The Wined Up

Send us Fan Mail Mark Baulderstone (Managing Director at RIEDEL Australia and New Zealand) demonstrates why your choice of wine glass impacts your wine tasting experience. If you are spending money on a high quality wine, you are doing it an injustice if you are drinking it in the wrong wine glass. The wrong wine glass can impact the aroma, the taste, and the sensations on your palate. Mark also s...

Send us Fan Mail We are on the hunt for some bargain red wines under $25. Fortunately Annandale Cellars came to the rescue and sponsored 2 red wines that represented great value under $25. The wines are a 2023 Mount Trio Porongurup Pinot Noir and a 2023 Umani Ronchi Podere Montepulciano d'Abruzzo both available at https://acellars.com.au . In this episode we also share some tips on how to use...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we finally cracked open a bottle we've been saving for years – the 2015 Bloom Chardonnay from Brash Higgins! This unique wine, grown in the sandy soils of Blewitt Springs, has been aged to perfection in white Burgundy barrels and promises a flavour profile unlike any other. From honey and toffee apples to nutty whiffs and even a hint of curry powder, this wine...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we try to pair wines with what is supposedly Australia’s national dish the Pad Thai! We delve into the history and what is a pad thai and how does it bring on the thai-foon of flavours. Jason picked a 2023 Rieslingfreak Riesling from the Eden Valley whilst Trent went for a 2021 Zind Humbrecht Gewurztraminer sponsored by Josh from Vera Wines. For thoughts of the wee...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we dive into Cabernet Franc and explain why it’s considered ‘The Underrated Parent’.  We were fortunate to try 2 Cabernet Franc’s, one from Geelong and the other from Loire.  They were a 2024 Yayoi Wines Cabernet Franc, Geelong, VIC and a 2021 Plume Cabernet Franc, Bruno Debois, Saumur Champigny, Loire, FRA.  Both delicious in different ways.  Jason also demonstrat...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we explore the region of Northern Rhone and try a Rhone White Wine to find out ‘what makes them special’. Jancis Robinson recommended to try wines from Jean Louis Chave in Saint-Joseph and having tried it we can understand why! We try a 2021 Jean Louis Chave Saint-Joseph Circa Blanc, Rhone Valley, FRANCE ($97 from Five Way Cellars). Burnt caramel, ripe peaches, cha...

Send us Fan Mail 40 YEAR OLD Lindeman’s - Still Ok? In this episode we embark on a fascinating journey through time with two bottles of Linderman's St George Coonawarra wine. We're comparing a vintage 1985 bottle with a fresh 2021 one. The 1985 wine has an unusual brown colour? Hmm…  Will it still delight our senses, or has it gone over the hill? Thank you to Elkie for the 2021 Lindemans...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we try the much-lauded food and wine pairing of a Grape Sweat wine and a Tamago Sando aka Japanese egg sandwich. This simple yet elegant snack consists of a creamy egg salad filling, made with the renowned Kewpie mayonnaise, nestled between soft slices of Japanese milk bread, known as shokupan. It's a combination that has captured the hearts of many, including...

Send us Fan Mail Tony Park (Wine Consultant and Educator) takes shares a Masterclass on English Wines.  We touch on sparkling wines but focus specifically on English Still Wines.  Tony shared some wines for us to try which were The Uncommon Wine of England and a 2022 The Bolney Estate Dark Harvest.  It was fascinating to hear about the English wine scene, its unique varieties such as Bacchus and R...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we interview Raquel Jones, co-owner and winemaker, at Weathercraft in Beechworth.  Raquel shares her story as she takes us through a fantastic flight of Weathercraft wines.  We try a 2023 Weathercraft Albarino, 2022 Weathercraft Estate Chardonnay, 2023 Weathercraft Amphora GSM, and a 2021 Weathercraft Tempranillo all from Beechworth in VIC. Raquel was inspiring in...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we try to pair wines with a Cambodian Chicken Curry.  We try a 2022 Skillogalee Gewurztraminer, Clare Valley, SA and a 2023 Moorooduc Estate Pinot Gris on Skins, Mornington Peninsula, VIC.  Jason also de-bunks the myth on having to drink white wine before red wine to avoid a hangover, and Trent shares some funny puns inspired by a vineyard planned to be grown on to...

Send us Fan Mail Watch/listen to our latest episode to be released this Sunday, where we interview 4th generation winemaker Katherine Brown from the iconic Brown Brothers ( @BrownBrothersWinery ). Brown Brothers is synonymous with the Australian wine scene and it seems to be the learning ground for a lot of Australian winemakers. Katherine shares her love for the King Valley and encourages people...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week as we make our first journey into one of the most iconic wine regions in the world—Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This time, we explore the region via the juicy 2011 Clos du Pape. We uncover why the terroir makes the wines so special, we uncover the history and origins of the name, and we learn a bit more about the 13 grape varietals for Chateauneuf-du-pape wines. Subscrib...

