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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.
Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc x

Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc 2023

There’s lovely aromatic freshness with all the tropical and citrus aromas that Sauvignon Blanc is admired for, yet also a...
Howard Park Great Southern Riesling x

Howard Park Great Southern Riesling 2023

Western Australia’s Great Southern region seems to be able to capture the delicate, floral notes of Riesling in a captivating...
NV Howard Park Museum Riesling x

Howard Park Museum Release Riesling 2018

Gosh I love Museum Release Riesling. There’s no waiting for the lifted florals of youth to deepen into pollen-rich acacia....
Fiore NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Fiore 2023

This is a sweeter style made from Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc. The grapes are late harvest, picked at the end...
Pinot Noir SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

In the glass this is a very pale ruby – just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover,...
Chardonnay SV NV

Rowlee Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

The aromas are gorgeous, showing such purity of fruit, and lots of fruit at that. There’s zesty grapefruit, lemon pith,...
Rose NV

Rowlee Rosé 2023

The watermelon pink colour might have you anticipating sweetness but stray your mind and take a moment to smell the...
Lloyd Brothers Western Block Reserve Shiraz Web

Lloyd Brothers Western Block Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale 2021 

From the first pour, this delight doesn’t hold back – plump blueberries and blackberries erupt from the glass. Delving further...
Lloyd Brothers Adelaide Hills Picpoul Prosecco Web

Lloyd Brothers Picpoul Prosecco 2023 

Picpoul is a quirky grape variety originating from the south of France, where it is made into crisp, refreshing white...
Pinot Gris SV NV

Rowlee Pinot Gris 2023

The grapes for this wine come from the cool climate region of Orange in New South Wales, with the added...
AA Grenache ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Barossa Grenache 2019

So, so spicy! There’s the sweet baking spices that spill from Nanna’s pantry and a burst of Sichuan pepper. The...
AA PinotNoir ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021

A heady mix of dried rose petals, dark cherries, and plump red currants that burst between your teeth, envelopes you...
AA Gruner ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Adelaide Hills Grüner Veltliner 2020

Wow, there is such evocative aromatic intensity in this local example of Grüner Veltliner – a variety that hails from...
AA Vermentino ml Hi RGB

Aces & Arrows Riverland Vermentino 2022

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating, Vermentino is proving to be a champion grape for Australia. This one...
BrionisBlend

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Brioni’s Blend 2023

This is a quirky little blend of Mataro, Touriga and Shiraz named for Brioni Oliver, part of the 6th generation...
IHANAshiraz

Ihana Shiraz (Valtteri Bottas x Oliver’s Taranga) Edition #1 2022

Valtteri Bottas apparently loves Australian wine, especially Shiraz, almost as much as he loves racing cars. Which explains why he...
Grenache

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Grenache 2023

Mmmm, cherries and spice and all things nice envelope you on the first inhale. But there’s a lot more behind...
Tempranillo

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Tempranillo 2023

Cherry cola immediately leaps from the glass with a lashing of candied fennel seeds – both sweet and spicy. After...
Mencia

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Mencía 2023

Mencía hails from Bierzo in northwestern Spain where its affinity for a Mediterranean climate has ensured it is very much...
ChicaRose

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Chica Rosé 2023

This rosé hits the visual sweet spot of a peachy pale pink and makes me think of sunsets. It smells...
Fiano

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Fiano 2023

Fiano is proving to be a champion variety in Australia and I’m here for it. Originally from Campania, this heat...
Vermentino

Oliver’s Taranga Vineyards Vermentino 2023

This Vermentino is part of the small batch range, allowing winemaker, Corrina Wright, to play with a range of new...
Pirie Vintage NV mL

Pirie Tasmania Vintage 2019

This cool climate Tasmanian sparkling is a blend of the premium Champagne varieties, Chardonnay (51%) and Pinot Noir (49%), made...
DevilsCorner Hazards MtBaudin Chardonay mL Mockup copy

Devil’s Corner Mt Baudin Chardonnay 2022

Mt Baudin Chardonnay is part of the Hazards range, named for mountain range on the east coast of Tasmania. This...

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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