Wine with Meg + Mel

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Queensland wine sounds like it shouldn’t work, so we taste our way through the Granite Belt and talk through the climate science that makes it possible. Four bottles later, we’re genuinely shocked by how balanced, fresh, and buy-worthy these wines are. 

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We move through the week’s biggest wine headlines, from career-building opportunities in Adelaide to the very real stress of smoke over vineyards during harvest. We also unpack rising fuel costs, what redundancies signal about the market, and why Michel Rolland’s legacy still shapes how wine tastes today.

• Scholarships for under-35s to attend the International Masters of Wine Symposium in Adelaide in April 2027
• Why the MW symposium matters for contemporary issues, tasting and industry networks
• Controlled burns across Victoria during peak harvest and how fast timing changes raise risk...

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We taste and test how different glasses change the way wine shows up, from aroma to texture, with SPIEGELAU CEO Richard Voit. We land on a simple, practical setup for real life: buy fewer glasses, buy better, and match the glass to what you actually drink. 

Throughout this episode we try Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Of Course!) and even Champagne and the results left us shocked.

We've highlighted our favourite glasses from this experience for you!

An...

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You know that moment on a weekend away when you’re standing in a local supermarket with bananas in one hand and a basket in the other, staring at a random wall of wine and thinking, “How am I meant to pick something good from this?” That’s the problem we set out to solve with a simple challenge: we’re heading to an Airbnb with mates, we each get $50, and we have to buy wine that delivers on both value and drinkability. No swapping bottles back onto the shelf, no overthinking, and yes, we ab...

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We put goon on trial by tasting Bagnum versus a classic tap cask, blind, and learned just how easily packaging can mess with perception. Along the way we unpack why a Goon Bag can inflate (unintentionally, unlike Austin's high school pillows), what freshness really means in larger formats, and why the cheaper option can still be the best drink in the glass. 

• What counts as goon and why the tap matters 
• Bagnum versus cask pricing and how it plays out per bottle 
• The “inflated Bag” problem explained by CO2 and heat ...

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We break down why hedge funds are shorting Treasury Wine Estates in plain language, explore how Victoria Wine posted a record year, and unpack Penfolds’ culture pivot with Troye Sivan and the switch from the Australian Open to F1. We close by mapping the new logic of event sponsorships and what authenticity now means for wine brands.

• How short selling works and why TWE is targeted
• Luxury strategy under China headwinds
• Why Victoria’s wine contribution hit records
• The role of exports, trade fairs, and funding
• Authenticity versus prestig...

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We test Thai favourites (roti with satay, pad Thai and green curry) against a tight wine list to find pairings that truly work. A skinsy white surprises with satay, Riesling shines with pad Thai, Moscato calms green curry, and a light red secretly turns up the heat.

We would love your feedback on this episode! 

Did you enjoy it, or do you want us to just shut up and keep giving you actual education about wine?

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What passes the Pub test?

Beyond catchy slogans and sleek aesthetics, where does alcohol marketing cross the line? We examine Australia’s ABAC standards through the lens of recent, real-world complaints. By breaking down which campaigns were cleared and which were banned, Mel takes us inside the alcohol marketing world and boy did we get an education!

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Forget everything you thought you knew about the Limestone Coast being "just for Cabernet." We’re following Meg’s week-long trek along South Australia’s wind-whipped shoreline to discover a region that’s cooling down and sharpening up. From the electric Blue Lake of Mount Gambier to the chalky soils of Robe and Cape Jaffa, we’re trading heavy reds for whites that speak with a bright, textural accent. It’s a coastal vibe where the air is crisp, the acids are zesty, and the Sauvignon Blanc actually tastes like an explosion of passionfruit...

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A fresh studio, a new season, and the most pressing question in Australian wine: how do we move a region built on volume toward a future built on value? We open with Riverland’s reality—cheap grapes, heavy irrigation, and a glut of ageing red—and ask whether protecting old vines and dialing back yields can spark a quality reset. Brendan Carter’s deep dive provides a hopeful blueprint, but we weigh the hard limits: rainfall differences, trellis vs bush vines, and the sheer scale that makes a Swartland‑style pivot harder here.

