On 27 and 28 September 2017 I had the privilege of hosting the inaugural USA showcase tastings of Tasmanian sparkling wines at Rouge Tomate in New York City. Two events showcased Tasmania’s finest sparkling cuvées, the first for tourism trade and lifestyle media and the second for wine trade and media alongside a showcase of […]

On 26 September 2017, Matthew Jukes and I hosted the inaugural USA showcase of The Great Australian Red at Corkbuzz Union Square in New York City for invited wine trade and media. An invitation only selection of Australia’s flagship cabernet shiraz blends represented back vintages and current release gold medal and trophy winning wines in […]

The countdown to the launch of The Champagne Guide 2018-2019 is on, and it’s my great pleasure to provide a sneak preview of one of the highlights… It’s always puzzled me that the remarkable, terroir-expressive champagnes of André Clouet never seem to come up among the rockstar growers of Champagne. And yet on the basis […]

Introducing my Australian and New Zealand Wines of the Year 2017. Buying wine is not what it used to be. Never have wine lovers been taunted by such an enormous selection of choice. Australia’s 2,500 wineries and New Zealand’s 800 are making more labels than ever before. The big retailers are disguising their own labels […]

Developments at hand are changing the face of champagne in Australia. Welcome to my fourth annual report on the state of the champagne market in Australia. Every year I pour over all the champagne export statistics and unearth some unusual trends in Australia quite unlike any other champagne market. Until now, this report has been […]

Last year I launched my inaugural Australian Sparkling Report 2016 to highlight the very finest Australian sparkling wines worthy of your attention. The response was overwhelming and has prompted a substantially expanded sequel – the biggest and most comprehensive report I have ever compiled on Australian sparkling. In 2016 I singled out some 100 cuvées […]

Australia’s love affair with champagne continues, popping the second largest number of bottles in history in 2016, according to an announcement made by the Comité Champagne at Prowein in Germany overnight. Australia holds its position as the seventh largest champagne market on earth and fifth largest per head of population, with 7.4 million bottles landing […]

  Taste Champagne is the biggest and most exclusive champagne showcase event series in Australia. Join us for a grand tasting where you are invited to stroll at your own pace between houses, growers and cooperatives, experiencing all their cuvées and hearing their stories from their makers and importing agents. It’s our great pleasure to […]

We are delighted to announce our 2017 Champagne Event Program, featuring 24 (and counting!) public tastings, dinners, weekends and tours in 11 cities and 3 countries! We are adding to this daily and are still finalising venues, dates and pricing for many of these events. Champagne Bienvenue Stokehouse Brisbane 30 March Pierre Gimonnet Crowne Plaza […]

2008 is my favourite vintage in Champagne since 1928. It’s my great pleasure to invite you to dinner at Stokehouse Brisbane on Thursday 30 March to show you five reasons why! Highlights of this remarkable season will be matched with four courses designed by Stokehouse Executive Chef, Richard Ousby. Only 50 seats are available. See […]