Halliday Wine Companion

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 17: Rowly Milhinch, Scion, Rutherglen Rutherglen is one of Australia's oldest wine regions. Grapevines came to the region in the 1850s during the gold rush and Rutherglen, as many of you will already know, became Australia's unchallenged capital of fortified wines. The future of regions like Rutherglen rely heavily on either new blood moving in or subsequent generations, from existing wine families, continuing to carry those legacies into the future. Rowland Milhinch, known as Rowly about town, is a descendant of George Francis Morris - one of Australia's pioneering vignerons of the mid 19th century. Formerly a graphic designer - Rowly applied his creative mind to the art of wine making and is now, arguably, one of the most progressive and playful wine makers in the region. To chat about the importance of new age thinking...in regions steeped heavily in tradition....please welcome Rowly.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 16: Nick Brown, All Saints, Rutherglen Today I am in Rutherglen in Victoria’s Northeast and I am joined by a descendant of wine royalty. Nick Brown from All Saints Estate. If the last name hasn’t given it away, Nick has lived and breathed wine his whole life, spending his childhood running about the cellars of his family winery Brown Brothers in Milawa. And while he initially started off pursuing a career in geological engineering, he thankfully found his way back into wine. Now, today’s area of focus is Muscat. And Muscat of Rutherglen is an Australian treasure. Knowledge that has been passed down through generations, with a history spanning over 100 years of family winemaking. Muscat is rich, complex, intense and pairs exceptionally well with savoury dishes, through to full flavoured cheeses and desserts. Please welcome, Nick.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Hallida

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 15: Daniel Tokar, Tokar Estate, Yarra Valley Today we are talking all things Tempranillo!  There’s no denying it’s the signature wine grape of Spain, and a very very old one at that…dating back to 1100 BC. There are about 500 clones of Tempranillo in Spain alone, and it is not only one of the world’s most planted grape varieties, it’s one of the most expanded varieties globally. Meaning it’s on the increase. Daniel Tokar, from Tokar Estate in Victoria’s Yarra Valley has been surrounded by this variety since his parents established the winery in 1995. A chef by trade, Daniel provides an interesting perspective on this very old and much loved variety. Please welcome, Dan.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  Tokar Estate Amphora Special Release Yarra Valley Tempranillo 2019 Looking for

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 14: Dylan McMahon, Seville Estate, Yarra Valley.  Join me as I sit down with Dylan McMahon from Seville Estate in Victoria's Yarra Valley to reflect on the last two years. From his greatest learnings, to the moments that shaped Seville Estate as a business. Dylan candidly discusses what life was like running a business during one of the most difficult periods in history, the COVID-19 global pandemic.  Seville Estate was established in 1972 and has a diverse offering from accommodation, to events, an on-site restaurant, and of course, a cellar door where you can try all of their beautiful wines. Dylan McMahon is the grandson of Peter and Margaret, the founders of Seville, and he is now the chief winemaker here at the estate. So who better to chat with on the highs and lows of 2020/21, please welcome Dylan.  Want to know what wine we were drinking?  Seville Estate Yarra Valley Shiraz 2019 Seville Estate Old Vine Reserve Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Sevill

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 13: Ben Ranken, Wilimee Wines, Macedon Ranges.  Today’s topic is of huge interest to me. Underwater wine. I’m fascinated by it. It’s a process whereby wine is aged or preserved under water. And there are some high-profile cases. Now, back in 2010 it was reported divers found bottles of champagne…some 230 years old…at the bottom of the Baltic. It's reported the champagne found was from house Veuve Cliquot…and interestingly they have since buried 300 bottles and 50 magnums in the Baltic sea in an ageing experiment to commemorate this very discovery. But they aren’t the only ones doing it. Wineries across the world….from Spain, to France, Italy, Greece and Chile are trying their hand at this new way of thinking. And today we are looking at a home-grown example here in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. Five years ago Ben Rankin, from Wilimee Wines, submerged 20 dozen bottles of his Pinot Noir in 5000 litre tanks. Now, this year he drained one of those vats for consumptio

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 12: Former Hawthorn footy captain Richie Vandenberg is on a mission to remove and recycle one billion single-use plastic bottles from our oceans by 2030, via his wine label The Hidden Sea. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  2021 PINOT GRIGIO. Light, lively and crisp with fresh fruits and mouth watering pear, peach and bright acidity. 2021 CHARDONNAY. Expressive yet refined with generous stone and citrus fruits and hints of vanilla and apple cake spice notes. A fresh but textural mid-palate with great balance and length. Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine Companion member? Click here. Hardie Grant acknowledges the Traditional

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 11: Wine educator Nicole Bilson on Malolactic Fermentation Today we sit down with wine educator Nicole Bilson to learn about the winemaking technique, malolactic fermentation. Now, while many of you may not have heard of this technique before - most of you will have tasted the effects of it! Particularly if you're a chardonnay drinker. It's what gives some chardonnays that beautiful rich, creamy, buttery sensation on the palate. I met Nicole while studying my WSET - she was one of our educators - and you're going to love learning from her. She is absolutely fabulous at what she does.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine Companion mem

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 10: Giles Cooke MW, Thistledown Wines, South Australia. We catch up with Giles Cooke, winemaker and Award Winning Varietal (grenache) recipient at the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, to discuss all things grenache! Grenache in Australia has quite a chequered past but is now gaining recognition as a standalone variety - take a deep dive with us as we learn more about this remarkable variety.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  Thistledown Wines Sands of Time Old Vine Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs McLaren Vale Grenache 2019 Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine Companion member? Click here. Hardie Grant acknowledges the

