Oh yes, this is a big edition! As the name suggests, these are the 34 wines that almost made the Australian Wine Review top grade (of 17/20 or 90/100+) this month. Some missed the mark by a …
Working With Wine Highlights: Sweet Wines Flight 1 It seems like the second half of 2016 has passed by in a flash. Year. Gone. It's only now, however, that I'm finally in control of things. Kinda. Anyway, I'm going …
It always surprises me how much interesting Italian wine come to Australia. Loads of it. The only problem is that much of the best doesn't leave the 'on-premise' (restaurants and bars) market, which means that unless …
Curiously, I had just one glass of fizz on NYE, even though 3 bottles of Krug were in the fridge. New Years Eve does that sometimes... Anyway, for this fizz roundup I pulled in a collection of …
The late postcard: Etna Ever arrive home after a holiday and find that you beat your postcards home? Well that's me, except this postcard I never quite got around to sending. Now that I'm back - and under …
Gambero Rosso tasting: Central and Southern Italy The Gambero Rosso wine juggernaut finally reached Australian shores today, with the 'Top Italian Wine Roadshow' stopping off in Sydney town for the first ever. As a result, I spent …
Super Premium Week Day 7: Brunello Montalcino 2007 - an exploration What else do you conclude Super Premium Week with than a comparative tasting of 2007 Brunello? Actually, there are plenty of different things that I could …
Quintarelli Rosso del Bepi 1999 (Veneto, Italy)15%, Cork, $270+Source: Dinner companion I tried this wine just weeks after that fateful first encounter with a Quintarelli. As a result, when this lobbed on the table I …
Mandoleto Catarratto 2011 (Sicily, Italy) 12.5%, Screwcap, $15 Source: Samplewww.fourthwavewine.com.au Another day, another tasty import. This cheapie is quintessentially a simple wine, made from a grape that is to Sicily what Muller Thurgau was to NZ - grows …
Italian goodies from Mondo Imports I spotted Anthony from Mondo on the weekend, pouring a range of Italian wines to a few thirsty looking punters on a Saturday afternoon. Whilst I only tried one or …
Christmas Drinks: Dönnhoff, Ata Rangi, Roagna, Morris Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2007 (Nahe, Germany) 8.5% It's still surprising (to me) how polarising off dry rizzas can be, particularly given the similar residual sweetness levels of many …
Christmas drinks #2: Albert Mann, Antica Enotria and Troplong Mondot Christmas is the best. Or at least I think it is. It's all about test Cricket, long days, sunshine, ham, presents, hard work and even harder …
Cristo di Campobello Laluci Grillo 2009 (Sicily, Italy) $29, Cork, 13% Source: Retail http://www.cristodicampobello.it/ Another beauty from the boys at Mondo Imports. Of particular note is how well this went with some fine sushi - it's a fish wine …
Goodies from North East Italy Roughly biennially, prominent Australian wine distributor Negociants run what is known as the 'Working with Wine' Fellowship - a trade education program that allows 100 wine industry professionals to taste some very fine booze (and learn more about …
Gibbston Valley Gold River Pinot Noir 2008 (Central Otago, NZ)Judging by this example, Gibbston Valley had a tough time in 08. A cherry red/purple coloured Pinot with plenty of colour and rather light edges, the …
Pala Crabilis Vermentino 2007Whilst I can understand the attraction of rich and textural Vermentino, this quite well regarded wine feels like an 'also ran'. I'd be interested in seeing a retail price, as I wouldn't …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, doing a degree that I didn't really like, and a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say I discovered wine, my uni degree morphed into something completely different and wine/beer took over my life.
Almost twenty years later and I currently spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
While wearing my writer cap I write features for the likes of National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS plus I'm a Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here.