Behind the Wines

From Everest to Excellence: A journey through the world of wines Today we share a great conversation with Ashlyn Foster, whose wine journey has taken her from Canada to South Korea, Nepal, Sydney, and now Melbourne. A former Head Sommelier at Quay and now Sales Manager across four states for Jackson Family Wines, she brings global experience, sharp expertise, and a deep passion for wine. jacksonfa...

From Garden Beds to Barossa Reds: The Journey of Hentley Farm’s Winemaker We are pleased to introduce you to Andrew Quin. His path to winemaking began in his Nan’s garden and led him from horticulture to vineyards in Victoria, California, and France. Drawn to the Barossa by a love of travel and a vintage opportunity, he joined Hentley Farm in 2008 and helped shape it into one of Australia’s premiu...

If you enjoyed our conversation with Sebastian last week in episode 4, grab yourself an extra glass of your favourite wine and sit back to learn a little more about his passion for importing great international wines to your door. realwines.com.au

Shaping how Australia drinks: from the ground to 35,000 feet. Today we talk with Sebastian Crowther, who has built a remarkable career in wine — from Master Sommelier to Qantas wine chief. A mentor, judge, and storyteller of terroir, he brings deep expertise and a global perspective to every conversation. Join us as we uncork the mind behind the wine. realwines.com.au

From Physics to Fermentation: The Vision and Voice of Louisa Rose We are delighted to talk with Louisa Rose, a leading Australian winemaker and sustainability advocate with Hill-Smith Family Estates. She has played a key role in shaping the winemaking philosophy at Yalumba and Pewsey Vale Vineyard and is recognised for her leadership in sustainable winegrowing. Passionate about reducing carbon emi...

If our conversation with Bridget Mac left you wanting to know more about her craft of winemaking and collaboration with other creative minds, pour yourself an extra glass and tune in to this bonus episode following on from episode 2. werkstatt.wine

From Lens to Cellar: The Art and Alchemy of Werkstatt Today we are delighted to talk with Bridget Mac. From art to wine, Bridget’s path has been anything but ordinary. After 15 years as an artist, she retrained in wine science and has since built an impressive career across Victoria, Tasmania, Burgundy, and Alsace. In 2022, she launched her first vintage under Werkstatt, and in 2025 her inaugural...

If our conversation with Brenden left you wanting to know more, here's some extra content that will keep you entertained whilst you savour that extra glass of your favourite drop. wineanimal.com.au

Wine is serious business. Luckily, the Wine Animal isn't. Today we are very pleased to meet with Brenden (or Brenno, as many know him), who spent nearly 20 years as a carpenter by day, and a Wine Animal by night—or any other waking moment he could find. Recently, he took the leap to focus on wine full-time, a calculated yet thrilling risk – one of the scariest yet most rewarding decisions of his l...

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...