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 9: Kate Laurie, Deviation Road, Adelaide Hills. We catch up with Kate Laurie, winemaker and Sparkling Wine of the Year recipient at the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, to discuss all things sparkling wine and champagne.  Raised in WA Kate actually lived in Champagne, France, for three years after graduating university, to hone her skills in traditional method sparkling. So she is the perfect person to discuss the various styles, winemaking techniques and food pairings that make this much-loved wine, so unique.   Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  2014 Beltana Blanc de Blancs 2018 Southcote Blanc de Noirs Deviation Road Altair Adelaide Hills Brut Rosé  Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head o

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 8: Sarah Crowe, Yarra Yering, Yarra Valley.  Today I am joined by Sarah Crowe, winemaker and General Manager at Yarra Yering. Sarah was the first woman to win Winemaker of the Year at the 2017 Halliday Wine Companion Awards and this year she has taken out Wine of the Year AND Yarra Yering has been crowned Winery of the Year, making them the first producer to win more than one major category in these awards. As well as this - two of their wines have also won in their respective varietal categories.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  2019 DRY RED WINE NO. 1 2019 CARRODUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 7: Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion taster.  Join Jeni and I as we discuss the ins & outs of last night's 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards!  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2019 Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine Companion member? Click here. Hardie Grant acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the country on which we work, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation and the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and recognises their continuing connection to the land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. See omnystudio.com/listene

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 6: Belinda Hughes, Rieslingfreak, South Australia. Just like Sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough – Riesling has had its fair share of bad press, often associated with Germany’s mass exports of the 70s and 80s. Now while its often thought of as a sweet wine, Riesling can vary from bone-dry through to wines that rich, textural and sticky. It truly is a variety for all wine drinkers. Today we are joined by winemaker Belinda Hughes from Rieslingfreak in the Barossa. Alongside her husband, John, Belinda specialise in all things Riesling. From dry, to sparkling, sweet and fortified. Their label Riesling freak celebrates a deep love for one of Australia’s most underrated grape varietals, through 11 expressions. And as promised - all the details for our upcoming 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards: This year we have two ways to celebrate – in person at our fine-dining degustation dinner or virtually with our online streaming event. Purchase your tickets and join us at

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 5: Stuart Pym, Flowstone Wines, Margaret River. Now, while New Zealand’s Marlborough region is synonymous with sauvignon blanc -  it’s actually a bit of an international juggernaut of sorts – remaining one of the fastest growing wines in the world. And while there’s been a real shift away from those distinct grassy, tropical fruit-laden wines we all think of – sauvignon blanc is enjoying a stylistic revival – with winemakers across Australia serving up sophisticated wines that have depth, complexity and beautiful length on the palate. Today - we are joined by Margaret River winemaker Stuart Pym, of Flowstone Wines. Flowstone have won several awards for their sauvignon blanc and have also previously taken out the title of Best New Winery at the Halliday Wine Companion Awards. And as promised - all the details for our upcoming 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards: This year we have two ways to celebrate – in person at our fine-dining degustation dinner or virtually

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 4: Barnaby Flanders, Garagiste. The turn of phrase Single Vineyard or townships wines is often thrown around in today’s wine world, and on today’s show we delve into this very notion and explore the world of site-specific wines. Join us as we chat with viticulturist and winemaker Barny Flanders, from Garagiste on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, who specialises in single vineyard, township wines that showcase the unique features of various sub regions and microclimates. Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  Garagiste ‘Tuerong’ Chardonnay 2019 Garagiste ‘Merricks’ Chardonnay 2019 Garagiste ‘Merricks’ Pinot Noir 2019 Garagiste ‘Balnarring’ Pinot Noir 2019 Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to w

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 3: Holly Klintworth, Bass & Flinders. Holly heads up her families distillery Bass & Flinders on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Founded in 2009 as a project, inspired by a passion for the traditional distilled fruit and grape based products of Europe, Holly and her family set out to add value to the local region by turning wine into spirit, showcasing varietals such as shiraz, pinot noir and chardonnay.  Originally they set out to produce a premium brandy – and while this was maturing in French oak they played around with other products using the same eau de vie as their base spirit. Today they produce a range of spirits, fruit and grape brandies and liqueurs. In today's episode Holly sits down with Tom to chat about the benefits of grape-based spirits, as well as how to drink and pair gin at your next dinner party.  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 2: Erin Larkin, Halliday tasting team. Independent wine writer, judge and Halliday wine taster Erin Larkin shares her tips on how to taste like a pro! From how to swirl, spit and describe your next glass of wine.  Erin also offers up interesting insight into life as a professional taster, from how many wines she tries in a day to how she breaks tradition and orders her tastings. Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  2020, FRANKLAND ESTATE ISOLATION RIDGE RIESLING, FRANKLAND RIVER, WA.  Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, including tasting notes, head over to winecompanion.com.au. Interested in becoming a Halliday Wine Companion member? Click here.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 1: Penny Vine, Cutler & Co. So perhaps you’re new to wine or wanting to learn more about it...wherever you’re at, this first episode is all about laying a strong foundation. From how to store and serve your wine at home, to chatting with the sommelier at your favourite restaurant. Sommelier Penny Vine takes it back to basics.  For a bit of background, Penny runs the wine list at Melbourne institution Cutler and Co, a fabulous restaurant on Gertrude St in Fitzroy, Melbourne. She is approachable, relaxed and loves a drink! So who better to kick off off our new series with?!  Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?  2018, BELINDA THOMSON SEA PARTY SAUV BLANC SEMILLON UNDER FLOR, HENTY, VIC Looking for a little more wine inspiration? For more information on Australian wines and wineries, includi