The Cellar Door Podcast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Send us Fan Mail

For centuries, France has occupied a unique place in the world of wine. Its vineyards, classifications, language, and traditions have shaped how we think about fine wine, from Bordeaux and Burgundy to concepts like terroir and appellation. But how did French wine come to dominate the global imagination? And was that dominance really built on superior wine, or on something else entirely?

My guest today is historian Kathy Burk. Kathy is Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London, an acclaimed author, broadcaster, and one of the world's leading historians of economic and cultural history. 

In this conversation, we explore the rise of French wine, the role of England in creating the reputation of Bordeaux, the significance of the 1855 Classification, the origins of concepts like terroir and chaptalisation, and how the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris challenged centuries of French supremacy. Along the way, Kathy takes us from the Stone Age to modern California, revealing how trade, politics, empire, religion, and marketing helped shape the wine world we know today.

And where better to begin than at the very beginning.

Here is Kathy Burk.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

For more than four decades, Charles Melton has been one of the defining voices of the Barossa Valley. His journey stretches from the wine glut of the 1980s, through the rise of modern Australian wine, to the creation of one of the country's most recognisable labels.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down at the Charles Melton winery on Krondorf Road with Charles Melton and his daughter Sophie Melton, the next generation helping to shape the future of the family business.

We discuss brand, authenticity, family, and the challenge of remaining relevant in an industry that has changed dramatically over the last fifty years. Charles reflects on  his early days in the industry, surviving the industry's darkest periods, and developing a brand that today enjoys a loyal following across multiple generations. Sophie shares what it is like to inherit that legacy, and how she is finding her own voice as a winemaker through her Domaine Sophie Claire label.

Together, they explore the power of story in wine, the importance of place, the realities of today's wine market, and why the strongest brands are often built not through marketing campaigns, but through decades of genuine human connection.

Whether you're interested in the history of the Barossa, the business of building a premium wine brand, or the future of Australian wine, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how one family has navigated change while remaining true to its values.

This is my conversation with Charles and Sophie Melton. A huge thanks to Charles and Sophie for joining.

Topics covered:

• The history of the Barossa vine pull and how oversupply crises shaped the region
• North vs south Barossa style differences and what makes the southern end distinct
• The origin story of Nine Popes — and its surprising connection to Châteauneuf-du-Pape
• Brand authenticity, storytelling, and what keeps Charles Melton relevant across four generations of customers
• The current Australian wine industry glut and how small producers are navigating it
• Distribution philosophy: long-term relationships, staying boutique, and resisting over-expansion
• The Young Gun of Wine awards and what it means for a new generation winemaker to compete
• Staying true to classic Barossa varieties — Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro, Cabernet — rather than chasing trends

Keywords: Charles Melton Wines, Barossa Valley wine, Nine Popes, Grenache Barossa, Sophie Melton winemaker, Domaine Sophie Claire, Peter Lehmann, Barossa vine pull, Krondorf Road winery, Young Gun of Wine, Australian wine industry, family winery, wine brand storytelling, Barossa Shiraz, cellar door Barossa

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

The Hunter Valley occupies a special place in the story of Australian wine. It is, in many ways, the spiritual birthplace of the industry - a region where generations of families have wrestled with the climate, the soil, and the vagaries of the market to produce wines of remarkable character.

My guest today, Garth Eather, represents one of those families.

Garth is the co-founder of Meerea Park Wines, a winery he established with his brother Reese in 1991. But the Eather family story in Australia goes back much further than that,  all the way to the arrival of the Second Fleet in 1790, and more than two centuries of agricultural history in what would eventually become the Hunter Valley wine region.

In this conversation, Garth shares that remarkable family history,  from convict beginnings to grape growing, and eventually to building one of the Hunter Valley’s most respected small wineries. We also talk about what it really takes to survive as a small producer today: the reality of direct-to-consumer sales, the challenges facing regional tourism, and why some of the best wines the Hunter Valley has ever produced are being made right now, even as the market becomes harder than ever.

