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Nicole Bilson

Nicole loves wine. So much so that she gave up a successful career in Pharmacy, perfected her spitting technique, and moved from sunny Queensland to the wine-drenched laneways of Melbourne. Stints in hospitality, wineries, retail, sales and marketing filled the next few years while Nicole built her knowledge and searched for the right path. She completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma in 2016 and became a certified WSET Educator the following year. She now juggles a number of roles including teaching people about wine, curating wines lists for restaurants and bars, judging in Australian wine shows and, of course, writing. In 2016 she won the Negociants Working With Wine writing award and has since contributed to Gourmet Traveller WINE, Halliday Wine Companion Magazine and Nourish Magazine.
LOTWchard

Land of Tomorrow Wrattonbully Chardonnay 2024 

This Chardonnay comes from the Nolan family’s original estate in Wrattonbully, farmed sustainably for over a century. It’s a juicy...
LOTChard

Land of Tomorrow Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024 

The aromas open with a spritz of lemon juice, partnered with the sexy funk and minerality of preserved lemon. Spicy...
LOTTouriga

Land of Tomorrow McLaren Vale Touriga 2023

Touriga is a variety known for power and perfume – one of the key varieties grown for premium Port. McLaren...
LOTPinotNoir

Land of Tomorrow Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2024

I always get excited when I find expressive Pinot Noir at this price point. Bonus points for sustainably grown fruit....
Nebbiolo SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Nebbiolo 2024

I make no secret that I am a Nebbiolo devotee. I am always thrilled to find an Australian example that...
Pinot Gris NV

Rowlee Pinot Gris 2025

I love it when a wine labelled as Pinot Gris actually tastes like the French ‘Gris’ style (in contrast to...
Chardonnay SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

On the first swirl of this cool climate beauty, the aromas leap from the glass – a spritz of lime,...
Chardonnay R Series

Rowlee R Series Chardonnay 2023

Rowlee’s R series represents their reserve wines – the finest parcels treated with the utmost care. Slow fermentation in French...
Pinot Noir NV

Rowlee Pinot Noir 2024

This was a delightful, exceptional value surprise. The winemaking began with a four day cold soak to extract colour and...
Pinot Noir R Series

Rowlee R Series Pinot Noir 2023

This is Rowlee’s Reserve Pinot Noir, using the best fruit they have from their exceptional high altitude vineyards. It smells...
Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc NV

Nautilus Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024

Imagine how mind blowing it must have been when the first punchy, but beautifully balanced, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the...
The Paper Nautilus Heritage Block Sauvignon Blanc NV

The Paper Nautilus Sauvignon Blanc 2023

A very different Sauvignon Blanc, The Paper Nautilus spends 9 months in large format French oak. This gives the wine...
NV Luna Temprana Tempranillo web

Gemtree Luna Temprana 2024

The choice to wrap this Tempranillo in a bottle-shape usually associated with Riesling, is revealed as the intense aromatics erupt...
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Gemtree Luna Crescente Fiano 2024

Organic, biodynamic fruit bathed in sunlight by day and cooled by ocean breezes allows Gemtree to excel with Italian varieties...
NVUncut front

Gemtree Uncut Shiraz 2023

A Shiraz-lovers Shiraz at a great price, with organic and biodynamic credentials to boot. The aromas showcase juicy raspberries and...
Riesling SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Riesling 2024

From the first moment of pouring, intensely concentrated aromas of jasmine and orange blossoms billow up from the glass. This...
Pinot Gris SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2024

This cool climate Pinot Gris is a glorious demonstration of what the variety can achieve when taken seriously. With fruit...
Gewurztraminer SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Gewürtztraminer 2024

Gewürztraminer can be divisive. With its hedonistic perfume and rich, oily texture, you either love it or hate it. I...
Arneis SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Arneis 2024

Arneis is a variety originating from Piedmont in north-west Italy, and like many Italian varieties, is proving its ability to...
Rose NV

Rowlee Rosé 2024

The colour reminds me of freshly sliced watermelon. The same rosy-hued fruit continues with the aromas, joined by strawberries, cherries,...
Cab Blend Trans

Squitchy Lane Cabernet Blend 2021

Cabernet blends are making a comeback and I am here for it. Especially with cooler climate examples of Cabernet that...
Pirie NV mL

Pirie Tasmania NV

Having now tried the Pirie Tasmania NV sparkling over three consecutive years, I am convinced this is one of the...
Pirie Vintage NV mL ()

Pirie Tasmania Vintage 2020

Tasmanian sparkling continues to rise in profile and it is wines like this one that set the benchmark. A classic...
Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon

Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

The Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon is part of Howard Park’s Distinguished sites range, offering the chance to compare and contrast the...

Stories

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One to One by Oxford Landing

I first encountered Oxford Landing in 2015. It was the affordably priced wine on the huge portfolio I was navigating...
OL Riverlife copy

Riverlife by Oxford Landing

Oxford Landing has a long reputation for good, affordable wines, well loved by the glass at the local pub. With...

Chalmers: Future-Proofing Wine

Like it or not, the traditional grape varieties that built Australia’s reputation as a great place to make wine are...

New Vine to Wine range from Mitchelton

There’s romance in a cellar door surrounded by vines and wines that tell the story of their place as Mitchelton...

What makes a wine great – it’s not what you’d think…

It was a bustling Saturday night in one of Melbourne’s hipster suburbs in a raved-about venue. Thick coats, moments before...

Eggstravagant Wines

I was standing in a queue at the checkout when a woman winked at me and said “There’s going to...
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