In what has become a semi-annual event, I ventured out into the Armageddon-esque sideways rain on Saturday to taste the trophy winners (and more) from the Sydney International Wine Competition. You're …
In what has become something of a tradition (posts here, here, here, here and here for starters), I went to this year's 2019 Sydney Royal Wine Show exhibitor event tasting …
Not all wines can be great. Plenty are just ok drinks. And some are just bad… Here’s a selection of wines that almost made it in July 2019. I like plenty …
From great value quaffers to absolute train wrecks, this month's compilation of 'almost' wines is a biggun'. I'm always conscious of my prejudice against overripeness and heavy-handed oak, but I call …
For the final post in my 'wines that moved me in April' series comes this final collection - that I'm calling the 'better reds that aren't Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz or …
Hither + Yon Nero d'Avola 2016 A vibrant Nero from Hither + Yon. A grape with real promise in the warmer parts of the Vale. Lovely raspberry and red currant nose - …
Here are a few wines that almost made it in February (and a day late I know). A few serious disappointments here, and a few solid, simple wines. That Ferngrove was …
Here are a few of the wines that have passed the desk this month and almost made the grade. Some weren't far off the mark, others are absolute disasters. A few …
As you can see the volume of posts has dropped off a bit lately as I'm still not feeling great. My ankle issues turned out to be an arthritis flare …
Here's a selection of wines that were almost great. Some are just good, solid wines that are occasionally unready, through to slightly underwhelming/unexciting, and rounded out with a few wines that …
This is the third part of a look at rosé - one of the fastest growing categories in the Australian wine industry. Best to start here. While this is a roundup …
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 …
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 …
Old Jarvie The Charitable Nero d'Avola Aglianico Rosé 2016 Old Jarvie is the new label of Hither & Yon, with Old Jarvie the reference to Admiral John Jervis, whom the Gulf …
Thanks to the challenges of couriers (Auspost has its drawbacks, but wine does turn up more often than not), these two wines have been floating around at depots and in …
It's been a pretty shit week for me, with an innocuous scrape from a low speed bike fall (a stupid one where I just took my hands off the bars) turning …
A few alternate reds from the week. Lino Ramble Tom Bowler McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola 2014 Another smart wine under this label. Handpicked, biodynamically farmed grapes that were wild fermented, basket pressed …
While I am slowly wearing down the mountain of samples that have arrived at Graham HQ over the past few weeks, it has still required frequent raiding, and today's target …
Lino Ramble Tom Bowler McLaren Vale Nero d'Avola 2014 A well packaged, clever Nero from Andy Coppard and Angela Townsend, this is biodynamically grown, hand harvested, open (wild) fermented, basket pressed …
Brash Higgins NDV Nero d'Avola Amphora 2014 Benchmark Mediterranean 'alternative' (whatever that means anymore) variety from the thoughtful American big man Brad 'Brash' Hickey. Sourced from the Omensetter vineyard in McLaren Vale, …
At 18 I started working in a small suburban bottleshop, largely to buy cheap beer. It was my first year of university, slogging through physics and chemistry, 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.
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.