Matthew Jukes and I are proud to announce The Eighth Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification to highlight New Zealand’s finest pinot noirs. New in 2019 In 2019, The Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification highlights 121 estates, representing less than the top quarter of New Zealand’s 512 pinot noir makers. This reinforces the strength […]

Matthew Jukes and Tyson Stelzer invite you to The Great Australian Red 2019 Melbourne Tasting. Showcasing Australia’s flagship cabernet shiraz blends – museum vintages and current release gold medal and trophy winning wines of the past 13 years of The Great Australian Red competition. Canapé Menu by Cumulus 6:30pm Wednesday 23 October 2019 Arc One […]

You are invited to my flagship dinner of the year. Of more than 1,000 tastings for The Champagne Guide 2020-2021, just one current release cuvée scored 100 points and five scored 99. Join me for one night only to experience all six. Only 30 bottles of the 100 point cuvée will come to Australia and […]

Is champagne down under stalled, peaked or bubbling along? Welcome to my sixth annual report on the state of champagne in Australia and across the globe. This 30 page report is a free download.

It’s a dramatic watershed year for champagne in the UK. One British champagne importer described it as ‘the looming end of the world’ while the Director General of the Comité Champagne suggests it’s the beginning of a new period for champagne globally. At the rate of current trends, the USA will snatch the UK’s mantle […]

I am flying to Hong Kong next month and it’s my great pleasure to invite you to join me for a very special, intimate showcase tasting. Tasmanian wines are a specialty of mine as an Australian wine communicator, and in recent years Tasmanian pinot noir and sparkling have come of age. I’ve selected a short […]

Announcing my Top Wines of 2018! Follow me on Instagram to be first to receive my updates. The Top Nine Champagnes of 2018 When price is no object… Krug Vintage 1998 en magnum 100 points Krug Vintage 1988 100 points Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2004 99 points Krug Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs […]

I am very proud to announce my new Events Manager, Tyler Austin. I first met Tyler while I was emceeing a wedding at Sirromet Winery in March 2016, where she had worked as Event Supervisor since 2013. I was immediately impressed with her polished professionalism, hard-working dedication and graceful service. I encouraged her to seek […]

Tyson Stelzer, International Wine Communicator of the Year, together with Sprout and East End Cellars, invite you to the ultimate Champagne Magnum Dinner. Champagne always tastes better from magnum and this is the quintessential opportunity to discover why! Showcasing Pol Roger Vintage Brut 2009 en magnum Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV en magnum Bollinger Special […]

Back by popular demand, I’ve scoured all the specials in the chain stores and independent retailers to line up for you the ultimate wish list of Christmas festive pops! Again this year, there are some surprises… Wine remains the most popular gift to take to a Christmas party, but the latest research tells us that […]