//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~3f157bd45b9ea347a3cdeb695b9da434fe5f87795bffe368d9c7fe7d605c1d84 The fun + frank podcast which helps you navigate the world of wine. Hosted by Australia's first female Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann, and self-titled Master of Sabrage Mel Gilcrist. Thu, 17 Sep 2026 00:37:28 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17909695-who-am-i-meant-to-listen-to-the-truth-about-wine-ratings-with-guests-huon-hooke-max-allen-and-michael-anderson.mp3 Send us a text 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 Wine Companion uses regional specialists who focus on terroir-specific excellence • Langton's Classification is data-driven, ranking wines based on auction performance and collector demand • Wine writer Max Allen avoids scoring altogether, focusing on storytelling and context • Regional wine shows offer valuable insight into local specialties • Personal pr... Sat, 27 Sep 2025 01:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17909695-who-am-i-meant-to-listen-to-the-truth-about-wine-ratings-with-guests-huon-hooke-max-allen-and-michael-anderson.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17869022-wine-revelations-we-geek-out-on-the-endevour-report.mp3 Send us a text 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 culture that spread across Australia • Queensland shows unique preferences for New Zealand wines and sweeter styles • Prosecco dominates the sparkling category nationwide, particularly from King Valley • Millennials are just now coming into red wine and Champagne as their palates mature and incomes increase • ... Thu, 18 Sep 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17869022-wine-revelations-we-geek-out-on-the-endevour-report.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17831790-the-nebbiolo-episode-australia-vs-italy.mp3 Send us a text 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 entry point to the variety • Traviati Beechworth Nebbiolo ($45) presents a more serious, age-worthy Australian expression • Fontana Freda Langhe Nebbiolo ($40-45) shows distinctive herb notes alongside tar and roses • Fontana Freda Barolo 2019 ($95) demonstrates the depth, complexity and powerful tannins expected from Barolo • Australian Nebbiolo may never become as mainstream as Sangiovese but offers excellent value and... Fri, 12 Sep 2025 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17831790-the-nebbiolo-episode-australia-vs-italy.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17793497-varietals-you-ve-never-heard-of.mp3 Send us a text 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 in a bottle" • Discussion of Brettanomyces in wine – when is it a fault versus a complexity element? • Agiorgitiko from Greece's Peloponnese region delivers remarkable leather and plum notes with Nebbiolo-like tannins • Perfect food pairings for these unusual wines, especially Greek wine with lamb, feta and... Fri, 05 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17793497-varietals-you-ve-never-heard-of.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17748101-behind-the-scenes-of-the-sydney-royal-wine-show-with-angus-barnes.mp3 Thu, 28 Aug 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17748101-behind-the-scenes-of-the-sydney-royal-wine-show-with-angus-barnes.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17715378-just-in-we-taste-the-seriously-amazing-sydney-royal-wine-show-winners.mp3 Send us a text 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 Australian style showcases the searing acidity, minerality and lime-driven character that makes our Rieslings distinctive on the world stage. We dive into why Australian Riesling consistently overdelivers at modest price points and how it ages beautifully for those patient enough to cellar it. We're absolutely blown away by Tyrell's 2013 Vat One Semillon, w... Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17715378-just-in-we-taste-the-seriously-amazing-sydney-royal-wine-show-winners.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17679144-grape-identity-crisis-shiraz-v-syrah.mp3 Send us a text 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 • Classic Barossa Shiraz from Greenock Creek delivers on all expectations with rich jammy fruit, oak influence, and aging potential • Serving temperature significantly impacts how these wines present, with cooler temperatures helping manage alcohol perception If you enjoy exploring regional wine variations, try our recomm... Sat, 16 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17679144-grape-identity-crisis-shiraz-v-syrah.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17633246-sugar-free-wine-exposing-the-marketing-myth.mp3 Send us a text 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 • The hosts found the wines extremely acidic and unpleasant despite premium pricing • When questioned on social media about their claims, the company deleted comments • Low-alcohol wines achieve their status through earlier grape picking, often sacrificing flavour • Marketing terms like "clean," "natural," and "zero-sugar" ar... Fri, 08 Aug 2025 03:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17633246-sugar-free-wine-exposing-the-marketing-myth.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17593082-the-art-of-dessert-wines.mp3 Send us a text 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 where the cane is cut from the trunk to trigger raisining • Botrytised wines like Sauternes require specific climate conditions with morning fog • Dessert wines are often best paired with salty, fatty foods rather than desserts • Blue cheese, terrine, and prosciutto create excellent contrasting pairings with sweet wines • Most dessert wines don't require extend... Thu, 31 Jul 2025 20:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17593082-the-art-of-dessert-wines.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17556881-is-it-time-to-give-sauvignon-blanc-another-chance.mp3 Send us a text 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 differences between these styles reveal fascinating insights about winemaking approaches around the world. Learn how New Zealand winemakers revolutionized Sauvignon Blanc production through strategic harvesting and protective techniques, creating that signature tropical-meets-grassy profile that conquered global markets. Discover wh... Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1697659/episodes/17556881-is-it-time-to-give-sauvignon-blanc-another-chance.mp3