Vino Bozo

In this episode, we indulge - Heyson Blue Cheese from Udder delights, Golden North vanilla ice cream with four fortified wines. A Madiera Malvasia, two styles of fortified Muscat - one from McLaren Vale and another from Rutherglen and a Pedro Ximénez (PX) Sherry. Come along and see how it went 

In this episode Piquepoul v Picpoul de Pinet - our unique perspective on the French v McLaren Vale versions. Wines tasted were:

• Réserve Delsol Picpoul de Pinet 2023
• Coriole McLaren Vale Piquepoul 2025

Correction: in the podcast Darren spoke about spelling of Picpoul being restricted. Afterwards we looked it up and both Picpoul and Piquepoul are probably allowed spellings in Australia, although Piquepoul is less risky. Only France get to use de Pinet as the Appellation name but use both Piquepoul and Picpoul. Darren is blaming a masterclass presenter for the confusion.

This week, on the verge of winter we explore wines for deep conversation. This episode we range across the Souther Fleurieu peninsular in the search for the perfect conversational wine. Wines reviewed for this quarters Fleurieu living were:

• Saltfleet 2025 Sangiovese (McLaren Vale and Sellicks Hill in Kaurna Country)
• Oria Riff 2025 Grenache (McLaren Vale - Blewitt Springs, Fiona Wood's Vineyard)
• Bec Hardy Pertaringa 2024 Stege Left Merlot (McLaren Vale - Tatachilla, Martin's Vineyard)
• Aphelion 2024 Affiity Grenache Mourvèdre (single vineyard in each of McLaren Vale and Willunga)
• Paralian 2023 Shiraz Mataro (McLaren Vale - Blewitt Springs, Spring's Hill Vineyard)
• Bekkers 2023 Syrah Grenache (McLaren Vale)
• Lake Breeze 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon (Langhorne Creek - Bremer River Flood Plain, Follett Family Vineyard)
• Karrawatta The Meddler Malbec 2021 (Langhorne Creek, Christo's Paddock vineyard)

We conversed about what conversations we would pair these wines with. See if you agree.

We couldn't think of a better reason for a matchup episode than two French wines that have similar names - Jura and Jurancon. It didn't matter to us that they are from completely different parts of France, different climates, different elevations or different varietals. We just wanted you to know about them.

In addition, we have chosen styles that are represenattive of the regions, but not their most famous. In a region known for its sweet wines, we have reviewed the dry style - Jurancon Sec - and in the Jura region which is famous for oxidative, bready, nutty flor influenced styles of whites, we have tasted a reductive much more conventional style of Chardonnay.

Have fun!!

We taste three sparkling wines, but with a twist: every one of them comes with a little extra flavour and a lot more fun. Come along for a fizzy ride through sparkling wine, spritzes and a few deliciously questionable ideas that turn out to be very good ones.

We get stuck into sparkling wine with added flavour adn gone on about adding soda, ice, mint and cassis, and stir up a bit of wine beef along the way by asking the big question: why is fortified wine not more popular? It is a serious episode about wine, just with a healthy refusal to take wine too seriously.

In this episode, we taste MVD Limoncello with Brown Brothers Prosecco, Zoncello Lemon Spritz, and crème de cassis with Perrier-Jouët Champagne.

Three sparkling wines, a handful of twists, and just enough wine controversy to keep things interesting.

Join us as Darren tries his first ever boilermaker: whisky and beer side by side. It turns into a fun chat about flavour, surprising pairings, and which combos really work. We had a great time recording this one and were seriously impressed by some of the matches.

In this episode, we try Redbreast Irish Whiskey and Sazerac Rye Whisky with pilsner, then mix things up with an all-Australian brandy and cider boilermaker featuring St Agnes Bartender’s Cut and Willie Smith’s Cloudy Cider. We finish with a full South Australian combo: McLaren Vale Distillers MVD x Mr Riggs Single Malt with Coopers Dark Ale.

Join us as we taste through some Mhoba Agricole Rum that Jacob bought back from South Africa. All the rums were Agricole style so come and learn a little about that too. Warning almost entirely wine free except for a couple of fortified wine recommendations in the cocktail section at the end, where we cover at home recipes for Dark and Stormy, Spiced Rum, and Old Fashioned.

Our first ever producer profile (perhaps there will be more) is dedicated to Saltfleet Wines (we tasted the Sangiovese, Mourvèdre, and GSM) - they describe themselves as "fine wines from exceptional vineyard sites across McLaren Vale." We did this episode because Jake had just tasted the wines and is putting them on the wine program at Noori. Find out why!

Today we discover the new crisps-based late night food innovation at Noori and taste with various fish, pepper, and meat accompaniments and some very interesting wines - a cool climate Viognier from Victoria and two types of Sherry.

Today we taste two Australian fortified wines with tonic (delicious - do try this at home), discuss the whole port and tonic thing as well as getting into our strong feelings about chocolate and ice cream with wine.