The premise with this collection is very very simple - I've been hitting the sample pile hard over the past week or two, and these 30 wines were not only the most quintessentially smashable Australian …
From solid drinks to faulty train wrecks (and everything in between), the Almost Club is for wines that didn't hit the Australian Wine Review 'recommended' mark (17/20, 90/100) in August 2018. Note that there is friendly …
Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo 2014 Tangy, light bodied King Valley Nebbiolo with easy appeal. Hints of mint, a liberal dose of Neb brickdust and light cherry flavours. I like the varietal flavour here, even if it's …
Following on from yesterday's rosé report, today I've pulled out four of the best pink wines to pass the desk recently. Four standouts in an ocean of simple, sometimes sweet, sometimes dry, often middling wines. Actually, …
Pizzini Nebbiolo 2012 No, it's not from Piedmont. That's the Nebbiolo caveat. It's the assumption that anything outside of the Langhe is ultimately inferior. I can only imagine how hard it is for winemaker's making Nebbiolo anywhere …
Pizzini Lana Nebbiolo Barbera Blend 2015 'Lana' is Pizzini's new range and is named after the family's home town home in northern Italy. Classic Langhe blend (in a King Valley form) and looking good here. Bright ruby …
The Story Wines Whitlands Close Planted Riesling 2015 One of the annoying things in Australia is that we still value wineries considerably more than Vineyards. To see evidence of this you only need to look at how …
I've been engrossed in moving house this month so less wine than usual. Will be rectifying that this week. Eden Road The Long Road Canberra Pinot Gris 2016 A 'ramato' style skin contact Pinot Gris from Team Eden …
It's that time again - time to roundup a selection of wines that didn't quite make it onto the site. Some because of time and space, others because they failed the grade, this January 2017 …
Pizzini Pietra Rosa Sangiovese 2014 Pizzini now have a whole suite of different Sangiovese-based wines in the portfolio, making them one of the few Australian wineries to really push out the Sangio train (along with Coriole). …
It’s that time of the month again – time to collate a range of wines that didn’t quite make the grade. Plenty opened this month, which is why this list is longer than usual… Bremerton Langhorne Creek …
On the back of a week of Victorian Shiraz (including top wines from Lethbridge and Willow Creek), I thought it only natural that we carry on the theme this week, with a collection of Victorian …
Despite the initial steam of the Rose Revolution some years ago, it seems that the premium Australian rosè train still hasn't quite arrived. Sure, there are plenty of wines out there, but the highlights remain …
Pizzini Forza di Ferro Sangiovese 2013 This is Pizzini's unreleased (comes out in January next year) new premium Sangiovese Forza di Ferro - 'strength from iron'. Great name and a nod to the iron oxide in …
Pizzini Pietra Rossa Sangiovese 2013 This is the new name for Pizzini's Sangiovese, with 'Pietra Rossa' a reference to the vineyard's red stone. A little Canaiolo in the blend too (authentic!). Dark ruby with a little purple, …
Pizzini Nona Gisella Sangiovese 2013 Love the revamped Pizzini Sangiovese line. Good packaging too. This wine is named after Nonna Gisella, who was Alf Pizzini's grandmother. Nonna Gisella was 'strong, warm and loving'. Dark ruby coloured, there …
Pizzini Sangiovese Shiraz 2013 This is the entry level to Pizzini's new extensive range of Sangiovese/Sangiovese blends. High five Pizzini for having a go at really celebrating Sangio. On the back of the label this is described …
De Bortoli Bella Riva King Valley Sangiovese 2012 Light ruby red. There's a weird, plasticy edge to the confected and thin nose. Over filtered? Thin, red fruit palate has a little spice but otherwise no flavour …
Pizzini King Valley Pinot Grigio 2014 Pizzini's white continue to impress, particularly the aromatics. This is right in the groove. Lean, but not mean, driven by cleansing, real acidity and a little white flowers and white peach …
Pizzini Verduzzo 2013 I opened this on Saturday night not expecting much. Yet it was delicious. Refreshing, but more than that. Clever wine. This plays an interesting role really. It's almost like Pizzini's Chardonnay, with a little …
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.