Wine
Staff Picks - What’s in our wine glass?
When you’re enjoying a glass of wine, do you ever wonder what people in the Australian wine industry are drinking? From the classics of Riesling, Chardonnay and Shiraz to modern Rosé and exciting alternatives, here are some of our Wine Selectors staff current preferred drops. Plus, get to know a little bit about them with this fun Q&A.
STAFF PICK SHIRAZ
BRENDAN, SELECTOR MAGAZINE EDITOR
“It’s kind of like a big hug isn’t it, a glass of premium Aussie Shiraz on a cold night? Chiefly though, I love how broad and versatile the variety is: it can be big and fruity, or subtle and savoury. I prefer the cool climate savoury styles: earthy, dark chocolate and cigar-box characters, velvety and long. I really enjoy the flavours of slow-cooked and barbequed beef and lamb, so Shiraz is usually my first choice when firing up the grill.”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“Books, I’m currently revisiting Middle-earth and have just finished Children of Hurin after (finally) finishing The Silmarillion late last year. For podcasts, Jill Upton and Simon Nash do a great little radio show that they spin out into short podcasts called the Wine Show – always great guests and informed conversation. There are some all-timers I still listen to as well: Radiolab, Planet Money, 99% Invisible – but some more obscure ones also, like Mysterious Universe, and Ink and Paint, which is a documentary-style deep dive through Disney’s catalogue of films.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“I am quite eclectic in my tastes but prefer heavier stuff. Tool, Faith No More, etc. Aussie bands like You Am I and Spiderbait still get a spin from me. A couple of years ago I got bitten by the Pink Floyd bug and regularly play them.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“I was really, really taken by Mudgee when I went out there recently – a beautiful place, top people, great wine. In the Hunter Valley, Broke is also a personal favourite, it’s a little more off the beaten track than Pokolbin and nestled into the Brokenback range a little more snugly, which is beautiful. But I’ll always have a soft spot for the Yarra Valley and the Victorian High Country regions, which I visited quite often when I was a resident of Melbourne: stunning scenery, and even better wines.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“When it comes to decanting, be careful with older wines: leave them too long and you risk having them fall apart. I made that mistake with a 2001Mount Pleasant Maurice O’Shea Shiraz, poured it into the decanter before dinner, got to talking and just let it sit too long (about 30 minutes). Still enjoyed it – just not what it should have been if I’d just given it five minutes.”
Check out Brendan’s current favourite Shiraz choice.
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STAFF PICK CHARDONNAY
RICHARD, OUTBOUND MEMBER EXPERIENCE TEAM AGENT
“I’ve worked in and around the wine industry for over 20 years and can still remember when I fell in love with Chardonnay – it was a Shaw and Smith M3 from Adelaide Hills. With Chardonnay, I love that a winemaker can truly express themselves – the fruit is like playdough in their hands that can nurtured into their own style, preferably with some nice, complex oak characteristics. To me, that means every Chardonnay is different!”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“Being a sports lover, my favourite podcast is The Howie Games. Mark Howard is one of the few commentators in many areas of sport these days who has a genuine passion for what he does (not just someone who has simply played the sport and transitioned into a commentary role). That passion and honesty is reflected in his Howie Games Podcast. Even if you aren’t a sports lover, this is a great insight into many sporting icons in every sport worldwide. I guarantee you will be enamoured by the insights into some of these sporting figures, and you will laugh, reflect, often be in awe and sometimes shed a tear or two.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“Music to me is truly similar to wine; It often depends on the time of the day, my mood, and the surrounding company. I truly love all genres of music, from country to pop and everything in between, except heavy metal thrash or whatever it’s called! Spending my teenage years in the 1980s, I still believe it to be the best era of music, and whilst I have been to many and varied concerts over the years, my top three would have to be Bruce Springsteen, Keith Urban and Phil Collins for pure entertainment. I listen to the latest Pop whilst exercising, classical whilst relaxing and 80s whilst dancing. Still, if I had to choose an artist who has an incredible array of choose an artist who has an incredible array of songs, it would have to be Elton John.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“Growing up on the doorstep of Coonawarra, spending seven years in Clare Valley and then living in the Adelaide Hills, I have been very fortunate to experience a great range of South Australia’s wine
offerings. I have visited the majority of Australia’s wonderful wine regions and love the diversity we
have to offer the world. Still, Tasmania is a region I have only been to once, over 20 years ago. I was a lot younger then, and I was only just beginning to explore the world of wine, so all I did was search for small, family-owned cellar doors with Pinot’s that I couldn’t source on the mainland so I would love to go back again one day and explore everything else they have to offer including some of the amazing Sparklings we are seeing take over the world.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“There are many tips I like to pass on to friends and customers alike; store your wine in a dark place
where the temperature doesn’t fluctuate too much; good glassware can make a huge difference to the
wine you are drinking; and I could keep going but I think the best tip I could pass on would be letting
the wine breathe a little before you savour it. If you think about the process of growing and making the
wine before it reaches the bottle, there is an amazing timeline that should be remembered when opening any bottle of wine so once you have unscrewed the cap, pulled or popped the cork,
everything that has gone into that bottle now has to ‘wake up’! So be kind to your wine and never
judge it on your first sip!”
Check out Richard’s current favourite Chardonnay choice.
