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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.

Pepper Tree Rock Knob Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Wine writers use a lot of descriptors. Some are clear-cut, others less so. Let’s take the word ‘elegant.’ I’ve applied...

Pepper Tree Stone Mountain Single Vineyard Riesling 2021

Yes, the Orange region can do chardonnay standing on its head. But have you tried its Riesling? If not, you...

Hugh Hamilton Black Ops Shiraz Saperavi 2020

Black Ops – a covert operation that may employ measures not generally authorised  – sounds about right for a blend...

O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Riesling 2021

If the Watervale sub-region brings elegance and beauty to the riesling grape, Polish Hill River brings über spice and an...

Oliver’s Taranga Tempranillo 2020

Another Spanish grape variety gaining ground – and fast – in McLaren Vale. It scores big on flavour generosity and...

Oliver’s Taranga Shiraz 2019

Always a McLaren Vale strength, the region’s shiraz can either be fruit forward and generous, all but jumping into your...

Oliver’s Taranga Vermentino 2021

At home in Tuscany and Sardinia, the Vermentino grape is another Italian import making some big fans here. If you...

Oliver’s Taranga Fiano 2021

Thank goodness Fiano – rhymes with piano – is easy to pronounce, otherwise we might have missed out on the...

O’Leary Walker Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2021

When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, we have expectations. Probably more than with any other grape variety. Combine that with...

Oliver’s Taranga Grenache 2020

Fragrant, fleshy and floral, there’s plenty happening here. Grenache confection to the fore, all cherry bon bon, red licorice with...

Oliver’s Taranga Mencia 2020

If it’s taken the Grenache grape 180 years to be cool in the Vale, it’s taken Mencia no time at...

The Little Wine Company Sangiovese Rosé 2021

Australian rosés have come a long, long way from the days when shiraz and grenache were the main ingredients. The...

Bleasdale The Iron Duke Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

The Iron Duke? That’s a story for pondering over a glass, involving Bleasdale founder, Frank Potts, and Imperial Russian sabre...

Bleasdale Frank Potts Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Merlot Petit Verdot 2019

If you have a soft spot for a good cabernet blend, this will scratch it. A seamless entity, each grape...

Bleasdale Wellington Road G.S.M. 2019

Here’s a little mystery for you. Generally, a G.S.M. signals a blend of grenache, shiraz and mourvèdre. But apart from...

Bleasdale Generations Shiraz 2018

An honest-to-goodness Langhorne Creek shiraz: earthy, black fruited generosity with dense tannins and a touch of savoury attitude. The region...

O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling 2021

If ever you were in two minds about exploring Australian riesling, this is your moment. The Clare Valley 2021 vintage...

Warramunda Estate Liv Zak Block One Yarra Valley 2019

Cabernet franc and petit verdot like each other, but generally not quite this much. We are more used to seeing...

Lienert Vineyards Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017

A tad old school Barossa, or is that bottle age speaking? Whatever it is, I like it. Maybe it’s a...

Lienert Vineyards Jack West Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2020

Fruit is the thing here. There’s a lot of it, in a good, ripe, robust, compelling kind of way.The fruit...

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz 2018

Michael tends towards the monumental, an Everest of Coonawarra shiraz that demands serious time in the bottle before broaching. In many...

Wynns Coonawarra The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

The Siding is the cheeky one, the $25 little beauty that opens the door to Coonawarra cabernet for many drinkers....

Chateau Tanunda 50-Year-Old-Vines Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

If only we celebrated old vine Barossa cabernet as much as we do old vine Barossa shiraz. It really is...

Chateau Tanunda Terroirs of the Barossa Greenock Shiraz 2019

Greenock has quite a distinctive terroir producing some of the most opulent and concentrated red wines in the entire Barossa...

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...
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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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