Wine with Meg + Mel
Food
About
The fun + frank podcast which helps you navigate the world of wine. Hosted by Australia's first female Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann, and self-titled Master of Sabrage Mel Gilcrist.
Episodes
- Beechworth, Bottled: The Deep Dive on Our Smallest GI
This episode explores Beechworth, Australia’s smallest GI, focusing on its premium wines, the Beechworth Chardonnay, and the distinct characteristics of its white and red varieties. The discussion covers the region's price reality and what…
- Wine News: Italy Reclaims Prosecco, a $1.5M Piece of Wine History, and the Great Wine Bus Debate
This episode covers a trade deal regarding the term "Prosecco," the sale of a 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti for $1.5 million AUD, and various aspects of wine tourism including bus groups and tasting experiences. The hosts also discuss a…
- IYKYK: A Buyers Guide to Sourcing the Best Alternatives to World Famous Wines!
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores "quiet luxury" wines, offering alternatives to high-priced Burgundy, Sancerre, and Italian reds. The hosts discuss smart substitutions, explain essential label terms, and highlight good value op…
- Queensland Wine, Is This Australia's Next Great Wine Story?
Meg and Mel explore Queensland wines, focusing on the Granite Belt region. They discuss the climate science behind these wines and taste several varieties, including Vermentino, Verdelho, Tempranillo, and Saperavi.
- Wine News: Winemakers under pressure, Trump's... "interference" in Iran and its influence on the wine industry, and the passing of a wine icon
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel covers current wine headlines, such as challenges faced by winemakers, market changes, and the enduring influence of Michel Rolland on wine styles. It also touches on geopolitical events affecting the in…
- The Right Glass: A deep dive into Glassware with SPIEGELAU CEO Richard Voit
In this episode, SPIEGELAU CEO Richard Voit discusses glassware and its impact on wine. The hosts and Voit explore different glasses for Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Champagne, highlighting practical options and favorite SPIEGELAU…
- $50 Small Town Supermarket Wine Survival Guide for a Weekend Away!
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel provides a survival guide for selecting wines from a supermarket for a weekend trip, focusing on value and drinkability for under $50. Meg and Mel discuss various wines, including sparkling options, whit…
- Goon Review! "Traditional" Goon Vs the Modern Bagnum
In this episode, Meg and Mel review traditional goon and Bagnum, comparing them in blind tastings. They discuss the impact of packaging on perception, freshness in large formats, and pricing differences.
- Wine News: How Hedge Funds, Record Exports, And Troye Sivan (?!) Are Shaping Australian Wine
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel covers how hedge funds are affecting Treasury Wine Estates, the record year for Victoria Wine, and Penfolds' collaboration with Troye Sivan. It also explores the evolving strategies for wine brand sponso…
- Pairing Thai Food, with Wines that Work!
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores wine pairings for popular Thai dishes. The hosts test various wines with satay, pad Thai, and green curry to find effective combinations.
- Mel from Marketing's POD TAKEOVER!
This episode features Mel from Marketing discussing alcohol marketing. She examines Australia's ABAC standards, reviewing real-world complaints, cleared campaigns, and banned advertisements.
- From Coonawarra To Cape Jaffa: Are South Australia’s Cool-Climate Whites a New Fave?!
Meg and Mel trek along South Australia’s wind-whipped shoreline to discover the Limestone Coast region. They discuss how the region is cooling down and sharpening up, focusing on white wines and their characteristics. Also, they touch on t…
- Wine News: New Season, New Studio, Big Wine Questions; Saving Riverland; Gen Z's drinking and Bloege to Beckham!
Meg and Mel return to discuss the Australian wine industry, covering topics like Riverland's shift from volume to value, a $139m industry plan for grower support, and Gen Z's evolving drinking habits. They also touch on sustainable packagi…
- A Vintage Under Smoke: What the fires mean for Victorian wine
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel discusses the effects of bushfires on Victorian wineries, focusing on smoke taint, harvest considerations, and the logistical challenges faced by growers. They also highlight the community's response and…
- Our Top Wines of 2026
Meg and Mel highlight their top wine selections of 2026, featuring wines chosen for their quality and value. They discuss a diverse range of wines, including an Australian Arinto, a Pouilly Fumé, a supermarket Chardonnay, a Beechworth Nebb…
- Australian Icons Part 2
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel, "Australian Icons Part 2," features a discussion on iconic Australian wines such as Shiraz, Cabernet, Penfolds Grange, and Noble One. The hosts consider what makes a wine "great," examining factors like…
- Australian Icons Part 1
Meg and Mel taste a selection of Australian wines, including sparkling from Tasmania, Semillon from Hunter, Shiraz Viognier from Canberra, and Cabernet blends from Yarra. They discuss the style, site, and ageability of these iconic homegro…
- Wine News: Backlash from an unfortunate slogan; Aluminum bottles; French protests; A Review of Netflix's New Holiday Movie, "Champagne Problems"
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel covers current wine news, including a slogan controversy, the introduction of aluminum wine bottles, and grower protests in France. The hosts also review Netflix's "Champagne Problems" and discuss recent…
- We find out how ALDI do it - Interview with Wine Buying Director Jason Bowyer
In this episode, Aldi Wine Buying Director Jason Bowyer discusses the sourcing and selling of wines at Aldi Australia. He shares insights into how the supermarket achieves precise, expressive, and good-value wines, covering topics from Ita…
- We Put Aldi’s $20 Wines Against $50+ Bottles. The Results Shocked Us.
