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Welcome to Fix Wine Bar + Restaurant in Sydney! We’re sitting down with the man behind one of Australia’s most iconic wine destinations — Stuart Knox, owner, sommelier, and The Real Review wine critic. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Australian wine, the evolution of Sydney’s wine bar culture, and Stuart’s incredible 20-year journey building Fix into a place “where everyone knows your name.”

We talk about what makes Australian Chardonnay world-class, how the wine scene has shifted over the years, and Stuart’s approach to creating a wine list that celebrates both local producers and unique international bottles. You’ll hear his best tips for food and wine pairing, how to read a wine list without fear, and his philosophy on keeping wine approachable — without the pretentiousness.

If you love wine, hospitality, and good stories, this chat will give you a whole new appreciation for the craft and community behind the glass.

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Check out Fix Wine Bar and Restaurant at https://fixwine.com.au/

Follow Us on Instagram (The.Wined.Up) or TikTok (@thewinedup ).

Visit our website https://www.thewinedup.com.au/ or email us at [email protected].

Chapters:

00:00 Preview

00:41 Introduction

02:31 The Wined Up Icebreaker questions

10:13 The Story Behind the Red Shoes

11:28 Inside Fix Wine Bar

12:25 Tasting: Rivulet Chardonnay 2024

12:41 Why Australian Chardonnay Is Elite

14:31 Expansion of Tasmanian Wine

15:21 Current Aussie Consumer Trends

15:22 How Stuart Got Into Wine

24:49 From London to Level 41 to Fix

27:12 The Dine & Drink Licence Shift

33:17 The "Cheers" Philosophy

33:58 State of the Sydney Wine Bar Scene

41:44 Tasting: Vino Volta Grenache

43:00 Food Pairing Challenge

46:30 Do Sydney Bars Support NSW Wine Enough?

51:30 Why Fix Doesn’t Focus on “Big Names”

53:16 Wine List Anxiety Explained

55:58 Why You Should Always Reveal Your Budget

57:00 The Reality of Money & Wine

58:56 Inside The Real Review

01:04:35 How to Learn About Wine

01:07:22 Final Reflections & Thank You

#StuartKnox #FixWineBar #Sydneywine #AustralianChardonnay #Australianwinescene #sommelierinterview #wineindustryAustralia #Sydneyrestaurants #winetasting #wineeducation #foodandwinepairing #winebarculture #TheRealReview #Australianwinemakers #ChardonnayAustralia #PinotNoirAustralia #wineinSydney #winecriticsAustralia #Australianwinestories #Sydneyhospitality

Follow Us on YouTube (@TheWinedUp), Instagram (The.Wined.Up), Tik Tok (@TheWinedUp), Spotify (The Wined Up), Amazon Music ( TheWinedUp), and Apple Podcasts (The Wined Up). Visit our website https://www.thewinedup.com.au or email us at [email protected].

Drink More, Try More, Learn More.