Behind the Wines

Tom Donegan is an Adelaide based wine professional with international experience in sales, marketing, hospitality and export of some of Australia’s finest wineries. In 2020, he joined the team at  Shaw + Smith  and  Tolpuddle Vineyard, where he works as the National Sales Manager in the Adelaide Hills. Tom contributes to the Australian industry through wine show judging, the Wine Australia Future...

No stranger to the world of winemaking and viticulture, Alister grew up on his family’s vineyards on the Bellarine Peninsula and was planting vines at the age of 10. With a science degree from Melbourne University, Alister went on to study Oenology at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 2001.   Alister then started working at Shadowfax Wines as Assistant Winemaker, a position he held for t...

Adrian Santolin is an award-winning Australian winemaker whose roots run deep into both vineyard soil and Italian tradition. Born to Italian parents and raised on his family’s vineyard and orchard—established by his grandfather, who emigrated from the Veneto region in the 1930s—Adrian’s connection to wine began early and runs deep.   His winemaking journey formally began in 2003 in the Hunter Vall...

From Jeremy: Owning my own vineyard and creating exceptional wines have been dreams of mine since I was first introduced to White Burgundy and full-bodied Clarets by my father over long Sunday roasts. I spent many years searching New and Old World wine regions, and it wasn’t until one holiday in Margaret River that I knew I had found ‘it’. Impressive on paper, the estate was even more attractive i...

Jeremy Oliver is one of Australia’s most respected and influential wine figures, with a career that spans more than three decades in the world of wine. Best known for his work as a wine critic, author, and presenter, Jeremy earned a reputation for his honest palate, elegant prose, and deep understanding of both Australian and international wine. As the author of multiple acclaimed books — includin...

As a Wine Consultant, Liinaa Berry designs programs that elevate venues through storytelling, strategy, and strong commercial outcomes. She serves on the Sommeliers Australia board, mentors emerging talent, and is Melbourne’s ambassador for Star Wine List – an international guide to the best wine venues in each city. Her accolades include Best New Winelist 2023 at Pentridge Olivine (TFE Hotels) an...

Lisa Cardelli is an Italian-born wine professional based in Melbourne since 2010. She has worked as a sommelier in some of Melbourne's best fine-dining restaurants for over 10 years before leaving hospitality to work as a wine sales representative. Lisa is now a journalist for  Il Globo , wine writer for  Halliday Wine Companion  and wine reviewer for  WinePilot,  as well as certified WSET Edu...

Pierre Stock is the founder of PS Wine Selections, a leading Australian importer and online retailer of French and European wines. With over three decades in the wine industry—including many years as a sommelier at Melbourne’s acclaimed France Soir restaurant—Pierre has earned a reputation for sourcing exceptional, authentic wines that balance tradition, quality, and value.   His deep connections...

Yuki Hirose, MS, a Tokyo-born sommelier, has transformed his passion for wine into a remarkable career, moving from a bar in Japan to some of Australia’s most prestigious dining establishments. After more than a decade at Sydney’s acclaimed Rockpool, he took on a new challenge with Lucas Restaurants in Melbourne, where he currently oversees the wine programs at Kisumé, Grill Americano, and Society...

From the soils of Gisborne to the cellars of Burgundy — Michael Dhillon on legacy, terroir, and crafting Australia’s most coveted cool-climate wines. Michael was born in the town of Gisborne, where his mother’s family have lived since 1850, and grew up at Bindi, a 170-hectare farm just outside the township.  Today, he and his family produce some of Australia’s most respected chardonnay and pinot n...

With nearly three decades of dedication to Joval Wines, one of Australia’s most respected fine wine distribution companies, Hilary has amassed extensive expertise in brand development, strategic sales, and cultivating customer relationships across the entire spectrum of the beverage industry.   Over time, Hilary’s passion for wine education has grown, culminating in the successful completion of th...

Andrew Guard is one of Australia’s most respected wine importers and the founder of Andrew Guard Wine Imports, a company renowned for its uncompromising commitment to authenticity, terroir, and craftsmanship. With a background in fine wine retail and distribution, and an ear always tuned to the sommelier scene, Andrew has built a portfolio that reads like a who’s who of the natural, minimal-interv...

Welcome to ‘Behind the Wines’, a freshly bottled podcast, about Australian wine, the wines we love and the people behind them. My mission is simple – I want to delve into the cellar with sommeliers, stomp grapes with winemakers, and engage in conversations with our finest critics, growers, retailers, and chefs. Our aim is to share with you some of the great wine yarns and memories, and bring you i...