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This is part 1 of 2 episodes from our very special interview with ‘Aussie Icon' Merrick Watts! We were so grateful to have Merrick on our show where we get to hear how he is blending Wine, People, and Comedy. During the interview we get to ask Merrick The Wined Up Podcasts ice-breaker questions, we hear about how Rockford Basket Press really ignited his passion for wine, we hear about his wine journey including his membership to the secret Rockford Stone Wall Society. 

Merrick was also very gracious in sharing 3 x wines from his personal cellar which were 24 - 28 years old. These included a 2000 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, a 2002 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon, and a 1996 Rockford SVS Moorooroo Shiraz, all from Barossa Valley South Australia. We also compared the 2000 Basket Press Shiraz to a 2019.

Merrick was absolutely funny, genuinely supportive, and just a great bloke. He truely loves wine and the wine industry, not only studying and getting certified in wine, but also helping support the Australian wine industry by mixing it with comedy. Make sure you watch his latest comedy show ‘An Idiots Guide to Wine Volume 2’, which is currently touring around Australia. Also check out the other wine and comedy events that he runs as part of Grapes of Mirth (https://grapesofmirth.com.au ).

Subscribe to @‌TheWinedUp and comment below on your favourite Merrick Watts moment or if you have seen ‘An Idiots Guide to Wine’.

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:40 Most memorable wine?
2:04 Favourite grape varietal?
2:26 Wine that you still want to try?
3:12 Unique food and wine pairing?
3:47 Advice for those on their wine journey?
5:08 Where did your wine journey start?
6:39 What is the Rockford Stonewall Society?
9:26 How to become member of Rockford Stonewall Society?
10:47 How did you grow your knowledge in wine?
13:33 When did you decide to blend people, comedy, wine?
14:38 Do you explore Australian wine regions?
15:07 Do you explore International wine regions? Monsoon Valley, Thailand
16:39 What are you currently drinking?
19:55 We love Clare Valley
21:47 How did you overcome the perceived ‘snobbery’ around wine?
26:49 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz ‘vertical tasting’
27:57 2019 Basket Press Shiraz Rockford, Barossa Valley, SA
30:05 2000 Basket Press Shiraz Rockford, Barossa Valley, SA
31:27 Is ‘vintage’ that important?
34:14 The challenges of being a ‘wine judge'
36:07 How do you calibrate your palate for a wine show?
38:45 Rockford Basket Press - does it live up to the hype?
40:06 SURPRISE 1 - 2002 Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon Rockford, Barossa Valley, SA
42:29 Wine is all about food
43:13 SURPRISE 2 - 1996 Moorooroo Shiraz Rockford, Barossa Valley, SA
48:05 Have you done a ‘harvest’?
29:01 The Wined Up Conclusion

#merrickwatts #rockford #barossavall

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