A bacteriologist with no industry experience who started wine tasting during the Covid lockdown, has defeated seasoned wine professionals to win $5,000 cash in the inaugural Big Blind Grand Finale at Bottle Shock in the Adelaide Hills.
Stefan Sachin (pictured right) triumphed over 23 other finalists on Saturday including second-placed Gregory Teodosio who holds a WSET Diploma and is the wine curator at East End Cellars.
Geoffrey Hunt, owner of Fú wine bar and former beverage director of Louise Hotel & Sprout Group, finished third.
“The result marks a significant moment for wine culture in Australia: proof that exceptional palate development exists well beyond the professional wine industry,” Bottle Shock founder Brendan Carter said.
“Stefan’s win is exactly what this competition was designed to celebrate.
“We didn’t create this for sommeliers to compete against each other. We created it to champion everyone who loves wine – the customers, the enthusiasts, the people who keep our industry alive.
“Stefan represents thousands of passionate wine lovers across South Australia who’ve developed extraordinary skill simply because they care about wine.”
Stefan said that in 2020 he had leave booked that he couldn’t defer, so he decided to explore SA wine regions.
“I started reviewing wines and watching wine-related YouTube content – including Bottle Shock – which I’ve continued as an amateur with my wife to this day.
“As a scientist in bacteriology, wine science excites me, and in another life I may have gotten into the industry.”
His scientific background may have given him an edge in understanding wine chemistry, but his palate development came purely from passion – regular tasting, study and genuine curiosity about wine.
The Big Blind Challenge was launched on September 1 as the first competition of its kind in Australia – open to all South Australians regardless of qualifications or industry involvement.
More than 200 participants entered Round 1, tasting blind flights and correctly identifying wines to progress. The field narrowed to 84 for Round 2, then 24 finalists for the Grand Finale on December 13.
Of the 19 finalists who competed for prizes on Saturday, six came from entirely outside the wine industry – and five of those six advanced past Round 1 into the elimination rounds.
“Two members of the general public were so strong in Round 1 that they went straight through to the final four,” Carter said.
“That’s not luck. That’s genuine skill.”
He said the industry needs good news stories right now.
“We need evidence that people still care about wine, still engage deeply with it, still find it exciting,” Carter said.
“This competition proves that wine talent exists everywhere – not just in professional circles. That’s incredibly positive for the future of wine culture in Australia.”
Photo: Matthew Carter.
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