The Vincast - a wine podcast with The Intrepid Wino

The 2016 Sommeliers Australia Ball was held recently, and I thought it might be fun to take my recording gear along and chat with a few sommeliers working in Melbourne. The first sommelier I spoke to was Kara Maisano from Masani Restaurant, the second was Tom Beattie who works at Dinner by Heston, and the third was Kayleen Reynolds, who not only works at CIty Wine Shop, but was also named the co-dux of the Sommeliers Scholarship. I asked them about how they got into wine and hospitality, their influences, and the challenges and rewards of being a somm.

When you consider at least 50% of wine consumers are women - undoubtedly the largest segment - it seems strange that someone hadn't created a community designed specifically for them! That was until Jane Thomson founded The Fabulous Ladies' Wine Society in 2012, all about the fun and feminity of wine, running wonderful events to enjoy and learn about wine. More recently Jane has become a campaigner for more women in the wine industry, creating the Women in Wine Awards to recognise the significant contribution many female wine producers and marketers have made to the Australian wine industry. On this episode of The Vincast I chat with Jane about her journey and her passion for gender equality in the wine industry.

When you consider at least 50% of wine consumers are women - undoubtedly the largest segment - it seems strange that someone hadn't created a community designed specifically for them! That was until Jane Thomson founded The Fabulous Ladies' Wine Society in 2012, all about the fun and feminity of wine, running wonderful events to enjoy and learn about wine. More recently Jane has become a campaigner for more women in the wine industry, creating the Women in Wine Awards to recognise the significant contribution many female wine producers and marketers have made to the Australian wine industry. On this episode of The Vincast I chat with Jane about her journey and her passion for gender equality in the wine industry.

Caroline Mooney grew up in the Yarra Valley, very influenced by the wines and other agricultural products of the region. Her family has been farmers for decades and still run the Yarra Valley Dairy. Although inspired by art in her teens, she became more influenced by wine as a young adult, working in a cellar door. This began her journey in winemaking, which has included vintages outside the region and study at Charles Sturt. After working for Yering Station for many years she now has her own brand of Yarra Valley wine, Bird On A Wire.

Caroline Mooney grew up in the Yarra Valley, very influenced by the wines and other agricultural products of the region. Her family has been farmers for decades and still run the Yarra Valley Dairy. Although inspired by art in her teens, she became more influenced by wine as a young adult, working in a cellar door. This began her journey in winemaking, which has included vintages outside the region and study at Charles Sturt. After working for Yering Station for many years she now has her own brand of Yarra Valley wine, Bird On A Wire.

Growing up in Southern California presented an incredible opportunity to Sierra Reed Milne when she was scouted for a modelling career at a young age, which in turn gave her the chance to travel and experience other cultures. After gaining a following on the 18th season of Survivor, she dreamed of becoming a television travel program host, but couldn't have imagined that it would be realised in New Zealand. It was here that she began her wine journey after working closely with the Family of Twelve, a journey that has led to her marrying an Australian, and making her own wine based in Victoria.

Growing up in Southern California presented an incredible opportunity to Sierra Reed Milne when she was scouted for a modelling career at a young age, which in turn gave her the chance to travel and experience other cultures. After gaining a following on the 18th season of Survivor, she dreamed of becoming a television travel program host, but couldn't have imagined that it would be realised in New Zealand. It was here that she began her wine journey after working closely with the Family of Twelve, a journey that has led to her marrying an Australian, and making her own wine based in Victoria.

In the latter half of the 19th Century, there were a number of very important arrivals into the Yarra Valley region, less than 100km east of Melbourne, who happened to be Swiss. These were important viticultural who made a name for Australian wine in Paris and London, winning hearts, palates and medals. One of these pioneering Swiss families was the de Purys, who established Yeringberg in the area now known as Coldstream. My guest on this episode is Guill de Pury, the third-generation owner responsible for reviving the wine growing on the property at the end of the 1960s. He shared the important history of the family, the region, the farm and his own journey of (re)discovery.

In the latter half of the 19th Century, there were a number of very important arrivals into the Yarra Valley region, less than 100km east of Melbourne, who happened to be Swiss. These were important viticultural who made a name for Australian wine in Paris and London, winning hearts, palates and medals. One of these pioneering Swiss families was the de Purys, who established Yeringberg in the area now known as Coldstream. My guest on this episode is Guill de Pury, the third-generation owner responsible for reviving the wine growing on the property at the end of the 1960s. He shared the important history of the family, the region, the farm and his own journey of (re)discovery.

Lawrence & Tim Scanlon grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and it was only due to the fact that Lawrence worked in bottle shops while studying that either of them are in the wine industry today. A desire to study how to be a winemaker brought Lawrence to Melbourne, and after many years working as a tradesman Tim joined him and started working in vineyards just out of the city. Their consumption of and subsequent passion for low-intervention wines led them to start their own brand with their own expressions, under the Dirty Black Denim brand. They shared their story on this episode of Australia’s number one wine podcast.