The Wined Up

Send us Fan Mail What makes a modern Chinese restaurant truly great? And what wine should you be drinking with it?  In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , Trent sits down with Victor Liong, the chef behind Lee Ho Fook, for a conversation that spans food, wine, family, culture and the realities of building one of Australia's most respected restaurants.  Victor shares stories from growing up...

Send us Fan Mail What if you could travel from England to France, Tasmania and Bordeaux without ever leaving your chair? In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we're not exploring a single wine region. Instead, we're following the story of one family that has spent more than 50 years searching the world for great wine and has delivered over a billion bottles along the way.  The journe...

Send us Fan Mail What actually happens when you blind taste some of Australia’s most hyped Chardonnays… against each other? In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , Trent is joined by the always insightful Marc Malouf for a deep dive into Australian Chardonnay. From cult favourites and benchmark producers to the styles, philosophies, and winemaking fingerprints that shape the country’s most talke...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we sit down with amateur winemaker James Follent to unpack what really happens when curiosity turns into a full-blown garage winery obsession. What started with buying wine for Qantas points somehow turned into hand-picking grapes, experimenting with sparkling Chardonnay, making raspberry mead, joining the Sydney Amateur Winemakers Club, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we sit down with Roman Aujoulat from Château La Nerthe in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. One of the Rhône Valley’s most historic estates to unpack what tradition really means when you’re the next generation helping carry it forward.   Roman grew up in the Rhône surrounded by wine at the dinner table, but stepping into a role representing one of the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we sit down with Dan Eggleton from Ben Murray Wines in the Barossa to talk about something the wine world rarely talks about. The pressure behind the label, the reality facing boutique producers right now, and why sometimes stepping back is the bravest decision you can make. Dan shares what led him to pause a vintage after nearly 30 years...

Send us Fan Mail This week on The Wined Up Podcast , we sit down with Valtteri Bottas — Formula 1 driver, wine lover, gin maker, coffee roaster, off-road adventurer… and yes, calendar model. We chat about how his partnership with Corrina Wright from Oliver’s Taranga led to the creation of IHANA . A wine that brings together Finnish spirit and McLaren Vale heart. We delve into the topics of:  ·   ...

Send us Fan Mail Taste the Mountains!!!  In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we sit down with Dan Sangermani from Invidia Wines and Ned Goodwin Master of Wine to explore a world most people don’t even realise exists… Swiss wine. When you think Switzerland, you think chocolate, watches, skiing… Not wine. This is because they only export 1 – 2% of their wine with the rest being kept to themsel...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us love wine… but let’s be honest — not all of us can open $80 bottles every week.  So today on The Wined Up Podcast , we ask a question that’s probably crossed every wine drinker’s mind while walking past the supermarket aisle:  Is Aldi wine actually good value… or is it just cheap wine?   After seeing the hype online (and struggling to even find bottles because they kept...

Send us Fan Mail What’s the one wine you’d taste if you were on your deathbed? Merrick Watts got asked that exact question… and it kicked off a proper “we have to do this” moment on the pod. In this episode of The Wined Up , Merrick returns (yep — first guest back!) and we crack into Château d’Yquem (half-bottle, because… reality), talk why sweet wines get underrated, and then do the most Aussie p...

Send us Fan Mail Public speaking is humanity’s biggest fear — so why does Merrick Watts love stand-up comedy? In this episode of The Wined Up, we sit down with Australian comedian and wine enthusiast Merrick Watts to explore the mindset behind performance, the evolution of comedy in the social media era, and what real discipline looks like behind the scenes. We also dive into wine stories, includi...

Send us Fan Mail What wine actually works with Frangos Portuguese chicken? Today we put it to the test. Frangos is one of Sydney’s most loved Portuguese chicken spots, famous for its charcoal grilled chicken, smoky flavours, and that iconic chilli sauce. The challenge is real. You have spice, char, smoke, and white meat all on the same plate, and that can ruin the wrong wine fast.  In this episode...

Send us Fan Mail When most people hear Pizzini Wines, they think Prosecco, and honestly, so did I. But this episode completely flipped that idea on its head. Today on The Wine Up Podcast, Trent and I dive deep into Pizzini Wines from Victoria’s King Valley and discover just how much more there is beyond the bubbles. We explore Italian grape varieties grown in Australian soil, from Sangiovese and N...

