The Vincast - a wine podcast with The Intrepid Wino

Sommeliers Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that is designed to support, educate and provide a network for working sommeliers and other wine professionals around the country. They offer a scholarship that provides an opportunity to benchmark world-class wines and wine professionals and teach scholars how to assess wines in blind conditions. The dux of the scholarship Harry Hunter joins me on this episode to talk about his background and how he made the most of the program.

Several important wine critics have indicated that the Austrian white grape variety gruner veltliner presents amazing potential for cultivation in Australia. My sommelier friend James Dossan and I sit down to chat about the origin of the grape, the classic styles made in Austria, and then proceed to taste through a range of different wines from Austria, New Zealand and Australia.

The Jimmy Watson Trophy is one of the most coveted and prestigious prizes in Australian winemaking, and for the first time since the 1950s a Pinot Noir has recently taken it out. On this episode I welcome the trophy-winning winemaker from Yabby Lake Tom Carson, who over the past 20 years has established a place in the industry not only for his exceptional skills as a vigneron but also his innovative business insights. We cover his origins, his studies and his path in the industry that has led him to putting pinot noir back on the map.

The Jimmy Watson Trophy is one of the most coveted and prestigious prizes in Australian winemaking, and for the first time since the 1950s a Pinot Noir has recently taken it out. On this episode I welcome the trophy-winning winemaker from Yabby Lake Tom Carson, who over the past 20 years has established a place in the industry not only for his exceptional skills as a vigneron but also his innovative business insights. We cover his origins, his studies and his path in the industry that has led him to putting pinot noir back on the map.

My first returning guest is Phil Smith of The Wine Depository, and he joins me to talk about Wine Tourism. Welcoming visitors to a winery to sell direct is one of the most important parts of the business and offering a compelling cellar door experience continues to increase in value. We talk about the many options of navigating, visiting, eating, learning and sleeping in wine regions, sharing some of our own personal experiences.​

The Italian region of Friuli is possibly one of the most diverse in the world, with many distinct areas and vineyards planted to numerous varieties. Within the unique area of Oslavia on the Slovenian border can be found Azienda Agricola Fiegl where my guest Martin Fiegl’s family have grown grapes for many generations and have made wines under their own label since 1992. We chat about the winery, his responsibilities in the family, and his views of Italian wine in the global market.​

The Italian region of Friuli is possibly one of the most diverse in the world, with many distinct areas and vineyards planted to numerous varieties. Within the unique area of Oslavia on the Slovenian border can be found Azienda Agricola Fiegl where my guest Martin Fiegl's family have grown grapes for many generations and have made wines under their own label since 1992. We chat about the winery, his responsibilities in the family, and his views of Italian wine in the global market.​

Now we are well into Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne and Summer, Christmas and New Year is not far away, I thought it appropriate to talk about Champagne with my good friend Jade Lee Campbell, a self-confessed Champagne-devotee. We talk about what the difference between champagne and sparkling wine is, and attempt to dispell some myths about this wine style.​

The Wine Baptism of Fire competition gives amateur winemakers the chance to discover first-hand what is involved under the tutelage of a respected winemaking mentor, and make their first wine from Mount Langi Ghiran fruit. James Fryer was a member of Team Downie which was comprised almost entirely of members of Grossi Florentino service staff, and he joins me to regale us with their Wine BOF experience.​

Yarra Valley based Luke Lambert joins me on this episode of The Vincast. Originally from Brisbane he discovered a love of elegant food-friendly wines early on and after being inspired by Italian wines decided to become a winemaker, applying for university from a phone box in London. He explains how he has become one of the leading lights of small batch "hands-off" winemaking in Australia in the space of ten years.