In this episode, Meg and Mel blind taste Aldi's Blackstone Paddock wines, including Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet, against more expensive Australian wines. They discuss the results, Aldi's regional profiles, and availabi…
- Can you trust a wine label or is it just marketing guff? We test it.
Meg and Mel blind-taste three Coonawarra Cabernets and compare their notes to the wineries’ own descriptions. They discuss regional character, decanting, cellaring advice, and how to identify trustworthy tasting notes. The episode also cov…
- We finally do Spritz
Meg and Mel taste different spritzes including Bellina, Zoncello, and a spiced option. They discuss the spritz boom in Australia, proper serving, the importance of real fruit, and how climate news impacts fine-wine prices and producers.
- To POP or HISS? Does how you open bubbles matter or are we all being wankers?
This episode investigates whether the method of opening sparkling wine affects its quality, comparing the "pop" to the "hiss." It also delves into Coravin's origins and impact on wine by the glass, along with the significance of glassware…
- Subregions: Can different sides of a hill REALLY make a difference in Pinot Noir?
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel discusses how different subregions and vineyard sites impact the flavor of Pinot Noir. It compares wines from various elevations, aspects, and soils, highlighting the resulting differences in color, tann…
- Can you taste where a Pinot comes from? We put Mornington, Yarra Valley and Tasmanian Pinot Noir to the test to see if regional differences really are perceptible.
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores regional differences in Australian Pinot Noir. A controlled taste test compares wines from Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula, and the Yarra Valley to identify perceptible regional variations. The d…
- Who am I meant to listen to? The truth about wine ratings with guests: Huon Hooke, Max Allen and Michael Anderson
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores various wine scoring systems, including wine shows, critic ratings, and classifications. Guests Huon Hooke, Max Allen, and Michael Anderson discuss how these approaches differ to help consumers…
- Wine Revelations: We geek out on the Endevour Report
Meg and Mel explore the Endeavor report, discussing various insights into Australian wine consumption patterns, including regional loyalties, demographic trends, and the popularity of specific grape varieties across the country.
- The Nebbiolo Episode: Australia vs Italy
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores Nebbiolo wines, comparing examples from Australia and Italy. Meg and Mel discuss the grape's characteristics, including its color, tannins, and classic descriptors like tar and roses. They also…
- Varietals you’ve never heard of
Meg and Mel explore several obscure wine grape varieties from around the world, ranging from Portuguese Arinto to Greek Agiorgitiko. They also discuss wine production practices, the impact of Brettanomyces, and food pairing recommendations…
- Behind the Scenes of the Sydney Royal Wine Show with Angus Barnes
Angus Barnes, Chair of the Sydney Royal Wine Show, discusses his career in the wine industry and the processes behind the competition. The episode covers the judging of 1,550 wine samples and highlights from this year's results, including…
- JUST IN! We taste the seriously amazing Sydney Royal Wine Show Winners
Meg and Mel taste and discuss a selection of winning wines from the Sydney Royal Wine Show. The episode covers the characteristics of the award-winning Riesling, Semillon, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon bottles.
- Grape Identity Crisis: Shiraz v Syrah
Meg and producer Austin explore the naming and stylistic differences between Syrah and Shiraz. Through tastings of wines from France and Australia, they analyze how region and labeling influence character and expectations.
- Sugar-Free Wine: Exposing the Marketing Myth
Meg and Mel examine marketing claims surrounding "zero-sugar" wines, discussing how most dry wines naturally contain negligible sugar. They also investigate a suspicious professional endorsement and share their personal taste test experien…
- The Art of Dessert Wines
This episode explores dessert wines, covering four distinct styles: late harvest, cane cut, muscat, and botrytised Sauternes. The hosts discuss the psychology of purchasing these wines, offer pairing suggestions, and encourage listeners to…
- Is it time to give Sauvignon Blanc another chance?
