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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.

Parker Coonawarra Estate 95 Block 2018

The Parker Estate Abbey vineyard, sub-section 95 block, lies in the south of the Coonawarra wine region and is planted...

Hesketh G.A.R. Great Australian Red Coonawarra Cabernet/McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019

What a great wine title: G.A.R. It’s reason enough to get almost teary-eyed about Australia’s truly indigenous red blend of cabernet...

Ox Hardy Slate Shiraz 2019

A little slice of history here. This McLaren Vale shiraz was fermented in an old, open slate fermenter in the...

Whicher Ridge Mademoiselle V Viognier 2019

A viognier tale of two vineyards in two regions: 86% Margaret River and 14% off the Whicher Ridge vineyard in...

Whicher Ridge Une Rangée Petit Verdot 2016

Fun Wine Fact: Une Rangée refers to the fact that in 2016 Whicher Ridge had just one row of petit...

Orin Swift Machete California Petite Sirah Red Blend 2017

Dave Phinney, the winemaker/creator behind Orin Swift sounds like a fun guy who doesn’t mind shaking things up. Just take...

Whicher Ridge Margaret River Whitetail Sparkling Chardonnay 2016

It’s refreshing to see an Australian sparkling wine labelled varietally rather than using French terms. Hence, for its new sparkling...

Whicher Ridge Henry Road Chardonnay 2019

A sweet-hearted Margaret River chardonnay if ever there was one. By which I mean there is a core of ripe,...

Whicher Ridge Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A couple of interesting points to this wine. While the 2016 Elevation was 100% cabernet, the 2018 is blended with...

Whicher Ridge Elevation Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The producer makes a point of presenting this wine – by grape variety and region – as its flagship. It’s...

Orin Swift Palermo Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

That label! What is that? Well, it’s a photo of a mummified priest taken in a 16th Century catacomb in Palermo,...

Henschke Hill of Grace 2016

Deep garnet. A quiet start – builds slowly – black plum, preserved fig, blackberry, briar, earth, leather, cola. Classic seamless...

Henschke Hill of Roses Shiraz 2016

So fragrant and lively at five-years-old, it pulsates with life. Is it the power of suggestion but are there dark...

Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2016

Dense, bright purple. An arresting dried herb/nori savouriness to the fore on this wine backed up beautifully by black fruits,...

Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz 2018

Gorgeous fruit exuberance to this wine – utterly delightful – in the scent of black fruits, red liquorice, blueberry, a...

Henry’s Drive Shiraz 2019

McLaren Vale shiraz is rarely quiet and unintrusive, it’s bold and warm and generous in its many charms. Henry’s Drive...

Henry’s Drive Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

There aren’t many Australian mother-and-daughter wine companies. Kim and Margo Longbottom at Henry’s Drive run against the gender tide. The...

Brown Brothers Refreshingly Light Pinot Grigio 2020

Even when made as a deliberate low alcohol wine, it’s incredibly reassuring to see that pink-skinned grapes like pinot grigio...

BABO Wines’ Prosecco Rosé 2019

While we have been able to enjoy Australian-made prosecco rose for a couple of years, the home of the grape...

Brown Brothers Refreshingly Light Rose 2020

Low alcohol wines can achieve some lovely delicacy of flavour. It’s what they probably do best. So, rose is a...

Brown Brothers Refreshingly Light Sauvignon Blanc 2020

The Brown Brothers team has obviously done its research on just what grape varieties look better in low alcohol mode....

Brown Brothers Refreshingly Light Prosecco NV

Prosecco is a downright multi-faced superstar. It’s driving sales of sparklings, almost singlehandedly so in cans, and now it’s a...

Wolf Blass Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 – Exclusive to ALDI

Ah, you have to love the keen sense of tradition alive and well in this wine. First, it’s all about...

Collalto Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2017

The Adelaide Hills puts on another stellar chardonnay display with delightful, signature cool climate crispness and a running thread of...

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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