If you ever need a reminder of how devastatingly hard the life of a farmer/vigneron can be, look only at New England's Topper's Mountain 2019 'vintage gonski'. On Feb 13th the …
Christmas is my favourite time of year. The smell of gardenias. The sun. The green grass. The promise of holidays. It's so good. This time of year is also perfect for …
It's been a long month here at Graham HQ, and the next few weeks promise to be just as intense. I can't wait for that glorious period in between Christmas …
There isn't much that Stepen Pannell - aka S.C. Pannell - hasn't done. Here's a winemaker that has won a Jimmy Watson Trophy (twice if you count Hardys). Worked for a …
It's almost like Spain doesn't exist. Here in Australia we bow down at the feet of the best French and Italian red wines, willingly forking out mega dollars for Burgundy and …
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 …
Here's another new name to add to the list. Livewire is the label of Anthony Brain, a former chef who has spent time as winemaker for Bellarine Estate and De Bortoli (amongst …
I'm stepping back in time again for today's Flashback Thursday post, and again I'm in Rioja, following on from where things left off at Bodegas Muriel. While the Muriel story is as …
Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva 2010 I've been a little slow in updates over the last week or so, spending too much time at Spanish beaches. Can't help myself really. But back to …
Topper's Mountain Earth Child 2012 I love diving in to the Topper's Mountain wines. Always interesting, always high quality, even though they don't always work. Intrigue a go-go. This red is a …
Capital Wines Kyeema Vineyard Tempranillo Shiraz 2013 From Capital Wines' Kyeema Vineyard, this is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Shiraz. Lots of love for Temp. around the Canberra district …
Willow Bridge Rosa de Solana 2014 I feel a bit gloomy opening these Willow Bridge wines. RIP Simon Burnell. Anyway, this Tempranillo Rose (with 12% Semillon) is nice wine, again. Very light pink …
d'Arenberg The Sticks & Stones 2010 (McLaren Vale, SA) This blend of Tempranillo (41%), Grenache (41%), Souzao (15%) and Tinta Cao (3%) has always been an unknown in the 'core' d'Arenberg range, …
Henschke Hill of Grace 2008 and more new Henschke releasesI'm in the midst of a major uni assignment at present, spending my nights designing/messing up winery floor plans and tinkering …
Wooed by Henschke Henschke Hill of Grace Vineyard (Photo by Kate Parry) It must have been 6 or 7 degrees in the Henschke tasting room, perhaps less. Needless to say it was cold. …
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, so a liquor shop seemed like fun. Needless to say, I discovered wine, and my life evolved with a unique dual focus - wine and environment.
Twenty years later and I spend my days wearing many (wine) hats, mostly as a writer, presenter and marketer.
I now judge at wine shows around the world, sit on the Australian Wine List of the Year awards panel and was once a Wine Journalism Young Gun (but baby that was years ago).
Currently, I write features for a variety of publications including National Liquor News, Gourmet Traveller WINE and the RAS, plus I'm a former Lifestyle FOOD channel wine expert.
In 2019 and 2020 I was voted in the Top 30 Best Wine Critics in The World, and in my spare time, I'm a sucker for punishment and run trail ultra marathons, much to the delight of my long-suffering family. Read more about me here or get in touch to book your next wine event with me here