Send us Fan Mail Ever looked at a wine auction and thought, this feels intimidating, where do I even start? In this episode of the WinedUp Podcast, we sit down with Dan Packham to break down wine auctions in a clear, practical way for everyday wine drinkers. I am Jason, joined by Trent, and together we explore how wine auctions really work, why people use them, and how you can find aged wines that...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we step behind the scenes at Peter Lehmann Wines with Senior Winemaker Brett Schutz. In this exclusive episode, Brett shares the fascinating story of Peter Lehmann, the visionary behind one of Barossa Valley’s most iconic wineries, and takes us through his personal journey in the world of wine. From the philosophy that drives Peter Lehmann Wines to hands-on insights int...

Send us Fan Mail Hey wine lovers! 🍷 Join us, Jason and Trent, on this episode of The Wined Up Podcast as we dive into the often intimidating world of French wines. We explore why French wines scare us with all their complex terminologies and pronunciations. Luckily, we've got Vintrepid to help us out! They're a unique wine club providing curated packs to help wine enthusiasts like us di...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to The Wined Up. In this episode, we’re diving unapologetically unfiltered into one of New Zealand’s most exciting wine regions, Otago, with a blind tasting of Valli Wine’s Pinot Noirs from three very different sub regions. We line up Bendigo, Gibbston, and Waitaki without knowing what’s in the glass, focusing purely on texture, acidity, fruit, and how terroir really...

Send us Fan Mail Hey Wine Lovers! 🍷 Welcome to our wrap-up of 2025! In this special episode, we're reflecting on our incredible wine journey throughout the year. From unforgettable moments in Queenstown, Central Otago, to insightful chats with wine legends, and of course, our first-ever virtual wine awards, we've got so much to share with you! Here's what we'll be covering in...

Send us Fan Mail In this festive episode of The Wined Up Podcast , we take on one of the hardest food and wine challenges of all time: what actually pairs with Christmas pudding . Rich, brandy-soaked, packed with dried fruit, suet, spice, and finished with custard, Christmas pudding is notorious for overpowering wine — so we put it to the test properly. We taste what claims to be Australia’s No.1...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sit down with Alex Clerch from LeCavist to unpack the real rules of wine storage and why so many collectors get it wrong. Alex helps us break down the basics like steady temperature, low vibration, controlled humidity and proper light management. These may sound simple, but they decide how your bottles age and how your collection holds up over time. We talk thro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wined Up Podcast, we sit down with Greg Lambrecht, the founder and inventor of Coravin, to explore something many wine drinkers never talk about enough, which is the emotional bond we form with wine. Greg explains how memories, people and places shape the way a single glass can stay with us for years.  We also cover how Coravin changed the way we taste wine...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Wined Up, we sit down with Douglas Neal, a winemaker with decades of experience across Australia, Burgundy, Bordeaux and California. From the first pour, it was clear Doug is on a real mission making great wines accessible again. We talk about rising costs in the wine world, why younger drinkers are being priced out, and why the industry is struggling to bal...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Fix Wine Bar + Restaurant in Sydney! We’re sitting down with the man behind one of Australia’s most iconic wine destinations — Stuart Knox , owner, sommelier, and The Real Review wine critic. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of Australian wine, the evolution of Sydney’s wine bar culture, and Stuart’s incredible 20-year journey building Fix into a place “wher...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we sit down with Jane Campbell , Managing Director of Campbells Wines , for a deep dive into 155 years of family winemaking in Rutherglen, Australia . From the legendary Bobbie Burns Shiraz to the world-famous Rutherglen Muscats and Topaques , Jane shares stories, lessons, and insights that define one of Australia’s most respected wineries. We talk about the origins of...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re pairing the iconic Vietnamese banh mi with three very different wines in a blind wine pairing challenge with legendary chef Dan Hong. You’ve seen Dan on MasterChef, The Streets, and at Mr. Wong, Ms G’s and El Loco — but today, we test his love of wine in the most unexpected way. We each choose a bottle under $200 and put it to the test with a classic Vietnamese banh mi...