My Australian Sparkling Report 2020 features in-depth reviews of the top 240 Australian sparklings of the year at every price and style. 2020 will go down in history for many reasons in Australian wine, not least drought, bushfires and Covid – and the year of the finest sparkling cuvées ever unleashed in this country! The […]

Whatever your opinion of big brands, far-flung blends, controlled allocations and upwardly spiraling prices, this is one of the most outstanding and important Australian wine releases of the year – not only for South Australian shiraz and cabernet, but now for a more than respectable pinot, and one of the finest chardonnays ever conceived in […]

By popular demand, it’s my great pleasure to announce the release of my Champagne and Sparkling Webinar Recordings! We’ve been privileged to enjoy the company of Champagne’s top chef de caves, principals and growers over recent months. The depth of insights, frank discussion and compelling stories that we have experienced deserve to be preserved and […]

Introducing the most comprehensive champagne market report this century. The story of champagne is more than vineyards, cellars and families – its evolution across the vast sweep of history has always been inextricably tied to its acceptance and adoration across its diverse markets. More than any other region, champagne production is linked to its sales. […]

I have awaited the release of Hill of Grace 2015 with great anticipation, ever since arriving at the vineyard half an hour before dawn, amidst gentle mist and the soft light of the full moon on the day of harvest, a week before Easter, just over five years ago. The fruit tasted textbook perfect that […]

Dear friends, As a luxury product and the universal symbol of celebration, the impact of Coronavirus on champagne sales is particularly acute, and some houses are already predicting an annual downturn of 50% of sales. This has huge repercussions on the livelihood and feasibility not only of the houses and growers themselves, but also of […]

Supporting local businesses hardest hit by this crisis is top of mind for us all right now. Lockdowns are not only smashing restaurants and cellar doors, but also have dire flow-on effects for their suppliers. I am very proud to announce three new opportunities for you to enjoy my favourite products for enhancing your champagne […]

Dear friends, The uncertainty surrounding the duration of lockdowns, travel bans and events has led us to make the difficult and regretful decision to cancel the judging of The Great Australian Red 2020. Our competition has established a vital role in raising the profile of Australia’s definitive blend, and we deeply regret our first cancellation in […]

The Champagne Guide Master Edition 2011-2021 is more than just an exhaustive alphabetical reference to every cuvée in all six editions of The Champagne Guide to date, it’s the ultimate blueprint for navigating your champagne journey! Featuring: 3251 cuvées from 214 houses My score, price code, base vintage, disgorgement date, year of tasting and page […]

To all my friends in Champagne and bunkered down across the champagne world, these words are for you. I first wrote them in the introductions to The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 and 2020-2021, and I have resisted the urge to update or embellish. They seem all the more appropriate today than ever. Here’s to the resilient […]