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STAFF PICK PINOT NOIR
ALEX, PROMOTIONS AGENT
“Usually, I choose heavier reds, but sometimes the weather and the food I’m eating call for a lighter variety. I love Pinot Noir because it’s very versatile – it can be savoured on a cold winter's night with a rich roast duck dish or chilled a little to enjoy on a warm summer afternoon paired with baked salmon and a fresh salad. It's very easy to drink, and a good Pinot Noir can be soft and delicate whilst also being full of flavour.”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“If you want an epic fantasy adventure series, check out the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“Punk Rock music - the Unwritten Law self-titled album is one of my all-time favourites!”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“McLaren Vale is my favourite wine region in Australia because I love a good red, and the growing conditions there are perfect for a wide variety of different styles. It’s also absolutely picturesque, which is a big plus!”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
'I like to plan food around a good wine that I want to enjoy. So, my tip is to read the tasting notes for a bottle that you want to open and create a meal that will enhance the experience.”
Check out Alex’s current favourite Pinot Noir choice
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STAFF PICK CABERNET SAUVIGNON
MATT, NATIONAL PROMOTIONS MANAGER
“I’m pretty fresh to wine and am still in the early stages of my red wine journey. I’m slowly working my way through Australia’s different varieties and regions and have recently discovered Cabernet Sauvignon. The black currant, cedar, mint and plum characters are perfect to pair with my favourite winter dishes – rich, meaty lamb and beef dishes, and my nemesis – hard cheese. Divine!”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“I recommend Teachers Pet and The Matty Johns.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“Anything in Triple J’s Top 100.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“Living in Sydney, I love to visit the Hunter Valley. The horse and carriage wine tours are a great way to spend a day in the vineyards – there’s no need for a designated driver. I’d love to visit Margaret River – the coastline looks so wild and untouched, and the wines from the region are so deliciously expressive.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“Simple… always finish the bottle!”
Check out Matt’s current favourite Cabernet Sauvignon choice
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STAFF PICK RIESLING
DANIELLE, COPYWRITER
“Australia makes some outstanding Riesling! It’s very aromatic which I love, and modern Riesling is quite dry, which also ticks the boxes for me. I enjoy the younger, crisper styles, but aged Riesling is very special – it develops so gracefully with beautiful characters. I’m a huge fan of spicy Asian cuisine, especially Thai, which Riesling pairs perfectly with – matching wine with a food that suits it enhances the experience! Yum!”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“This is a tough one because I've always loved reading, and I'm really into podcasts. A book recommendation is The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart by Australian author Holly Ringland. It has recently been turned into a TV series, but I read the book a few years ago, and it's just so beautifully written - I loved it! A podcast recommendation is The Lise and Sarah Show – those girls crack me up and are relatable.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“I loved the TV show Nashville, and watching it really got me interested in country music, especially modern country music. A favourite modern country artist is Australia's own Morgan Evans – he's actually a Newcastle boy! I'd love to travel to Nashville one day and visit the great music venues there, like the Bluebird Cafe and the Grand Ole Opry.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
The Hunter is my home region, so that's always obviously up there as a favourite, but a region I'd really like to visit and explore is McLaren Vale. I really love Mediterranean alternative varietals, and they do those really well down there.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“In the warmer months in particular, I really love a chilled red, so my tip is to pop a bottle of light to medium-bodied red in the fridge for about 20 minutes to get a little chill on it before serving – delicious!”
Check out Danielle’s current favourite Riesling choice
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STAFF PICK SAUVIGNON BLANC
CHRISTENE, SENIOR SALES AGENT
“Sauvignon Blanc is such an all-year-round wine. I love to share a chilled bottle with friends on a warm afternoon over a fruit and cheese platter, or equally, it’s delicious in winter with a creamy chicken garlic pasta or risotto. I find it fascinating that the terroir of each region can totally change the characters and style of the wine – and I’m currently exploring our cool climate Aussie regions to find my favourite.”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“Matthew Reilly is my favourite author and his Jack West Jr series is my absolute favourite. You need to dedicate time off work to read one of these books as you can’t put them down. I read my first Matthew Reilly book 25 years ago.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
“I love music, but for me, music is very dependent on mood or task – at the gym, go for Foo Fighters always; at home, for background music, it’s got to be Coldplay, and with my daughters, Taylor Swift is our top choice.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“I lived in Tasmania for five years and loved so many wineries from there. My husband loves Pinot Noir, and Tassie makes amazing expressions, and their Sauvignon Blancs are excellent, too. We have visited Margaret River a few times, and that is definitely my favourite region.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“When my wine arrives, I check the tasting notes and have a little sticker that I write the RRP and best until on the sticker and pop it on the cap. I have started to cellar some wine in the spare room and the tasting notes help me work out which bottles can be put away for longer.”
Check out Christene’s current favourite Sauvignon Blanc choice
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STAFF PICK PINOT G
LIZ, ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUSINESS SERVICES MANAGER
“I think it’s amazing that Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are made from the same grape variety but are crafted to produce two different styles. I love both! For me, it’s light, fresh and zesty Grigio when I’m out with friends having lunch in the sun by the harbour, and I prefer the richer, fuller-bodied, higher alcohol Gris to enjoy with a Sunday roast chicken or salmon dinner with family.”
Can you recommend a book or podcast?
“I listen to a broad range of podcasts, but I always enjoy Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend for lots of fun and silliness.”
What kind of music do you like to listen to?
‘I’m currently loving RAYE and the accompanying beats.”
What is your favourite wine region to visit or a wine region you want to go to – and why?
“I love Margaret River. It has stunning scenery, relaxed and cultural vibes, and some fabulous wineries.”
Do you have a wine tip to share?
“The right glass really helps get the best from your favourite wine – a modest pour and then some good swirls enhance the flavours and the experience. Over the years, I built up a great collection of various styles of Schott Zwiesel glasses – our Tasting Panel uses Schott Zweisel glasses for their weekly tastings.”
Check out Liz’s current favourite Pinot G choice
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We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit about some of our wonderful Wine Selectors staff and their favourite wines. Shop our Staff Picks Catalogue now and treat yourself to the fabulous Australian wines they’re drinking.