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Jeni Port

Jeni Port is one of Australia’s top wine communicators. Based in Melbourne, Jeni created the first wine column in the (then) Sun News-Pictorial before moving over to The Age and becoming that paper’s longest-serving wine writer. Over the years she has written for most Australian wine magazines and these days calls WinePilot home. She is also a Tasting Panel member on the Halliday Wine Companion. She was named Wine Communicator of the Year and Legend of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival in 2014 and in 2018 Legend of the Vine. She is a founding board member of Australian Women In Wine and is the co-deputy chair of Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards and China’s Wine List of the Year Awards.

La Kooki Local. Knowledge. Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

There’s a story behind this wine. It’s the epitome of a 21st Century wine romance: two winemakers, one grape, one...

Ox Hardy 1891 Ancestor Vines Shiraz 2013

Said ‘Ox’ in Ox Hardy Wines actually goes by the name of Andrew Hardy. He’s the winemaker. Here, Ox takes...

Squitchy Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

According to the label, this wine is sourced from the producer’s oldest cabernet vines, planted 35 years ago. That means...

Squitchy Lane Vineyard The Key Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

The fact that Squitchy Lane mentions each individual wine’s cellaring potential on back labels gives some insight into its winemaking...

Squitchy Lane Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2019

A richly embroidered chardonnay courtesy of some lovely fruit, fermentation in barrel and extended lees contact. It all adds up...

Squitchy Lane Vineyard Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Some years back Squitchy Lane produced a fumé style of sauvignon blanc. There is no specific fumé wording on the...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cuvée Stephen Thomson Chardonnay 2018

Less of the Yarra Valley’s pristine and pure chardonnay fruit – although there are hints of it – and more...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cuvée Stephen Thomson Pinot Noir 2019

With Yarra Valley pinot noir, we expect ripe, plush fruit. With the Carlei 2019 pinot, we get it. Greets the...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cuvée Stephen Thomson Chardonnay 2016

The “green” in Sergio Carlei’s choice of brand name, Green Vineyards, is reference to his strong belief in the viability...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cardinia Ranges Pinot Gris 2019

The Cardinia Ranges, in case you were wondering, are located nearby the Upper Beaconsfield winery owned by Sergio Carlei. Both...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cuvée Stephen Thomson Shiraz 2017

Stephen Thomson was a cellar hand who worked with Sergio Carlei at his Upper Beaconsfield winery. The winemaker has described...

Genista Duck, Duck, Cat Grenache 2020

There’s a lovely story behind this cracker of a wine. In 2020, Genista not only crushed its first grenache, but...

Genista Wines Taking The Mickie Shiraz 2017

If you ever wondered what a difference a vintage can make, here is a very clear example. Genista Wines have...

Genista Wines Taking The Mickie Shiraz 2018

I have yet to meet a 2018 shiraz from the Barossa Valley that wasn’t scrumptious and delightful as a youngster,...

Carlei Green Vineyards Cuvée Stephen Thomson Pinot Gris 2020

Sergio Carlei looks to the King Valley for his 2020 pinot gris release. It’s in a similar style to the...

Carlei Green Vineyards King Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

We are starting to see a little more cabernet sauvignon being sourced out of the King Valley. Planting in the...

Vickery Watervale The Reserve Riesling 2019

Clare Valley Vs Eden Valley riesling . . . what region comes out on top in this traditional and long-running...

Vickery Eden Valley The Reserve Riesling 2019

The Vickery name alone is reason to get excited. It belongs to arguably the greatest riesling maker Australia has produced...

Thompson Estate Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2019

Okay, history tells us that 2019 was a cool year in Margaret River. Should that worry us? No, not necessarily....

Tahbilk Old Block Vines BDX 2019

This is an important wine for a number of reasons. Reason 1: it is a wine to commemorate Tahbilk’s 160th birthday...

Savitas Álainn Fion PJ Grenache 2017

The Álainn Fion brand is obviously one close to the winemaker’s heart. Álainn Fion is Gaelic for “beautiful wine” and...

Passel Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

A fine-featured cabernet with Margaret River class written all over it. It’s one of those wines you just want to...

Passel Estate Margaret River Shiraz 2017

The 2017 vintage in Margaret River wasn’t easy, cool for the most part with wet weather; it was saved largely...

Passel Estate Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2019

If we accept that Marlborough is the measure by which we judge the level of pungency and outright outrageous herbaceous-ness...

Stories

Drone

Greek jewels from Alpha Estate and the emerging regions of PGI Florina (ΠΓΕ Φλώρινα) and PDO Amyndeon (ΠΟΠ Αμύνταιο)

Indigenous grape varieties – those multi-syllable ones that often trip the tongue and hail from ancient varieties off ancient lands...
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The Clare Valley Wine Guide 2026

By Jeni Port Clare Valley old vines dating back to the 1800s now share land and retail shelf space with...
Barrique Year image Viv Tom

Grampians Winemakers Shiraz The Barrique 2024

Each year, the Grampians winemakers pool together and blend their best Shiraz to send to auction at their annual Grampians...
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Out of the fires

The tragic Central Victorian fires have had a devastating effect on many small wineries with ongoing financial and personal challenges...
IMG

Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Vertical

The Vasse Felix Tom Cullity project was impressive from day 1 with aspirations to make one of Margaret River’s greatest...
Tread Softly

Calling All Budding Next Gen Women Winemakers

Glass ceilings are made to be smashed. In the Australian wine industry, women know a thing or two about glass...
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