We’re excited to welcome James Godfrey to the Neat Sips team as our 2024 festival patron.

As Treasury Wine Estates Fortified Winemaker, James brings a wealth of fortified experience, knowledge and passion to the Neat Sips Team.

James has been with Treasury Wine Estate for 46 years. He started his wine career as a cellar hand in 1974 at Wynn’s Glenloth Winery in McLaren Vale. He then attended Roseworthy Agricultural College, completing a Diploma in Oenology in 1977.

After graduating in February 1978, James began working with Seppelt at their Seppeltsfield Winery as an Assistant Winemaker. He was promoted to Senior Winemaker at Seppeltsfield in 1981, Manager/Winemaker of Barossa Wineries in 1984, Manager/Winemaker of Seppelt Wineries in 1988, and finally to Group Fortified Winemaker in 1990. As Group Fortified Winemaker, James was responsible for the production, maturation, stock balance, and maintenance of style integrity and quality for all fortified brands within Treasury Wine Estates Group. A highlight of his career was conducting a 1999 tasting of 220 vintage fortified wines from Australia and Portugal, covering vintages from 1927 to 1994.

In 1999, he was awarded Winestate Winemaker of the Year and inducted as a Baron of the Barossa in 2009. James served on the Barossa Wine Show committee for 25 years, acting as Chair for 8. He has had a 35-year judging career and judged at every capital city wine show, The Rutherglen Fortified Wine Show, and many regional shows. He was Chair of the Royal Hobart Wine Show committee for five years, from 2017 to 2021. James also conducted an annual fortified production lecture at Adelaide University for some 38 years.