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Brendan Black

Brendan is a Melbourne-based writer, filmmaker, playwright and composer. Since 2013, he has been published in national and regional Australian titles such as Halliday Magazine, Gourmet Traveller Wine, Grapegrower and Winemaker, Gippslandia, Gippsland Lifestyle, Yarra Valley and Ranges and Gippsland Country Life magazines. Brendan was a finalist for 2024 Wine Communicator Awards in the ‘Best Published Feature Article or Wine Column’ category. He has completed the WSET Level 3 course (gaining a Distinction) and has a passion for small producers of wine, beer and spirits. He is also the co-editor of ‘I’m Not a Film Star: David Bowie as Actor’ for Bloomsbury Academic.
Patrick of Coonawarra Joanna Shiraz NV low res

Patrick Wrattonbully Joanna Shiraz 2018 

Grown to the north of Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, like Mount Gambier, is starting to appear more prominently on labels, where all...
Patrick of Coonawarra P Series Shiraz NV()

Patrick Wrattonbully P-Series Shiraz 2019

For a wine that’s only $20, the P-Series Shiraz shows amazing complexity and is a delight to drink, hence the...
TwoBlocks Shiraz NV Small

Patrick Wrattonbully Two Blocks Shiraz 2019

Coming from their 55-hectare vineyard north of Coonawarra, the Two Blocks Shiraz is yet another fine wine from Patrick, showing...
Patrick Two Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Patrick of Coonawarra Two Blocks Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

As the name suggests, the fruit for this wine comes from two blocks in their northern Coonawarra vineyard. It’s billed...
Patrick of Coonawarra Home Block Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Patrick of Coonawarra Home Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Coming from vines planted in the 1970s, the quality of the fruit is consistently high. Like the 2019 Two Blocks...
Methode Eucalypt NV Small

Patrick of Coonawarra Methode Eucalypt Cabernet 2022

Like the Méthode Skinny, the Méthode Eucalypt was born of a desire to shake things up a bit. While Coonawarra...
Patrick of Coonawarra Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Patrick of Coonawarra Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Aged Cabernet is one of life’s greatest pleasures, particularly when it’s as good as the Grande Reserve. Now at its...
TwoBlocks PinotNoir NV

Patrick Mount Gambier Two Blocks Pinot Noir 2022 

To the south of Coonawarra, we don’t often see Mount Gambier on a wine label, as it’s a quiet achiever...
Methode Skinny NV

Patrick of Coonawarra Méthode Skinny Riesling 2023

Billed as a ‘trial to take the traditional crisp, fresh style of Riesling and give it body and texture’, this...
Patrick of Coonawarra Block Aged Riesling NV low res

Patrick of Coonawarra Block 5 Aged Riesling 2016 

Releasing a wine after it’s aged for several (or many) years is a strategy that we don’t see all that...
Chardonnay lowres

George’s Folly Give It A Whirl Chardonnay 2024

Fruit for this Chardonnay was pressed to second-use puncheons and left with solids for eight months. The result is an...
Blanc lowres

George’s Folly Blanc 2024

Made from 60% Sauvignon Gris (a clonal mutation of Sauvignon Blanc), 30% Chardonnay, and 10% Roussanne. This was an easy...
Balancing Act Rose lowres

George’s Folly Balancing Act Rosé 2024

Made from Montepulciano (likely the most popular export from the Italian region of Abruzzo), this is a delightful rosé, one...
Full Throttle Rose lowres

George’s Folly Full Throttle Rosé 2024

This is quite possibly the first Rosé I’ve had from Nero d’Avola, but I’ve become a fan. It shows vibrant...
Gamay lowres

George’s Folly Gamay 2024

I can’t get enough of Aussie Gamay. It’s a variety that lends itself well to many different styles and sensibilities....
Nero D'Avola lowres

George’s Folly Unguarded Moment Nero d’Avola 2024

While I liked the Nero d’Avola Rosé, I loved this version of it. It’s youthful and intense, fragrant and bold,...
Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Ribolla Gialla

Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Ribolla Gialla 2021

We’re starting to see a bit more Ribolla Gialla trickling into the market from Australian plantings, and I’m all for...
Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Moscato Giallo

Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Moscato Giallo 2022 

The Moscato Giallo takes the mic from the Malvasia and again turns up the volume a bit more. While it...
Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Malvasia

Quealy Mornington Peninsula Turbul Malvasia 2022 

The Turbul Malvasia turns up the volume a little more from the Ribolla Gialla, exciting your senses of smell and...
Top Shelf Grenache TRANSPARENT

Meredith Grampians Top Shelf Grenache 2023

I haven’t had too many Grenache from the Grampians region, but they make a nice counterpoint to the big and...
Rose TRANSPARENT

Meredith Pyrenees Marnie Rosé 2024

An alluring (and pretty unusual) blend of Sangiovese and Pinot Gris, I liked this wine immediately. It has prominent aromas...
Riesling TRANSPARENT

Meredith Grampians Big Fundamental Riesling 2024

The name of this wine won’t mean anything if you know nothing about basketball (like me), but if you like...
New Tricks Grenache TRANSPARENT

Meredith Grampians New Tricks Grenache 2024

Despite this being the cheaper Grenache, I actually enjoyed it slightly more, as it’s just brimming with life and youthful...
Barossa Grenache

Purple Hands Barossa Valley Grenache 2023

An abundantly youthful wine that’s enjoyable from the first sniff, it’s a great example of how Grenache from the Barossa...

Stories

IMG ()

The Trapeze Artist

You may know Brian Conway as one of the founders of Barossa-based winery Izway, started in 2003. After selling his...
BFCED E EF DF CFE ()
Yelland & Papps is the brand of husband-and-wife duo Susan (née Yelland) and Michael Papps, based in Nuriootpa in the...
BiancaKatePhotography Dreambird BeachShoot
Dream Bird is the label of WA-based winemaker Kym Carr. After a degree in horticulture, Kym travelled to Europe, where...
Alex handpress

Head, Heart & Home

It’s quite understandable that Alex Head became somewhat obsessed with the Shiraz-based wines of the Northern Rhône. With a background...
Amphora Ambar
Raquel and Hugh Jones of Weathercraft in Beechworth both came to wine from property-related industries, realising they wanted to do...
Killie tourism website dpi
Killiecrankie was established by John Monteath and Claire Hull in 2000 in the Victorian wine region of Bendigo. John’s background...
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