Wine with Meg + Mel

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Wine with Meg + Mel

Mel Gilcrist, Meg Brodtmann

188 episodes

14 hours ago

Send us a text Ever wondered what $27 worth of Cabernet Sauvignon can get you? How about the prestigious Wine of Show trophy at one of Australia's most respected wine competitions? We're in studio with crystal clear audio this week, tasting our way through the top winners from the Sydney Royal Wine Show – and the results are truly eye-opening. Among 1,500 wines entered by 261 exhibitors, we sample four standout bottles that captured the judges' attention and took home multiple trophies. Fir...

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All content for Wine with Meg + Mel is the property of Mel Gilcrist, Meg Brodtmann and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send us a text Ever wondered what $27 worth of Cabernet Sauvignon can get you? How about the prestigious Wine of Show trophy at one of Australia's most respected wine competitions? We're in studio with crystal clear audio this week, tasting our way through the top winners from the Sydney Royal Wine Show – and the results are truly eye-opening. Among 1,500 wines entered by 261 exhibitors, we sample four standout bottles that captured the judges' attention and took home multiple trophies. Fir...

Show more...

Episodes (20/188)

Wine with Meg + Mel

JUST IN! We taste the seriously amazing Sydney Royal Wine Show Winners

Send us a text Ever wondered what $27 worth of Cabernet Sauvignon can get you? How about the prestigious Wine of Show trophy at one of Australia's most respected wine competitions? We're in studio with crystal clear audio this week, tasting our way through the top winners from the Sydney Royal Wine Show – and the results are truly eye-opening. Among 1,500 wines entered by 261 exhibitors, we sample four standout bottles that captured the judges' attention and took home multiple trophies. Fir...

15 hours ago

43 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Grape Identity Crisis: Shiraz v Syrah

Send us a text Producer Austin joins Meg for a spirited exploration of Shiraz/Syrah variations from different regions, discovering how labeling influences expectations and uncovering surprising stylistic differences. • Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape variety, with different names indicating stylistic differences • The French Crozes-Hermitage exhibits lighter body, higher acidity, and fresh spicy character with crunchy red fruits • Spinifex Barossa Syrah surprises with its true Syrah styl...

6 days ago

42 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Sugar-Free Wine: Exposing the Marketing Myth

Send us a text Meg and Mel tackle misleading wine marketing claims, exposing a company that touts "zero-sugar wine" as revolutionary when most dry wines already contain negligible sugar levels. They investigate a suspicious endorsement from a non-existent Master of Wine and taste-test the underwhelming products. • Most dry wines already contain minimal sugar (around 0.5g per litre or less) • The fermentation process naturally converts grape sugars into alcohol • Laboratory testing confirmed ...

2 weeks ago

31 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

The Art of Dessert Wines

Send us a text Sweet wines are often purchased during tastings but rarely opened at home due to our psychological tendency to prefer sweeter options in small quantities rather than full glasses. • Four different styles of dessert wine explained - late harvest, cane cut, muscat, and botrytised Sauternes • Dessert wines need sugar levels above 50 grams per litre to be classified as sweet • The psychology of purchasing dessert wines mirrors the Pepsi-Coke taste test experiment • Late harvest wi...

3 weeks ago

19 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Is it time to give Sauvignon Blanc another chance?

Send us a text Remember when you swore you'd never wear barrel-leg jeans again? That's how many wine lovers feel about Sauvignon Blanc – but just like those jeans eventually won you back, this misunderstood grape variety deserves a second chance. We're diving deep into Sauvignon Blanc's remarkable diversity, exploring expressions that go far beyond the familiar Marlborough style that flooded wine shelves worldwide. From an astonishingly good $8 Aldi find to a textural, oak-influenced Fumé Bl...

4 weeks ago

33 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

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!

Send us a text The Australian wine industry faces pivotal changes with new transparency regulations while debating the broader issues of health labeling and market fairness. We explore the Emerson Report's game-changing recommendations that could revolutionize how wine is sold and marketed across Australia. • Trying the viral jalapeno wine trend – is adding spice to rosé worth the hype? • Tributes to industry pioneers including Dr. Richard Smart, Simon Killeen, and Angela Muir MW • Celebrity...

1 month ago

40 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

The MW Exam Papers: Can You Pass Wine's Ultimate Test?

Send us a text The Master of Wine qualification represents the absolute pinnacle of wine education – a credential so challenging that only 5-10% of candidates ever pass. Since its creation in 1952, just 480 people worldwide have earned these prestigious initials. But what exactly makes this qualification so formidable? Taking you behind the curtain of this elite examination, we dissect real questions from this year's MW papers, attempting to answer them ourselves with varying degrees of succ...

1 month ago

47 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Uncorking Barbera: Italy's Bold, Acid-Driven Red

Send us a text Meg and Mel dive into the world of Barbera, exploring whether this Italian red variety truly deserves its reputation as the wine of choice for "cool kids." • Barbera comes from Piemonte in northern Italy, at the foot of the Alps • The grape produces wines with high acidity, minimal oak influence, and distinctive purple color • Typical flavor profile includes blackberry, blackcurrant, and herbal notes • Australian versions from Adelaide Hills and Alpine Valleys compared to Ital...