Along the way, we dive into the character of the Hunter Valley itself, its legendary Chardonnay, Semillon and Shiraz, its fiercely site-specific vineyards, and the deep sense of history that still shapes the region today. You cannot help but hear the pride Garth has for the Hunter and its stories, and this is reflected through their wines. We talk through three of their releases and we discuss what I describe as the bold strategy underpinning the Etherial (sorry for the pun) Stratos Chardonnay. 

This is a conversation about wine, certainly, but also about family, resilience, and the stories that define a place - because that is really what wine is all about. 

A huge thanks to Garth for joining me. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In 1974 David Anderson embarked on a project in Victoria’s Heathcote region to plant vines and craft wine. His son Liam Anderson describes that David was more or less taking a shot in the dark, with no intention of founding what would become a label with a cult following across Australia and even certain locations across the globe. Liam describes customer relationships with Wild Duck Creek spanning over 30 years, the result of hours and hours of hard work, dedication and focus on delivering a premium wine experience to consumers. 

Though Wild Duck Creek has in the past found favor with critics, not to mention being the first Victorian label to score 99+ points from Robert Parker Jnr at the Wine Advocate, Liam Anderson describes how over the years, and amid a change in fashion and trends, Wild Duck Creek has stayed true to its style of bigger, richer, wine’s of balance . They don’t try to please everyone. Rather they have a singular focus on enhancing the quality of what they have done since day dot - that is, crafting the highest quality wines given the unique terroir that Heathcote offers.

Liam Anderson grew up watching his father’s ever expanding passion for Wild Duck Creek, a passion and focus that Liam says is fastidious . Liam has been managing the vineyards at Wild Duck Creek since he was 18 y/o. He’s been making the wines since he was 20. Liam has decades of Wild Duck Creek running through his veins. He has seen the evolution of Wild Duck Creek as a cult winery and is now largely responsible for its day to day management. He has inherited his father’s passion for Heathcote and dedication to the family brand. Liam joined me for an expansive conversation, on everything from Heathcote’s climate and geography, and what makes Heathcote - well - Heathcote, to the Wild Duck Creek’s story, the experience in the US market and Liam’s aspirations for the label’s future.

A huge thanks to Liam for joining me.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Few Australian wine families can match the storied pedigree of the Hardy family, whose legacy began when Thomas Hardy founded Thomas Hardy & Sons in 1853. Thomas later purchased the Upper Tintara Vineyard in Blewitt Springs, McLaren Vale in 1871, marking the birth of a winemaking dynasty.

Today, Australian wine legend Andrew 'Ox' Hardy, the great-great grandson of Thomas Hardy, carries the McLaren Vale tradition in his veins. As the custodian of the Upper Tintara Vineyard, Andrew has pushed his team to innovate, notably through his eponymous label, Ox Hardy Wines.

Andrew's work is further strengthened by his son, Henry, who has fully embraced the family's heritage. Henry brings his own expertise, honed through multiple vintages, industry studies, and valuable experience marketing and selling both here in Australia and abroad.

Both Andrew and Henry understand the critical importance of preserving the Upper Tintara Vineyard, one of Australia's most precious viticultural sites, and they're on a mission to reinforce the strong association between the Hardy name and top-quality winemaking.

It was an absolute pleasure to sit down with Andrew and Henry, father and son, for an interview brimming with insights, stories, and charm. The Hardy family saga is a remarkable Australian story, and it was a true privilege to speak with both Andrew 'Ox' Hardy and Henry. A massive thanks to them for joining me.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Neli Naumovski is the recently appointed national sales director at Oliver's Wines. Neli brings lengthy experience in the fine wine sector, and secondary markets and has teamed up with Jeremy Oliver to launch the old rare and collectable wine project which incorporates a unique classification system. It was this classification aspect which caught my attention. I've previously spoken with Huon Hooke on my show about the classification system at the Real Review and so when I heard there was a new system entering the market, I wanted to get the inside scoop. Neli was good enough join me to give a crash course on this new project, the secondary market and for an update on all her projects at Olivers Wines. A massive thanks to Neli for joining me. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Presqu’ile (‘press-keel’) is a family-owned winery in the Santa Maria Valley dedicated to crafting exceptional  Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Roughly translating in French to “Peninsula”, Presquile was the Murphy family’s gathering place in the Mississippi Gulf Country who after Hurricane Katrina, decided that they would name their winery in homage to the place that engendered a conviviality among family and friends, evoking a warmth of human spirit and a rapport among all who “passed a good time” there. 

