Guest of Honour - John Baker

Our Guest of Honour at this Luncheon, is John Baker, a Novocastrian who became a hotelier and rock ‘n’ roll promotor in the eighties era of Midnight Oil, INXS and Cold Chisel. He became a wine merchant creating a number of fine wine stores, as well as the importing business Bordeaux Shippers. In the late 1990s, he was known as a purveyor of quality rare and old wines, always entrepreneurial and up for adventure.

A mysterious wine list surfaced and was discovered to be a catalogue of the wine collection of Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia after which it was owned by Stalin. John embarked on an audacious and potentially dangerous journey to Georgia to discover if the wines actually existed; and if the bottles were authentic.

John wrote a best-selling book (available for purchase at the Luncheon) called Stalin’s Wine Cellar, and will take us on  a wild, rough ride through the glamorous world of high-end wine, from Sydney to Tbilisi Georgia, via the streets of Paris, the vineyards of Bordeaux and iconic Chateau d'Yquem, with a motley bunch of Georgian businessmen toting handguns.  Held in the Hunter Vineyards, this Luncheon is a must attend event.

There will also be an intriguing wine tasting linked to John’s adventure.  

This will be a limited number event so get in early to purchase your seat or table.

Event Details

When: Friday 17 June

Where: Greystone Estate, 617 Hermitage Rd, Pokolbin

Time: Noon till 4.30pm

Transport: Bus leaves at 10.45am from the Commonwealth Hotel in Cooks Hill and arrives back at 5.45pm.

Member Cost: $140
Non Member Cost: $150 

Tables of 10 (Members/Non-Members): $1,400
Bus tickets: $20