1 month ago

25 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Australian Sparkling Regional Showdown

Send us a text Australian sparkling wines showcase distinctive regional characters that rival champagne in quality while expressing unique Australian terroir. • Blind tasting of four Australian sparkling wines from three different regions: Tasmania, Yarra Valley, and Whitlands High Plateau • Traditional method sparklings have many variables beyond region, including aging on lees and fruit character • Yarra Yering (Yarra Valley) shows distinctive red apple fruit and rich brioche character fro...

1 month ago

31 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Wine News June: Oakridge closes restaurant, De Bortoli ripping up vines, Treasury investing in NOLOW, and Wine Australia's new campaign

Send us a text Meg and Mel tackle changing dynamics in the Australian wine industry, from restaurant closures to big investments and new marketing directions. • Meg shares insights from VinExpo Asia where Australian wine received positive feedback and shows a shift toward lighter-bodied reds and more whites • Oak Ridge restaurant closure highlights broader hospitality industry struggles with profit margins shrinking from 10% to 6-8% • De Bortoli's vine pulling in warmer regions reflects nece...

2 months ago

38 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Mel's conspiracy theory about Margaret River Chardonnay

Send us a text Mel tests her theory that Margaret River Chardonnay producers are abandoning their signature big, buttery style for leaner expressions through a tasting of four wines across different price points. • Meg Brotman argues that Margaret River has traditionally delivered reliable, high-quality big Chardonnays with texture and weight • Meg describes Margaret River Chardonnay as having a fuller style with riper fruit, moderate acidity, and more evident oak compared to cooler regions ...

2 months ago

37 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Dan Murphy's Wine Awards + the $20 wine that blew us away

Send us a text Dan Murphy's inaugural Best in Glass Wine Awards evaluates wines based on drinkability and value rather than traditional wine show metrics, so we thought we'd see what we thought of their top picks. • Dan Murphy's tasted over 1,400 wines for their first Best in Glass Awards • Categories include Best Value, Best International, and overall Best winners • Tim Adams Clare Valley Pinot Gris 2024 ($20.29) is the standout winner, drinking like a $35 wine • Chapel Hill The Parso...

3 months ago

27 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Wine News - May: Rob Dolan Wines in administration, Vinarchy launches, China update, industry shout outs

Send us a text In light of the new pope, we ask the question: what do they drink in the Vatican? (The answer has Mel considering turning up to Sunday mass)Wine’s new power player, Vinarchy, and what it means for the industry. An update on China exports – restocking, or a true comeback?A few industry shout-outsAnd… things get real. Meg opens up about what it’s really like when the winery you work for goes into administration. Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel

3 months ago

29 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Is Nebbiolo the New Sangiovese?

Send us a text What Meg's been drinking: Hirsch Hill Rose Pizzini La Volpe Nebbiolo $352022 Traviarti Mezzo Nebbiolo $45Fontanafredda Langhe Nebbiolo $40Fontanafredda Barolo DOCG $110 Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel

4 months ago

33 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

How to buy a german riesling - learn the terminology

Send us a text German Riesling demystifies the often confusing terminologies found on labels by breaking down quality classifications based on ripeness levels at harvest and their relationship to final sweetness. We unpack the intricate world of German wine labels to help you navigate these complex yet incredibly rewarding wines. • German quality wine is ranked based on grape sugar levels at harvest, not final sweetness • Kabinett (11.5% potential alcohol) features citrus, green apple, and h...

4 months ago

33 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Cellaring white wine: how to pick an ageworthy bottle

Send us a text Meg and Mel explore the fascinating world of ageworthy white wines, examining which varieties cellar best and how to identify bottles worth laying down. What Meg's drinking: 2023 Marchand & Burch Mount Barrow Pinot Noir $72 Wines tasted: 2024 Howard Park Great Southern Riesling $362014 Howard Park Great Southern Riesling 2024 Scarborough The Obsessive Semillon $352018 Scarborough The Obsessive Simillion 2023 The Obsessive Chardonnay $452019 The Obsessive Chardonna...

4 months ago

49 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Reds in the Fridge? We revisit this exploding category

Send us a text We dive into the world of chillable red wines, What Meg's drinking: Running with Bulls Fringe Societe Gamay $21Garage Project Fairy Bread Red $28Chaffey Bros Not Your Grandma's Chillable Red $25Domane Wachau Blauer Zweigelt $30Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel

5 months ago

22 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Chinese wine - yep, you read that right

Send us a text Chinese wine is making waves in the global market with premium producers like Silver Heights showcasing the potential of regions like Ningxia through biodynamic viticulture and French winemaking techniques. We taste and evaluate two high-end offerings that challenge our expectations and reveal the rapid evolution of China's wine industry. • China ranks as the 12th largest wine producer in the world • Chinese wine industry began serious development in the late 1970s when the co...

5 months ago

17 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

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

Send us a text We’re back and better than ever with an exciting setup for the new season, ready to delve into current wine news and trends. The episode highlights the current challenges faced by the wine industry and how we can navigate through them. • Return of the podcast and upcoming plans for the season • Update on vintage trends and climate impact on wine quality • Discussion on cellar doors closing and the shift in wine tourism • Insights into the joint marketin...

5 months ago

23 minutes

Wine with Meg + Mel

Tasting Tips: How to tell medium reds apart (Merlot, Carmenere, Tempranillo, Mencia)

Send us a text What Meg's drinking: 2018 Tyrrell's Semillon $35 Wines tasted: Terra Rossa Merlot Coonawarra 2020 $33Casillero Del Diablo Reserve Carmenere $26Earthworks Barossa Tempranillo $19Salterio Mencia Bierzo $17 Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel

5 months ago

36 minutes