Meg and Mel explore the diversity of Sauvignon Blanc, contrasting the popular Marlborough style with oak-influenced Fumé Blanc and Loire Valley classics. The episode covers international winemaking techniques, historical context, and the c…
- Wine News: Is the industry at a turning point? The WHO make drastic alcohol proposals, Meghan Markle's new wine, Gen Z are back and drinking wine!
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel discusses recent shifts in the Australian wine industry, including the Emerson Report's recommendations, WHO alcohol proposals, and new trends like celebrity wines and Gen Z consumption. The hosts also p…
- The MW Exam Papers: Can You Pass Wine's Ultimate Test?
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explores the Master of Wine qualification, examining its rigorous testing process through real examples of theory and tasting questions. The hosts discuss the depth of knowledge and analytical skills req…
- Uncorking Barbera: Italy's Bold, Acid-Driven Red
In this episode of Wine with Meg + Mel, the hosts explore the characteristics of Barbera, an acid-driven red wine from Italy's Piemonte region. They discuss the grape's flavor profile, food pairings, and compare Italian styles with those f…
- Australian Sparkling Regional Showdown
Hosts taste and discuss four Australian sparkling wines from the Tasmania, Yarra Valley, and Whitlands High Plateau regions. The episode compares regional characteristics, production variables, and quality, highlighting how these wines off…
- Wine News June: Oakridge closes restaurant, De Bortoli ripping up vines, Treasury investing in NOLOW, and Wine Australia's new campaign
Meg and Mel discuss recent trends in the Australian wine industry, including restaurant closures, vineyard restructuring, and new marketing campaigns. They also cover Treasury Wine's investment in low-alcohol technology and shifting consum…
- Mel's conspiracy theory about Margaret River Chardonnay
Mel tests a theory that Margaret River Chardonnay producers are abandoning their signature style by tasting four wines at different price points. Meg and Mel conclude that the region's distinct Chardonnay identity remains intact despite so…
- Dan Murphy's Wine Awards + the $20 wine that blew us away
Meg and Mel discuss their impressions of the inaugural Dan Murphy's Best in Glass Wine Awards, evaluating several winning wines across different price points and categories. They compare their own tasting notes to the competition's selecti…
- Wine News - May: Rob Dolan Wines in administration, Vinarchy launches, China update, industry shout outs
Meg and Mel discuss recent developments in the wine industry, including Rob Dolan Wines entering administration, the launch of Vinarchy, and the current state of China wine exports. They also explore what is served in the Vatican and provi…
- Is Nebbiolo the New Sangiovese?
In this episode, Meg and Mel discuss Nebbiolo wines, including selections from Pizzini, Traviarti, and Fontanafredda, and compare them to Sangiovese. They also share what Meg has been drinking recently.
- How to buy a german riesling - learn the terminology
This episode of Wine with Meg + Mel explains German Riesling terminology, focusing on how harvest ripeness levels influence wine classification and sweetness. The hosts break down label terms like Kabinett, Spätlese, and Auslese, and discu…
- Cellaring white wine: how to pick an ageworthy bottle
Meg and Mel discuss the factors that make white wines suitable for cellaring, including acidity, alcohol content, and specific grape varieties. They taste and compare several vintages of Riesling, Semillon, and Chardonnay to illustrate the…
- Reds in the Fridge? We revisit this exploding category
The hosts explore the category of chillable red wines, including specific product recommendations and their price points. They also share information on how listeners can follow the show on social media platforms.
- Chinese wine - yep, you read that right
This episode explores the development of the Chinese wine industry, focusing on premium producers in the Ningxia region, such as Silver Heights. The hosts taste and evaluate high-end Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines that reflect the…
- We're back! The first Wine News of 2025: Penfolds shuts Barossa Cellar Door, Should Aus and NZ market our wines together, Australia's most collected wines, How will US tarrifs effect wine, Chanon new Homestead
In the first episode of the 2025 season, the hosts return to discuss industry trends, including Penfolds' Barossa cellar door closure, potential U.S. tariffs, wine tourism, and the future of joint Australian and New Zealand wine marketing.…
- Tasting Tips: How to tell medium reds apart (Merlot, Carmenere, Tempranillo, Mencia)
In this episode of Wine with Meg + Mel, the hosts provide tips on distinguishing between medium-bodied red wines, specifically Merlot, Carmenere, Tempranillo, and Mencia. They review four specific labels and share what Meg is currently dri…