Wine with Meg + Mel – Details, episodes & analysis

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We taste a line-up of Australian icons. From Tasmanian bubbles to Hunter Semillon, Canberra Shiraz Viognier, and Yarra Cabernet blends, we map style, site, and ageability with unashamed love for homegrown greatness.

• Arras Late Disgorged 2009 
• Tyrrell’s Vat 1 2019
• Tolpuddle Chardonnay 2004
• Clonakilla’s Shiraz Viognier 2024
• Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 2021

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A toast to legacy, a clash over creativity, and a bottle that could change how we drink. We open with a tribute to Peter Fraser—winemaker, mentor, and quiet force at Yangarra—then step straight into the friction points shaping wine right now: the awards that reward meaningful storytelling, the slogan that sparked a pile-on, and the packaging pivot that’s bigger than aesthetics.

We unpack the Wine Communicator Awards and why Halliday’s podcast comeback matters when trust is hard-won. Max Allen’s recognition is a reminder that longform writing still anchors the culture—holding memory, nuance, and accountability. From there, we tackle the Next Crop t-shirt controversy. Was it a bad call? Yes. But the deeper lesson is how to build safe creative lanes for emerging leaders: responsible messaging, clear guardrails, and mentorship that keeps bold ideas alive rather than shutting them down.

Innovation takes a more practical turn with Brown Brothers’ aluminium wine bottle. Lighter to ship, infinitely recyclable, and container-deposit friendly, it addresses the carbon drag of glass without asking the wine to change. We explore why consumers push back, how category cues evolve, and what it takes to make sustainability feel like an upgrade. Then we zoom out to France, where grower protests signal a global reality: oversupply hurts. Distillation aid and vine pull schemes buy time, but the honest fix is right-sizing plantings, shifting styles, and aligning with demand.

For a festive detour, we fact-check Netflix’s Champagne Problems—funny, charming, and gloriously wrong on méthode traditionnelle. It’s a teachable moment that starts with pop culture and ends in real craft. We wrap with something practical: a standout Aldi Malbec that nails benchmark Argentinian style—dark fruit, firm tannin, bright acid—and doubles as a great learning bottle. And a heads-up: we’re about to taste through some of Australia’s most iconic wines, from Grange to regional legends, to map where heritage and modern taste meet.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves wine (or loves a good debate), and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us. What change do you want to see in wine next?

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Meg and Mel dive into the groundbreaking Endeavor wine industry report that reveals surprising insights about Australian wine consumption patterns across demographics and regions.

• Affluence drives wine purchase more than age, with wealthy consumers favouring Champagne, Chardonnay, and surprisingly, Riesling
• Gen Z unexpectedly over-indexes on Champagne consumption despite limited budgets
• Tasmania and Western Australia show the strongest loyalty to their local wine regions
• The Yarra Valley is experiencing growth while Tasmania faces market challenges despite producing top-rated sparkling wines
• Victoria drives wine trends like Pinot Noir and spritz culture that spread across Australia
• Queensland shows unique preferences for New Zealand wines and sweeter styles
• Prosecco dominates the sparkling category nationwide, particularly from King Valley
• Millennials are just now coming into red wine and Champagne as their palates mature and incomes increase
• Each Australian state displays distinct wine personality profiles that reveal cultural differences

Find the complete "State of Grapes" report online for more insights into Australia's wine consumption patterns.

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Dan Murphy's Imported Fine Wine buyer Nick Rose brings us top white wines you don't need to pay top dollar for. Needless to say, we have a few new favourites! 

Wines tasted:

• Plessis Duval Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie $16
• Domaine Andre Lorentz Alsace Riesling $28
• Mommessin Grandes Mises Beaujolais Blanc $35
• Cave de Tain Saint-Peray Marsanne Grand Classique $35

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We find out! 

Wines Tasted

• Joseph Drouhin  Laforet Bourgogne Pinot Noir $50
• Domaine Nicolas Rossignol Les Vignots, Pommard $140
• Nicolas Rossignol Pommard 'Les Chaponnières' 1er Cru 2015 $220
• Nicolas Rossignol Pommard 'Les Chanlins' 1er Cru 2015 $240 

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Thanks Kranthi for your help!

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Is Tassie worth the hype? Let's find out! 

• Bream Creek Sauvignon Blanc $31
• Frogmore Creek Riesling $27
• Island Belle Chardonnay $36
• Stefano Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir $45
  
  

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If you gave us $230 to spend on a wine, we probably wouldn't choose to spend it on Chablis. But we got one! So let's see if it's worth it... 

• Simonnet-Febvre Chablis $44
• Simonnet-Febvre Chablis Premier Cru Vaillons $60
• Jean-Marc Brocard Chablis Premier Cru Montmains $70
• Louis Moreau Chablis $95
• Domaine Gautheron Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses $230
  
  

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Meg and Mel taste through Mornington Pinot to see if it's worth the fuss.

• Quealy Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir $34
• Stonier Pinot Noir $34
• Kooyong Pinot Noir $35
• Onannon Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir $40
• 2019 Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir
  
  

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We're unable to bring you our usual episode this week, so instead a look at two sides of Pinot. Who are you with - Scottie or Miles?

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