Winemaker
Carlie Dyer
- Discipline
- Winemaker
- Based in
- Melbourne, Australia
i. Biography
The Path
The move from wine labs into whisky was built on method. Carlie Dyer came through the drinks trade on the analytical side first: casual lab technician at Casella Wines, then lab manager at De Bortoli in Yarra Valley (2015–2018). Those roles trained the kind of discipline that matters in both wine and spirit-making, where samples, data, and consistency have to hold up before any creative call is made. From there, she stepped into Starward Distillery as blender (2019–2024), shifting from measurement into blend work and learning how to turn technical knowledge into flavour decisions. That path now sits behind her current role as Head Distiller and Head Blender at Starward Distillery (since 2024). The combination is straightforward in concept and demanding in practice: make the spirit, then shape the final profile that leaves the house. For Dyer, the value of that progression is in the continuity between lab, cellar, and still.
The Work Today
Since 2024, Carlie Dyer has held the Head Distiller and head blender title at Starward Distillery in Melbourne, a role that asks for production control and blending judgment in equal measure. One side is about creating the spirit; the other is about reading mature liquid and assembling a final blend that holds together. It is a position built for someone who can move between process and palate without treating them as separate trades. Her own words make that fit plain: “I’ve always resonated with Starward's vision to create a unique Australian whisky that’s accessible to everyone, so becoming Head Distiller feels like a natural next step for me.” Project Co-Ferment sits among the signature work associated with her tenure. It is a grape-and-malt spirit made from grape juice and malted barley, a direct meeting of wine material and whisky grain. The form is simple enough to state plainly, and it reflects the ground Dyer has worked across: wine handling, blending, and spirit-making in the same frame.
Signature
Carlie’s signature wines include Project Co-Ferment.
Acclaim
The 2024 appointment to Head Distiller and head blender is the clearest marker of Dyer’s standing inside Starward. It followed her earlier years as blender and put her in charge of both production and blending, with the experience of wine labs and Yarra Valley cellar work already behind her. That recognition also reflects the shape of her career itself. The work in wine established the technical base; the blender role brought her into whisky; the head post joined those disciplines at the point where spirit production and final composition meet.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Carlie
What is Carlie Dyer's current role?
As of 2026, Carlie Dyer is Head Distiller and Head Blender.
Where did Carlie Dyer work before?
Carlie Dyer's earlier career included Casella Wines, De Bortoli, and Starward Distillery.
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