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 Valley, where he quickly rose from cellar hand to assistant winemaker. A pivotal vintage in Italy further reconnected him with his heritage and deepened his passion for minimal intervention winemaking—a philosophy he describes as “not what you put in, but what you leave out.”
In 2012, Adrian and his wife Rebecca launched Santolin Wines in the Yarra Valley, starting with just two tonnes of Pinot Noir—critically acclaimed by James Halliday. Their portfolio has since grown to include Chardonnay, the Cosa Nostrarange of Italian varietals paying homage to Adrian’s heritage, and Little Saint, an easy-drinking collection crafted for sharing with loved ones.
With 14 trophies, over 50 gold medals, and nearly 200 accolades to date, Adrian continues to champion elegant, site-expressive wines with honesty, finesse, and a deep respect for both family and land.
https://santolinwines.com.au/
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 in person. The location was superb, the terroir hard to surpass, and the fruit, already harvested for over a decade, was in demand from many highly acclaimed local wine producers—James Halliday 5-star winery.
www.peccaviestate.com
www.instagram.com/peccaviwines
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 — including The Australian Wine Annual — Jeremy has long been a trusted voice for collectors, consumers, and producers alike. He’s tasted and reviewed thousands of wines over his career and has been a leading advocate for quality, integrity, and transparency in the industry.
Today, Jeremy is writing a new chapter as a distributor, bringing his knowledge and passion for wine into the business of connecting great producers with equally great venues and retailers. With an eye for excellence and a deep respect for craftsmanship, he continues to champion the wines and winemakers he believes in — now not just from the page, but from the ground up.
Whether behind a glass, a mic, or a delivery van, Jeremy Oliver remains one of Australian wine’s most passionate and thoughtful ambassadors.
https://olivers-wines.com.au
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) and Best List in South Australia at Mount Lofty House (2020 & 2021).
She was recently a scholar at the New Zealand Wine Sommit 2025, and with several international invitations to wine educational trips, Liinaa’s wine philosophy goes beyond the usual curriculum, having travelled and researched over 35 wine regions in Europe, and counting.
She is a freelance wine writer and often judges in prestigious wine shows such as the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. With 20+ years in hospitality and over a decade in wine, she brings a buyer’s precision, a sommelier’s finesse, and a strategist’s clarity to everything from staff education to beverage sales uplift and wine experiences.
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 Educator; she teaches at Prince Wine Store in Melbourne. Since 2024, she is a judge for Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards. Lisa was a Len Evans Scholar in 2024, and the winner of the Best Published Feature Article category in 2022 for the prestigious Wine Communicators of Australia.
www.lisacardelli.com
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 with France’s most respected vignerons and boutique producers, built through regular sourcing trips to the region, are central to his curated portfolio. Pierre focuses on biodynamic practices, small-batch production, and wines that truly express their origins—from Chablis to Bordeaux and beyond.
In addition to retail, Pierre offers bespoke wine consultations, palate profiling, and flexible subscription services, sharing his extensive knowledge with a dedicated customer base. Through PS Wine Selections, Pierre’s mission is clear: to bring the very best of French and European wines to Australian wine lovers—one bottle at a time.
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, mentoring a team of 20 sommeliers.
In 2023, Yuki achieved one of the highest honours in the wine world by becoming a Master Sommelier, joining a select global group of fewer than 300. His journey was anything but easy; after six attempts, his success stands as a testament to relentless dedication, humility, and the power of community.
A firm believer in giving back, Yuki now shares the knowledge and mentorship that propelled him to success, while continuing to champion excellence, precision, and joy in wine service.
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 noir from their vineyard at Bindi, which Michael and his father Bill established in 1988. At Bindi, Dhillon served as assistant winemaker to Stuart Anderson from 1991 until 1998 when he assumed full responsibility.
Michael learned his craft working with Anderson as well as doing vintages in Europe, where he spent time with the Champagne house Jean Vesselle in Bouzy and with Alain Graillot in Croze-Hermitage, as well as working four vintages in Tuscany at Tenuta di Valgiano.
Dhillon’s passion for Burgundy has seen him visit more than 100 domaines over two decades to continue to hone his craft. And the results speak for themselves. Bindi wines are sought-after for cellars and wine lists around the country and the world, and continue to receive glowing scores and reviews.
Bindi is renowned as one of Australia’s best cool climate wineries with its Block 5 Pinot Noir (1st Classified), Original Vineyard Pinot Noir and Quartz Chardonnay listed in Australia's top 100 wines in the Langton’s Classification.
In August 2021 Michael was awarded one of the wine industry’s highest honours, being named as Winemaker of the Year in the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.
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 the WSET Diploma (Wine + Spirit Education Trust) in 2022, closely followed by the WSET Educator Training Program. As a direct consequence of this educational journey, Hilary recently transitioned from her former role in sales management to embrace a newly established position as the Group Wine Ambassador at Joval Wines Victoria.
In her current capacity, Hilary is focused on delivering the WSET program, introducing tailor-made wine training initiatives to our clientele, and advocating for our wine brand partners within the Victorian trade.
Hilary’s dedication lies in effective wine communication, education, and the steadfast support of emerging talents on the broader wine industry.
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-intervention, and classical wine world.
Over the years, he has become a trusted curator for some of the country’s top restaurants and independent wine retailers, bringing in expressive, small-batch wines from France, Germany, Italy, and beyond—alongside a carefully selected group of standout Australian producers. His selections are driven by purity, integrity, and a deep belief in wines that speak of place.
Whether championing an under-the-radar Jura vigneron or a rising star in the Adelaide Hills, Andrew’s influence on the way Australians drink, serve, and talk about wine is undeniable.
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 into the tasting room with some of Australia’s most influential and passionate people.
So pour yourself a glass and join me, Brent, your host, as we rip the cork off some not-to-be-missed conversations with the many people behind the wines we love and consume.
Behind the wines: where every bottle holds a story.