"Wine should be judged by style, not variety." | Mike Bennie is a Podcast Natural

In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion podcast, Halliday taster, drinks writer and liquor merchant Mike Bennie shares his path into the wine industry, his passion for natural wines, and how Australia’s wine scene has evolved. He reflects on founding Sydney’s groundbreaking Rootstock Festival, the challenge of defining natural wine, and judging Halliday’s inaugural ‘wildcard’ category. Mike also makes a case for judging wine by style, explains why he’s a champion of under-the-radar regions such as Queensland’s Granite Belt, and discusses how personal style influences wine culture. The conversation wraps with a playful debate on wine and cheese pairings. Connect with us: Mike Bennie on Instagram Halliday Wine Companion Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram Halliday Wine Club Buy the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion LANGTONS LANGTONS on Instagram Takeaways Mike Bennie transitioned from law into the wine world. Natural wine covers a broad range of styles. Rootstock Festival shone a spotlight on natural wine producers. Australia’s natural wine movement has grown and matured. Natural wine is grounded in organic farming and minimal intervention. Halliday’s new wildcard category fosters diversity. Mike argues wine should be judged by style rather than variety. He often gets pigeonholed as a ‘natural wine guy’. He champions regions like Queensland’s Granite Belt. Wine and cheese pairings are often overrated.

Chapters 00:00 Acknowledging the Land and Introduction 00:53 Mike Bennie’s Journey into Wine 02:06 The Allure of Natural Wines 03:28 Founding Sydney’s Rootstock Festival 05:09 Evolution of the Natural Wine Scene 06:25 Defining Natural Wine 08:15 Shifts in Natural Wine Styles 10:01 The Wildcard Category in Wine Judging 11:26 Categorisation in Wine Judging 14:12 Proposing Changes in Wine Judging 17:01 The Importance of Style in Wine Lists 18:28 Pigeonholed as a ‘Natural Wine Guy’ 19:56 A Deep Dive into Wine Knowledge 24:15 Personal Style and Image in the Wine Industry 27:23 Championing Under-the-Radar Wine Regions 34:50 The Wine and Cheese Debate 37:06 Quickfire Questions and Personal Preferences See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.