 In 2007 the Murphy family set out to find the perfect place to farm pinot noir and chardonnay, a search that spanned America’s West coast, from California up to Oregon. The Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara Wine County won out, and the Murphy’s set about building what has become one of the most beautiful wineries in California with a wine experience to match. South African born Dieter Cronje has been making wine with the Murphy family since Presquile’s beginning. Dieter was drawn to California on the tales of promise of its wine industry and never left. Dieter invited me back to Presquile to enjoy some Santa Maria hospitality and I took the opportunity to capture his journey and perspectives on Presquile, Santa Maria and everything in between. A massive thanks to Dieter for joining me. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

On this episode, I had the pleasure of catching up with Jeremy Oliver to get his insights on the latest developments in the Australian wine industry. We dive into Treasury Wine Estates’ recent decision to part ways with iconic brands Wolf Blass, Yellowglen, and Lindeman’s, and we explore Jeremy’s perspective on the broader market dynamics. While the challenges persist and the road ahead is long, it’s clear that resilience, determination, and will be the defining traits of those who succeed in these tough times. A huge thanks to Jeremy for joining me

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

The Balnaves family first arrived in South Australia’s Coonawarra District in 1855. It's worth taking the time to research the story of William Wilson (available on the Balnaves website) to truly appreciate how deeply the Balnaves family is intertwined with the history of South Australian wine. Fast forward to 1971, when a young and ambitious Doug Balnaves was hired by Hungerford Hill to establish 100 hectares of vineyards. In 1974, Doug received a winemaking masterclass from Bill Redman, affectionately known as "the Grand Old Man of Coonawarra," which played a pivotal role in igniting and fueling Doug’s passion for crafting exceptional red wine.

In 1975, the first Balnaves vines were planted, covering 2.5 hectares each of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, which are still flourishing 49 years later. In the ensuing years, Kirsty and Pete Balnaves returned to the family business, joined by Pete Bissell as the winemaker, who led the winemaking team for over 25 vintages. During this time, Balnaves went from strength to strength, with the Tally winning Jeremy Oliver's Wine of the Year in 2004 and Balnaves being named Halliday's Winery of the Year in 2008.

In 2018 Jacinta Jenkins, known as JJ to her friends, joined the Balnaves team. A native of Coonawarra, Jacinta brought her global wine education back to her roots, making it particularly fitting that she took on the role of head winemaker in 2020, when Pete Bissell passed the torch to her. Jacinta has quickly made her mark, being shortlisted for Halliday Winemaker of the Year this year—a true testament to her hard work and talent.

Jacinta recently joined me on the show to provide a glimpse into what’s happening across Coonawarra and at Balnaves. A huge thanks to Jacinta for sharing her insights.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we delve into the remarkable journey of Legend Wine Imports, a venture spearheaded by two American sommeliers, Jonathan Ross and Jane Lopes. Their path to success took an unexpected turn when they immersed themselves in the vibrant Australian wine industry. The duo first crossed paths at New York’s esteemed Eleven Madison Park before making the bold decision to relocate to Australia. Jane found her niche at Melbourne’s acclaimed Attica Restaurant, while Jonathan took charge of the wine program for the Rockpool Group. This transformative experience deepened their appreciation for Australian wine, ultimately inspiring them to co-author "How to Drink Australian." This book captures the essence of Australian wine through the lenses of history, terroir, and the nation’s unwavering commitment to viticulture and winemaking excellence. Jonathan and Jane have since become passionate advocates for Australian wine in the USA, tirelessly working to enhance its presence and reputation. Join me as I sit down with Jonathan to explore his fascinating story and the origins of Legend Wine Imports.

Support the show