Huon Hooke is an independent wine writer, based in Sydney, who makes his living entirely from writing, judging and educating about wine. A journalist first and wine professional second, he has tertiary qualifications in both fields, and has worked in wineries and wine retailing. He began writing on wine in 1983, for Fairfax newspapers.

In 2012 he launched the web and iPhone-based app, huonhooke.com. Out of this has evolved The Real Review (therealreview.com), an online wine magazine with a team of seven contributors. The Real Review is now Australia’s most widely read online wine magazine. 

Huon currently contributes to Gourmet Traveller Wine (for which he is a tasting panel member and  columnist), Fairfax newspapers Good Food section and Good Weekend magazine, Decanter, and various other publications.

Huon is the Australian co-chair at the Decanter World Wine Awards, and represents Australia in the Six Nations Wine Challenge. He has judged in most Australian and many overseas wine competitions, and still chairs the Tasmanian Wine Show, which he has judged for the last 27 years.