F...

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Bushfire season has arrived with brutal force, impacting Victorian wineries - this extra episode is to answer your questions around what this means.

From Strathbogie Ranges and Yea through to watch zones near the Yarra Valley, we map the fire lines, the shifting winds, and the hard choices facing growers who are only weeks from harvest. It’s not just scorched rows and lost stock; the bigger, quieter threat is in the smoke you can’t taste on the grape but can’t ignore in the glass.

We break down s...

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A glass of champagne in hand and a year’s worth of tasting notes on the table, we set out to crown ten wines that genuinely moved us. Not the priciest. Not the rarest. The bottles that delivered texture, balance and joy—whether poured at a barbecue, opened for a milestone, or discovered on a whim at the local.

We start with the unexpected: an Australian Arinto that lives in the mineral, nutty space between categories, and a Pouilly Fumé that rehabilitates Sauvignon Blanc with flint, smoke and structure. Then comes the c...

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We taste through Australian icons and ask what truly makes a wine “great”: site, story, structure, or time. From Great Western’s mineral Shiraz to Margaret River’s silky Cabernet, Grange’s legend and Noble One’s golden botrytis, we weigh value, ageability and joy.

• Best’s Bin 0 Shiraz 2021 as elegant, dark-fruited Great Western benchmark
• Continental climate, phenolic ripeness and stony granitic tannins
• Thompson Family Shiraz 2020 from 1868 pre-phylloxera vines
• Why cellaring matters and protecting historic vineyards
• Margaret River Cabernet structure versus Yarra Valley tannin
• Barrel selection and blending for balance a...

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We taste a line-up of Australian icons. From Tasmanian bubbles to Hunter Semillon, Canberra Shiraz Viognier, and Yarra Cabernet blends, we map style, site, and ageability with unashamed love for homegrown greatness.

• Arras Late Disgorged 2009 
• Tyrrell’s Vat 1 2019
• Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2004
• Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier 2024
• Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2021

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A toast to legacy, a clash over creativity, and a bottle that could change how we drink. We open with a tribute to Peter Fraser—winemaker, mentor, and quiet force at Yangarra—then step straight into the friction points shaping wine right now: the awards that reward meaningful storytelling, the slogan that sparked a pile-on, and the packaging pivot that’s bigger than aesthetics.

We unpack the Wine Communicator Awards and why Halliday’s podcast comeback matters when trust is hard-won. Max Allen’s recognition is a reminder that longform writing still anch...

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Ever wondered how a $12 Italian white can stand toe-to-toe with a $40 benchmark? We bring Aldi Australia’s wine buyer, Jason, into the studio and pull back the curtain on how supermarket wines can be precise, expressive, and outrageously good value without cutting corners. From the first pour, it’s clear his approach is different: start with typicity, build texture with intention, and collaborate with winemakers until the brief becomes a glass of something you want a second pour of.

We kick off with a blind Soave face-off that tests preconceptions about pric...

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We blind taste Aldi’s Blackstone Paddock against renowned Australian bottles and were absolutely shocked by what we found.

• Aldi wines + our end of year partnership
• Aldi Blackstone Paddock Tasmanian Pinot Gris ($19.99) tasted with a renowned Tasmanian Pinot Gris worth approx $40 - a beautiful alsatian style with savoury notes and oily texture.
• Aldi Blackstone Paddock Margaret River Chardonnay ($19.99) tasted with a great $70 Margaret River Chardonnay. It emerged as a modern, flinty style. Daring, aimed at wine nerds - impressive.
• Aldi Blackstone Paddock Tasmanian Pinot Noir ($19.99) beside two other Tassie Pin...

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We blind-taste three Kunawarra Cabernets and then compare our notes to the wineries’ own descriptions to see what holds up. Along the way we share a science-backed look at regional character, practical decanting and cellaring advice, and a simple rule to spot trustworthy tasting notes.

