maze Melbourne

Lincoln Riley

Highly regarded in Melbourne for engaging diners with superior wines, and for his imaginative and unpretentious approach to creating seasonal wine lists, the Head Sommelier at maze Melbourne Lincoln Riley has earned much praise and respect from industry peers for his extensive knowledge and attention to service.

At The Age Good Food Guide Awards last year he was honoured with the Wine Service Award and also Wine List of the Year, for the list he created at Taxi. In 2008, he was awarded with the prestigious Judy Hirst Australian Sommelier of the Year at the Fine Wine Partners/Gourmet Traveller Wine Awards.

Born and raised among the vineyards of Bendigo, Victoria, Lincoln believes his role as a sommelier is an educational one, and has watched as diners have become increasingly receptive to new tastes and grape varietals.

Lincoln, who worked for Gordon Ramsay at Boxwood Café in London in 2003, has had vast experience in the wine and food industry, both in Australia and Europe. This included positions at Hakkasan in London, popular Melbourne restaurant Donovan’s, and most recently as Head Sommelier at Taxi Dining Room, also in Melbourne.

Lincoln will be working closely with maze Chef de Cuisine Josh Emett and Melburnian Restaurant Director Randa Assi to create an especially memorable dining offer for guests. Lincoln will be focused on creating the “Sommelier Experience” a unique private dining choice at maze, which turns the concept of food and wine matching on its head.