Announcing my Top Wines of 2018! Follow me on Instagram to be first to receive my updates. The Top Nine Champagnes of 2018 When price is no object… Krug Vintage 1998 en magnum 100 points Krug Vintage 1988 100 points Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2004 99 points Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs […]

I am very proud to announce my new Events Manager, Tyler Austin. I first met Tyler while I was emceeing a wedding at Sirromet Winery in March 2016, where she had worked as Event Supervisor since 2013. I was immediately impressed with her polished professionalism, hard-working dedication and graceful service. I encouraged her to seek […]

Back by popular demand, I’ve scoured all the specials in the chain stores and independent retailers to line up for you the ultimate wish list of Christmas festive pops! Again this year, there are some surprises… Wine remains the most popular gift to take to a Christmas party, but the latest research tells us that […]

Of champagne’s top markets, Hong Kong has recorded the largest growth in its champagne shipments for the 2018 calendar year to date, while Australia has posted the biggest decline outside Europe. According to indicative export figures announced by the Comité Champagne today, France has again posted a big decline of 4.7% by volume to date […]

For the past five years I’ve had the privilege of presenting the keynote speech at the black tie gala dinner at Effervescence Tasmania. I’ve never published my comments before, but this year is different, and by popular request on the night, here’s my transcript. Tasmanian sparkling has more than ever to celebrate this year. And […]

Regular readers will be well familiar with my now 12 year conviction that Mike Press makes the best value wines in the country from his beautiful little vineyard high in the Adelaide Hills. I first visited Mike and Judy at their place in 2006 and I’ve been buying their wines every year since. I now […]

The results are in and we got quite a surprise when we unveiled the winner! It’s great news for affordable red wine lovers… A stunning shiraz cabernet blend with a street price under $30 has triumphed over wines priced up to $295 to win The Lipman Karas Great Australian Red two years in a row. […]

On the eve of Grange 2014 lobbing into the wine world at a cool $900, a glance at a decade of auction prices reveals an alarming dilemma. The place of Australia in the grand expanse of the wine world is changing. As my events more frequently beam me into the key markets of the USA, […]

Penfolds is on sensational form right now, and next week’s annual launch represents an outstanding collection of no less than 21 releases. But should you buy them? There’s a twist this year, and it’s a big one. The annual Penfolds Collection media tasting is unlike any other release event on the calendar. Not only is […]

After a week of intensive conversations and visits with more than 160 sommeliers, wine buyers and media in San Francisco and New York, I am more optimistic than ever about the opportunities for Australian wine in one of the world’s most important markets. The US is currently at a crucial juncture at which the reputation […]