Wines: 

Notes:
• what “old-school” Kunawarra Cabernet tastes like
• how tannin texture and bay leaf markers guide pairing
• why some marketing notes miss the mark
• which notes aligned with structure, age and...

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We taste the spritz surge head‑on, from peachy Bellina to zesty Zoncello, a spiced curveball, and a local bitter orange can, while unpacking how climate news nudges fine‑wine prices and how producers adapt. We share how to serve spritz properly, why real fruit matters, and why welcoming spritz grows the wine world.

• the spritz boom across Australian shelves and bars
• serving rules for balance with ice and citrus
• Zoncello's Bellina peach spritz ($25) as the crowd‑pleaser
• Zoncello’s lemoncello spritz ($25) hit and bold marketing
• Squeeling Pig apple and cinn...

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We put the champagne opening myth to the test, comparing the quiet hiss to the party pop to see if bubble quality actually changes. Along the way we unpack Coravin’s medical-engineering roots, wine by the glass growth, and why glassware choice feels fussy yet useful.

• Coravin inventor’s medical background and impact
• How Coravin preserves wine using argon
• London and Melbourne leading wine by the glass
• Safety-first method for opening sparkling
• Charmat versus traditional method explained
• Blind tasting: pop versus hiss bubble texture
• Glassware choices for sparkl...

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What if two Pinots from the same producer, made the same way, could still taste nothing alike? We uncork that mystery by tracing flavour back to elevation, aspect, soil and the quiet work of a long ripening season. Starting on the Mornington Peninsula with Ten Minutes by Tractor, we compare “Down the Hill” and “Up the Hill” and show how a cooler ridge delivers darker colour, finer tannins and perfume, while lower sites pour bright cranberry fruit and a touch more bunchy grip. The takeaway is simple and thrilling: site speaks, even when the labe...

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Think all Pinot Noir is just “light red”? Three glasses say otherwise. We set up a controlled taste test with Handpicked’s single-vineyard Pinot from Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula, and the Yarra Valley to hear terroir speak without the noise of wildly different winemaking. The result is a crisp, side-by-side sensory map of Australian Pinot: an elegant, hibiscus-and-cranberry whisper from Tassie; a plush, red-cherry surge with velvet tannins from Mornington; and a taut, sour-cherry line with tomato leaf and structure from Yarra.

We start by framing why place matters—cool climates, longer hang tim...

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Wine scoring systems have proliferated, leaving many consumers confused about who to trust when choosing their next bottle. We break down the differences between wine shows, critic ratings, classifications, and journalistic approaches to help you navigate the complex world of wine recommendations.

• Wine shows use panels of expert judges who taste wines blind, scoring on a 100-point scale
• Judges award bronze (85-89), silver (90-94), and gold (95+) medals based on technical merit
• The Real Review groups wines by variety for comparative tasting, with critics having freedom to taste non-blind
• Halliday...

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Meg and Mel dive into the groundbreaking Endeavor wine industry report that reveals surprising insights about Australian wine consumption patterns across demographics and regions.

• Affluence drives wine purchase more than age, with wealthy consumers favouring Champagne, Chardonnay, and surprisingly, Riesling
• Gen Z unexpectedly over-indexes on Champagne consumption despite limited budgets
• Tasmania and Western Australia show the strongest loyalty to their local wine regions
• The Yarra Valley is experiencing growth while Tasmania faces market challenges despite producing top-rated sparkling wines
• Victoria drives wine trends like Pinot Noir and spritz cul...

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It came to our attention that our Nebb ep wasn’t uploaded currently so you all never heard us Greek out over one of our fav grapes… well…  here it is! 

Meg and Mel explore the world of Nebbiolo, comparing Australian examples from Victoria with Italian classics from Piedmont.

• Nebbiolo is known for its paradoxical nature - light in colour but powerful in tannin and structure
• Classic descriptors include tar, roses, dried cherries, and a distinctive "bricky" character
• Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo ($35) from King Valley offers an approachable e...