Send us Fan Mail Watch/listen to our latest episode to be released this Sunday, where we interview Barry Morey, owner and winemaker of Sorrenberg.  Barry shares his story and takes us through an amazing flight of Sorrenberg wines.  We were fortunate to try a 2024 Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon, 2023 Chardonnay, 2023 Gamay, and 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot all from Sorrenberg, Beechworth...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode The Wined Up taste Chinese Natural Wines to see if they are any good. Trent and Jason try a 2022 Xiao Pu Tangarine Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, Xiao Pu The Gathering NV.6, Field Blend, Ningxia, China, and a 2022 Xiao Pu Song Song, Field Blend, Ningxia, China. Trent explains what a natural wine is and Jason conducts an experiment with wine glasses to see if they make...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we explore some wine ideas to celebrate Australia Day!!! Trent delves into the increasing global trend of wine in a can by cracking open Scarborough Wine Co’s Vermentino, Chardonnay, Tempranillo Joven, and Pinot Rose wine in a can. Jason celebrates chardonnay being Australia’s most crushed grape by bringing a 2023 A. Rodda Chardonnay, Willow Lake Vineyard, Yarra V...

Send us Fan Mail Watch/listen to our latest episode to be released this Sunday, where we interview owner and winemaker Keppell Smith from Savaterre. Kep explains his winemaking philosophy, why he chose Beechworth, and takes us through a special flight of Savaterre wines including a vertical tasting of his Chardonnay. We tasted a 2019, 2021, and 2021 Savaterre Chardonnay, a 2022 Savaterre Reserve P...

Send us Fan Mail In this weeks episode we try Merlot and try to answer the question ‘where is the love for Merlot'?  This week we try a 2020 Hickinbotham The Revivalist Merlot, Clarendon, McLaren Vale (sponsored by M.S Cellars) and a 2020 Sinano Wine Merlot, Nagano, Japan.  Jason also explains 5 reasons why he thinks Merlot is not popular in Australia and Trent shares what the wine you drink...

Send us Fan Mail Join us this week as we make our first journey into Burgundy reds. We hear so much about it all the time with the likes of Domaine De La Romanee-Conti (DRC) or Domaine Leroy, but what is all the hype about? We try and pick at one of the patches of the what is the patchwork quilt of. Trent brought home a 2016 Chambolle-Musigny, Francois Feuillet from Hong Kong on the guidance that...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we reflect on the past 12 months of 2024. While we reflect we enjoy a beautiful champagne - Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne, Boll & Cie. We ask ourselves the infamous Wined Up icebreaker questions, talk about our highlights, lessons learnt, and what we look forward to in 2025. Subscribe to @‌TheWinedUp and comment below on your favourite part of The Wined...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we celebrate the festive season, and particularly Christmas. Last year, we did pairings with ham and chicken, this year the challenge was to pair with a panettone. Do you know what a Panettone is? This was a first for Jason, and it was nearly a 10 out of 10 corkscrews for the panettone. Jason chose a 2019 Brachetto D’Acqui, Marco Bonfante, Piedmont, Italy and Trent...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we tackle another question that has been posed for centuries. What wine pairs with a Vietnamese national dish “pho”? Jase chooses a 2023 Riesling, Frankland Estate, Great Southern, WA (sponsored by Carlingford Cellar Door https://carlingfordcellardoor.com.au/ ). Trent chooses a 2020 Marques de Murrieta, Pazito Barrantes, Albarino. Trent discusses his thought of the...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we find try to find the perfect wine for Summer 2025. Trent tries a 2024 Fi Fi Fiano, S.C. Pannell, McLaren Vale, SA (sponsored by Carlingford Cellar Door). Jason tries a 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, Crayeres, Terre a Terre, Wrattonbully, SA. Trent also shares some tips on how to quickly cool down a bottle of wine. Jason conducts a live product review of the Kunlongsky Re...

Send us Fan Mail Watch/listen to our latest episode to be released this Sunday, where we interview winemaker Sam Rumpit from Saddler’s Creek Wines.  We were fortunate to visit the cellar door and winery and it is a fantastic space that brings friends, food, and wine together for a great time. Sam was a fantastic host, taking us through the Saddler’s Creek Wines story, discussing the significance a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we take a Masterclass from Marc Malouf on assessing the qualities of wine. He takes us through a live review on assessing the wine from its sight, smell, and taste. We try to see how Marc compares 2 x wines as a blind tasting. Both wines are from the same producer, same vintage, same grape variety, however one is almost double the price of the other.  Marc has such...