Recommended wine producers featured in the broadcast are listed in brackets.

Episode 1 – We kicked off the season looking at the A to Z of grape varieties and starting with A we discussed in more detail Assyrtiko (Domaine Sigalas, Santo, Gaia, Jim Barry)., Albariño (Castro Martin. Tscharke, Stanton and Killeen, Andrew Margan, Chapel Hill) and Aglianico (Sutton Grange, After 5 Co in Barossa, Fighting Gully Road, Chalmers and Billy Button). We tasted the wonderful Jim Jim Sauvignon Blanc 2022 from Hanging Rock and discussed winemaking approaches. In news that week we looked at problems in Bordeaux and Hawke’s Bay. Music supplied by Squeeze and the Isley Brothers. Listen Here

Episode 3 – We had our first winemaker in the studio with Jean-Paul Trijsburg tasting his 2021 Carmenere. Jean-Paul discussed the origins of the grape and his winemaking career. We discussed the Prosecco Wars and the advancement of A.I. In the alphabet we got to C. We only brushed the surface of Chardonnay (Bannockburn, Giant Steps Sexton, Shaw and Smith, Freycinet Vineyard, Moorooduc estate) and Cabernet Sauvignon (Yeringberg, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Yering Station Reserve, Sally’s Paddock, Henschke Abbot’s Prayer, Cullen) Robyn discussed their food matches. Chenin Blanc (Corymbia) and Cabernet Franc (Hoosegg, Best’s, Leconfield and Granite Hills) got an honourable mention. The Chicks sang about a Landslide and we finished with Scary Pockets and Kenton Chen. Listen Here

Episode 4 – This episode saw the introduction of a new segment called “the rest is wine history’ where we delved into the rich history surrounding wine. D, E and F were explored stopping briefly to look at Dolcetto food matches and Fiano (Coriole, Lo Stresso, Brown Brothers). We then tasted the fabulous 2019 Vinea Marson Friulano #10 from Heathcote. In our first outing of ‘the rest is wine history’ we looked at ‘what have the Romans ever done for us’ with a fitting clip from the film –The Life of Brian. The contribution of Garry Crittenden was discussed in news and we had time to make recommendations from Chandon, Koerner, Jim Barry, Scotchmans Hills and Vinea Marson.
Music was from Satana and Celeste ‘stop this flame’. Listen Here

Episode 5 – Went to air on the 26th April 2023. We were delighted to have Ollie Rapson from Lyons Will Estate in the outdoor studio (listen out for the Kookaburras) We tackled the G grape varieties and discussed that floosy Gouais Blanc (Chambers Rosewood) Graciano (Ottelia) Garganega (Pieropan, Inama, Munari) Gewurztraminer (Delatite) Grenache (Samuel Gorge, Eperosa, Silver Spoon Estate, Yangarra Estate, Richard Hamilton, Rockford) and finally Gruner Veltliner (Domaine Wachau, Prager, Hahndorf Hill and Artis). Ollie walked us through Gamay and the winemaking of their wine. We finished on a quick review of the recent Strategem Bendigo Winemakers Festival (GilGraves, Waterwheel, Lome Vineyard, Black Estate, Balgownie Estate, Mandurang Valley Wines, Chaperon and Turners Crossing). Music supplied by Prince and Tash Sultana. Listen Here

Episode 6 – It was time H to L in grape varieties. Some interesting ones including Lagrein (Cobaw Ridge, Mount Towrong) and Lambrusco. In the rest is wine history we cover a short history of Port and a case of death on the Douro. In ‘what’s in the glass’ we tasted the wonderful Brown Brothers Patricia Cabernet Sauvignon. Recommendations included wines from Chateau Tanunda and Best’s. Do you know the Bishop of Norwich? No? Learn why he makes an appearance in this episode. Music sometimes takes longer to select than the wine content, this week it was from one of my favourites – Anita Baker and Melbourne’s Telenova. Listen Here

Episode 7 – We covered M and there was alot, focussing on Malbec (Wendouree, Woodlands) Marsanne (Yeringberg, Tahbilk) Merlot, Mourvredre (Silver Spoon, Richard Hamilton, d’Arenberg) and Muscat. In other parts of the show we discuss orbiting the earth, Hollywood films, dumb German wine consultants and Mozart. In ‘what’s in the glass’ we had a treat tasting the Yeringberg Marsanne Roussanne 2011 which gave us the opportunity to look at how a white wine ages. Finally in news we discussed a major bankruptcy and Gambero Rosso tasting in Melbourne. What an episode. Music was a classic by Duran Duran and Mathilda Homer. Listen Here

Episode 8 – Was the turn of Nebbiolo and we explored the variety with a tasting of Protero Nebbiolo by Steve Pannell from his Adelaide Hills vineyard. We also introduced a new segment of ‘put a cork back in it’ looking at inexpensive (to a point) wines and see if they are worth drinking. During the ‘rest is wine history’ we looked at the fascinating development of Mateus Rose, a wine many of us grew up with. Listen here

Episode 9 – Plenty of P’s in this one and of course Pinot Noir was the focus. We discussed lip stinging varieties and meet Constance and Woody, sounds like Toy Story, but they are something to do with Palomino. We enjoyed tasting Buckshot Vineyard Primitivo 2019 from Heathcote. Music was from Delilah Montagu and the Style Council. Listen Here

Episode 10 – We covered Q and R. There are no Q’s but plenty of R’s such as Roussette, Ruby Cabernet, Refosco, Robolla Gialla, Roditis and Roussanne. Oh and one called Riesling. In the rest if wine history we covered Champagne facts, fallacies and myths in the ‘story of giggle water’ I got the chance to read one of my favourite poems by Alan Seeger who died in the trenches at the age of 28. In what’s in the glass we tasted the unique Freeman Vineyard Secco Rodinella Corvina 2017 from Hilltops. Music from UK artist Ed Black and Pete Murray. Listen Here

Episode 11 – S was a big task. Sagrantino, saperavi, schioppettino, silvaner and seyval blanc. Before moving onto the heavyweights of sangiovese, sauvignon blanc, semillon and finally shiraz. It was the Hunter Valley’s turn in ‘what’s in the glass’ and we tasted the classic Tyrrell’s Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet 2019. We are getting close to the end of the alphabet and it has become a crash course in grape varieties.
Music was supplied by Mica Paris and Laurel.

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