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Meg and Mel dive into the world of unusual grape varieties, exploring wines most people have never heard of and definitely can't pronounce. From a surprisingly good organic Australian Chardonnay to obscure European varietals, they share discoveries that will expand your wine horizons.

• Yolumba Organic Chardonnay from South Australia delivers unexpected quality for $23
• Exploring the difference between organic certification and sustainable practices
• Arinto, a Portuguese grape variety, shows beautiful minerality and citrus notes in Australian terroir
• Falanghina from McLaren Vale offers apricot notes and oily texture reminiscent of "sunshine...

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Angus Barnes, Chair of the Sydney Royal Wine Show, shares insider perspectives on Australia's premier wine competition and his journey through the wine industry. 

• Born in the Hunter Valley, Angus fell in love with wine while backpacking through Europe
• His extensive career spans roles at Pernod Ricard, NSW Wine, Wine Communicators Australia, and now Bunamagoo Estate Wines
• The Sydney Royal Wine Show judged 1,550 wine samples and poured over 15,000 glasses during the competition
• This year's Wine of Show winner was a $27 Abbeville Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River
• Chardonnay dominated t...

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Ever wondered what $27 worth of Cabernet Sauvignon can get you? How about the prestigious Wine of Show trophy at one of Australia's most respected wine competitions?

We're in studio with crystal clear audio this week, tasting our way through the top winners from the Sydney Royal Wine Show – and the results are truly eye-opening. Among 1,500 wines entered by 261 exhibitors, we sample four standout bottles that captured the judges' attention and took home multiple trophies.

First up is Jim Barry's 2025 Clare Valley Riesling, claiming Best Value Wine at $25. This quintessential Au...

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Producer Austin joins Meg for a spirited exploration of Shiraz/Syrah variations from different regions, discovering how labeling influences expectations and uncovering surprising stylistic differences.

• Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape variety, with different names indicating stylistic differences
• The French Crozes-Hermitage exhibits lighter body, higher acidity, and fresh spicy character with crunchy red fruits
• Spinifex Barossa Syrah surprises with its true Syrah style despite coming from a warm region traditionally known for bold Shiraz
• McLaren Vale "Syrah" disappoints by presenting classic Shiraz characteristics despite its French naming
• Cl...

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Meg and Mel tackle misleading wine marketing claims, exposing a company that touts "zero-sugar wine" as revolutionary when most dry wines already contain negligible sugar levels. They investigate a suspicious endorsement from a non-existent Master of Wine and taste-test the underwhelming products.

• Most dry wines already contain minimal sugar (around 0.5g per litre or less)
• The fermentation process naturally converts grape sugars into alcohol
• Laboratory testing confirmed the "zero-sugar" wines contained typical residual sugar levels
• The company's advertisements quote "Judith Smalls," a Master of Wine who doesn't exist
• Th...

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Sweet wines are often purchased during tastings but rarely opened at home due to our psychological tendency to prefer sweeter options in small quantities rather than full glasses.

• Four different styles of dessert wine explained - late harvest, cane cut, muscat, and botrytised Sauternes
• Dessert wines need sugar levels above 50 grams per litre to be classified as sweet
• The psychology of purchasing dessert wines mirrors the Pepsi-Coke taste test experiment
• Late harvest wines concentrate natural sugars through raisining without botrytis influence
• Cane cut is a uniquely Australian technique...

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Remember when you swore you'd never wear barrel-leg jeans again? That's how many wine lovers feel about Sauvignon Blanc – but just like those jeans eventually won you back, this misunderstood grape variety deserves a second chance.

We're diving deep into Sauvignon Blanc's remarkable diversity, exploring expressions that go far beyond the familiar Marlborough style that flooded wine shelves worldwide. From an astonishingly good $8 Aldi find to a textural, oak-influenced Fumé Blanc and the mineral-driven elegance of Loire Valley classics like Pouilly-Fumé, we're rediscovering what makes this grape special.

