking the senses, creativity and inclusiveness”.
“An important part of my work also involves showing hospitality professionals how to be more ‘in tune’ with with their customers, and, training managers how to maximise the potential and fulfilment of their staff.
“Plus consulting with restaurants and hospitality businesses to create wine lists that not only compliment their food offerings, but, most importantly, to enhance their customers’ dining experiences”.
And Oliver’s motto?
“‘Be generous, not envious‘, is one”.
“Oh – and, ‘Enjoy yourself ruthlessly‘.”
I acknowledge and pay my respect to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on. I pay my respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders past, present, and emerging.
