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Liinaa Berry

Liinaa Berry is a Melbourne-based wine critic and consultant with over a decade of experience as a sommelier and wine buyer across Australia and around the world where she has built award-winning wine programs and championed independent producers with conviction. Now focused on reviewing and writing, Liinaa brings a floor-trained palate and commercial insight to her assessments. She is also the Melbourne Ambassador for Star Wine List and serves on the committee of Sommeliers Australia. An advocate for site-driven wines and thoughtful farming, Liinaa is particularly drawn to producers who articulate a clear sense of place. Her tasting philosophy centres on structure, balance and context — always asking not just how a wine tastes, but why it matters.
Avani Pinot Noir

Avani Issan Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

Crimson and vibrant, slightly hazy in the glass, this begins with freshly picked cherry and Morello before moving somewhere darker:...
Avani Syrah

Avani Syrah 2022

Syrah wasn’t supposed to be the defining variety here. Shashi Singh initially pursued Pinot Noir on the Mornington Peninsula estate,...
Avani Gris

Avani Amrit Pinot Gris 2025

After their estate-grown Syrah, this skin-contact Pinot Gris is the other wine through which I came to know Avani. I...
Avani Chardonnay

Avani Issan Vineyard Chardonnay 2023

This Chardonnay commands attention through shape rather than volume. A saline, citrusy line runs straight through the palate, initially narrow...

Yayoi Fèrot Cabernet Franc 2025

Macedon in late autumn feels well suited to Cabernet Franc staying true to itself when handled with this kind of...

Yayoi Mon Grand Frère Cabernet Franc 2024

Macedon granite and clay, a vineyard planted in the early nineties for Virgin Hills, one of the sites that serious...

Yayoi Lueur Chenin Blanc 2025

The French would call this Moelleux, though at 10g/L residual sugar it sits on the drier side of off-dry, and...

Yayoi Vallée of the Kings Chenin Blanc 2024

Swan Hill is not where most people look for serious Chenin. Said who? Steffi Snook walks right in with something...
Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Weatherstone Pinot Noir ()

Marnong Estate Weatherstone Pinot Noir 2025

The perfume is irresistible from the outset. Bright red cherry, raspberry coulis and rose petals almost demand that you pause...
Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Heart Pinot Noir ()

Marnong Estate Heart Pinot Noir 2025

Taste Heart immediately after Weatherstone and you notice a growing complexity. Alex changes very little in the winery. This is...
Marnong Estate Reserve Pinot Noir ()

Marnong Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2024

Reserve wines often imply hierarchy. More oak. More extraction. More power. Alex approaches the idea differently. Each year, every barrel...
Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Sangiovese ()

Marnong Estate Sangiovese 2025

There is something fitting about Sangiovese finding a home at Marnong. The owning family’s roots lie in southern Italy, yet...
Marnong Estate Single Vineyard Montepulciano ()

Marnong Estate Montepulciano 2025

The colour is the first clue. A deep, saturated ruby that promises generosity long before the glass reaches your nose....

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Velue 2.0 Grüner Veltliner 2021

With a slightly shy nose, this wine has the distant scents of an open jar of pickled baby cucumbers in...

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Velue 2.0 Muskateller 2021

Forget your notion of Muscat as a sweet wine as is found in Moscato d’Asti, or in Sicily’s aromatic Zibibbo,...

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Velue Zweigelt 2021

With a darker ruby colour striking a great visual, the nose invites you to stewed red fruits and blackcurrant juice....

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Revolution Rosé Solera – Roesler, Syrah & St Laurent NV

Based on a Solera system with each blend containing the last 3 vintages, Rösler (50%) x Syrah (40%) x St....

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Parcellaire Blanc #1 Welschriesling & Chardonnay NV

For the Parcellaire range of Zillinger, the fruits are sourced from the coolest parcels of the oldest vineyards, all grown...

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Numen Riesling 2020

Zillinger’s Numen range is a supremely expressive Riesling. Made from the oldest vines, there is close to no intervention. This...

Wines by Johannes Zillinger Perpetuum Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2019

This is Zillinger’s vineyard project that defies climate change with vines which have higher acid but equates to the same...

Domaine de Trevallon 2009

This Provence red is pure pleasure trickling into the soul… Trevallon can be described as the wine where Bordeaux meets...

Terlan Nova Domus 2017

From the Italian Dolomites comes this lovely white blend that will please both the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc drinker. This...

Domaine Labet Les Varrons Chardonnay 2019

Labet has a signature acidity of not only Jura but Labet typicity – it is laser like, electric and feels...

A Thousand Gods,Love Letter Rose Pinot Rose 2020

Don’t let the colour fool you. With a deeper tone than the pale roses you commonly find on the shelves,...
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