Show Notes
Welcome to the very first episode of The Wine Animal Show — your new home for real, unpretentious conversations about wine, the people who make it, and the stories behind every bottle. Each episode takes you into vineyards, cellars, and honest chats with winemakers across Australia and beyond. No jargon. No snobbery. Just good wine and great stories. In this debut episode, we’re finding our rhythm, pouring a few glasses, and giving you a taste of what’s ahead. It’s raw and real — and exactly where the journey begins. This week’s giveaway: a set of Spiegelau Definition glasses, thanks to Chefs Hat Melbourne. To enter, simply follow the show and leave a quick rating or review. It helps other wine lovers discover us and supports what we’re building. Thanks for joining us from day one. This is just the beginning. Cheers.
More from The Wine Animal Show
I sat down with Gwyn Olsen from Henschke to taste three wines from the 2023 Legacy Collection: Tapas Shiraz, Keyneton Euphonium Shiraz Cabernet and Marble Angel Cabernet. We explore what makes each wine unique, why Keyneton Euphonium is such an important part of the Henschke story, and why you should drink wine when you enjoy it, not when someone else tells you to! We also talk Barossa terroir, trophy winning wines and the art of knowing when a bottle is ready to go.
I sat down with Gwyn Olsen, Senior Winemaker at Henschke, for a proper deep dive into wine, winemaking and what it really takes to judge a wine. We talk about her journey from university to Henschke, wine show judging, the AWAC, the legendary Len Evans Tutorial, and why not liking a wine doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad wine.
I cracked open the Blood of the Earth Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir, a private label wine from Pinnacle Drinks, and tasted it completely fresh. Brambly fruit, cherries, raspberries and that unmistakable forest floor character, followed by good acid and surprising length. I reckon this is a seriously well made wine, and blind, I’d happily call it a banger.
I headed to Aldi with $30 and one mission: find out if you can actually get a decent bottle of wine for under $10. I tasted a French sparkling, a Clare Valley Riesling and a French Pinot Noir, with one of them turning out to be an absolute belter. From lime sherbet and racy acidity to crunchy Pinot and a surprisingly drinkable sparkler, here’s my honest take on what your $10 can get you. 🍷
I headed to the mighty Yarra Valley to taste Giant Steps' 2025 Single Vineyard Chardonnays with Mel and Mike. From Tarraford and Sexton to Applejack, Primavera and Bastard Hill, we explored what makes each vineyard unique. We also talked Australian Chardonnay, great bottles and why sometimes you just have to let the vineyard do its thing. And yes, there were dirty martinis, Dolly Parton and Chardonnay before lunchtime.