The diff...

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The Australian wine industry faces pivotal changes with new transparency regulations while debating the broader issues of health labeling and market fairness. We explore the Emerson Report's game-changing recommendations that could revolutionize how wine is sold and marketed across Australia.

• Trying the viral jalapeno wine trend – is adding spice to rosé worth the hype?
• Tributes to industry pioneers including Dr. Richard Smart, Simon Killeen, and Angela Muir MW
• Celebrity wines and Meghan Markle's entry into the rosé market
• The Emerson Report's key recommendations for the Australian wine industry
• Mandat...

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The Master of Wine qualification represents the absolute pinnacle of wine education – a credential so challenging that only 5-10% of candidates ever pass. Since its creation in 1952, just 480 people worldwide have earned these prestigious initials. But what exactly makes this qualification so formidable?

Taking you behind the curtain of this elite examination, we dissect real questions from this year's MW papers, attempting to answer them ourselves with varying degrees of success (and humility). The examination tests candidates across three grueling tasting papers requiring blind identification of wines from around the world, an...

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Meg and Mel dive into the world of Barbera, exploring whether this Italian red variety truly deserves its reputation as the wine of choice for "cool kids."

• Barbera comes from Piemonte in northern Italy, at the foot of the Alps
• The grape produces wines with high acidity, minimal oak influence, and distinctive purple color
• Typical flavor profile includes blackberry, blackcurrant, and herbal notes
• Australian versions from Adelaide Hills and Alpine Valleys compared to Italian Barbera d'Alba
• Even aged Barbera maintains a vibrant purple color due to low pH levels<...

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Australian sparkling wines showcase distinctive regional characters that rival champagne in quality while expressing unique Australian terroir.

• Blind tasting of four Australian sparkling wines from three different regions: Tasmania, Yarra Valley, and Whitlands High Plateau
• Traditional method sparklings have many variables beyond region, including aging on lees and fruit character
• Yarra Yering (Yarra Valley) shows distinctive red apple fruit and rich brioche character from 100% Chardonnay
• Chandon Vintage Brut (Whitlands High Plateau) displays remarkable mineral character, pristine acidity and surprising youth despite its age
• Jansz (Tasmania) delivers exceptional value with...

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Meg and Mel tackle changing dynamics in the Australian wine industry, from restaurant closures to big investments and new marketing directions.

• Meg shares insights from VinExpo Asia where Australian wine received positive feedback and shows a shift toward lighter-bodied reds and more whites
• Oak Ridge restaurant closure highlights broader hospitality industry struggles with profit margins shrinking from 10% to 6-8%
• De Bortoli's vine pulling in warmer regions reflects necessary industry restructuring with significant costs and time investment
• $100 million investment from Vinarki into South Australian winemaking shows confidence despite centralization concerns...

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Mel tests her theory that Margaret River Chardonnay producers are abandoning their signature big, buttery style for leaner expressions through a tasting of four wines across different price points.

• Meg Brotman argues that Margaret River has traditionally delivered reliable, high-quality big Chardonnays with texture and weight
• Meg describes Margaret River Chardonnay as having a fuller style with riper fruit, moderate acidity, and more evident oak compared to cooler regions
• The $18 Aldi Blackstone Limited Release proves to be an excellent baseline, showing classic regional character with grapefruit, oatmeal notes, and creamy...

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Dan Murphy's inaugural Best in Glass Wine Awards evaluates wines based on drinkability and value rather than traditional wine show metrics, so we thought we'd see what we thought of their top picks. 

• Dan Murphy's tasted over 1,400 wines for their first Best in Glass Awards
• Categories include Best Value, Best International, and overall Best winners
• Tim Adams Clare Valley Pinot Gris 2024 ($20.29) is the standout winner, drinking like a $35 wine
• Chapel Hill The Parson Pinot Grigio offers excellent value at $16.99
• International winner Versato Alto Adige Pinot Grigio ($30) didn't quite justi...

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