The Halliday Wine Companion Podcast (formerly known as By The Glass) is back with a new look, a new host, and a bunch of new and exciting guests. Join Halliday editor Anna Webster as she sits down with industry experts - including winemakers, sommeliers, distillers, critics, retailers, and more - to chat about, unpack and explore a range of wine- and drinks-related topics. From interviews with top producers and the stories behind your favourite bottles, to the science of cellaring, deep dives…
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A single glass of Alsatian pinot blanc changed the direction of Eddie McDougall's life. In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , host Anna Webster sits down with winemaker, entrepreneur, TV personality and founder of The Flying Winemaker , Eddie McDougall. Eddie shares how his upbringing between Hong Kong and Australia, his father's extraordinary entrepreneurial journey, and an…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Anna Webster sits down with Gwyn Olsen, senior winemaker at Henschke, one of Australia's most iconic family-owned wineries. Gwyn's path into wine was anything but predictable. Born in Cairns and raised in Indonesia, she went on to study biochemistry before discovering winemaking through postgraduate oenology at the University of Adelaide.…
What makes a truly iconic Australian wine? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Anna Webster sits down with Brokenwood Chief Winemaker Stuart Hordern to explore the history, philosophy and future of one of Australia's most celebrated wineries. From growing up on a small Hunter Valley vineyard to becoming only the second chief winemaker in Brokenwood's history, Stuart shares the…
What happens when a former linguistics student leaves the Hunter Valley to help build one of Victoria's most ambitious wine estates from the ground up? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Anna Webster sits down with Alex Beckett, Director of Wine at Marnong Estate, to unpack the philosophy, ambition, and evolution behind one of Victoria's most talked-about wine destinations.…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, host Anna Webster sits down with legendary Australian winemaker Louisa Rose from Yalumba. From growing up in Melbourne to becoming one of the most respected voices in Australian wine, Louisa shares her remarkable journey through decades of winemaking, sustainability leadership and innovation. They explore Yalumba's pioneering work with…
What does it take to become known as the "King of Chardonnay" ? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , we sit down with New Zealand winemaking legend Tony Bish to unpack a career that broke every rule. From dropping out of law school to pioneering chardonnay in Hawke's Bay, Tony shares the raw, unfiltered story behind building a globally respected wine label. We go deep on: Why…
Matt Fowles of Fowles Wine in Victoria's Strathbogie Ranges describes surviving a catastrophic bushfire that burned through his 1400 acre property in under 45 minutes on January 8th 2026, destroying his family home, 1200 (of 1260) sheep, and severely damaging both vineyards - while the winery and cellar door survived. In the aftermath, he prioritised family stability and practical problem-solving…
What actually makes a wine bar successful? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, we sit down with Lyndon Kubis , the force behind some of Melbourne's most loved venues including Toorak Cellars, Milton Wine Shop, The Alps and Clover. From starting at 18 years old with zero plan… to building a portfolio of iconic neighbourhood wine bars, Lyndon breaks down what really drives…
Gareth Belton from Gentle Folk joins the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast to talk about his unlikely path from marine botany and seaweed fieldwork to farming some of the Adelaide Hills' most compelling sites. We dig into how Gareth's scientific mindset influences decisions in the vineyard and winery, why site (aspect, altitude, soil) matters so much in the Adelaide Hills, and how Gentle Folk's…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , host Anna Webster sits down with Rohan Smith , Chief Winemaker at Medhurst in the Yarra Valley , to talk about his unconventional path into wine, what it really takes to "speed-run" a winemaking career, and why the single most important decision in the winery happens before the grapes even arrive: picking . Rohan shares how a classical music…
Emily McNally has spent the past two decades furthering the legacy of her parents, Ron and Elva Laughton, who bought a young vineyard in the late 1970s in Heathcote and established the iconic Jasper Hill. In this episode, host Anna Webster asks Emily why her parents chose Heathcote, how the region earned its identity (and her family's role in it), what "organic and dry grown" actually means on the…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, host Anna Webster sits down with Michael Hill-Smith AM MW, one of the most influential figures in Australian wine. As Australia's first Master of Wine and co-founder of Shaw + Smith, Tolpuddle Vineyard and MMAD, Michael shares stories from his childhood at Yalumba, his early connection to food and wine, and the pivotal moments that shaped his…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, winemaker Tessa Brown shares her remarkable journey from growing up on a sugarcane farm in Queensland to establishing boutique winery Vignerons Schm lzer & Brown in Beechworth . Tessa opens up about the challenges and triumphs of winemaking , the importance of careful site selection , and her philosophy of capturing purity of fruit in their…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , we sit down with Pedro Parra , one of the world's most respected terroir consultants , to explore the deep and fascinating relationship between land and wine. Pedro shares his remarkable journey from studying music to becoming a global expert on terroir , helping winemakers across continents - including Alkina Wine Estate in the Barossa -…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast we sit down with food critic, author, former MasterChef Australia judge, and wine enthusiast Matt Preston to share his distinctive perspective on the world of wine. From the art of tasting and the magic of food pairings to the crucial role of sommeliers, Matt delves into what makes wine such a captivating experience. He opens up about his…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion podcast, Halliday taster, drinks writer and liquor merchant Mike Bennie shares his path into the wine industry, his passion for natural wines, and how Australia's wine scene has evolved. He reflects on founding Sydney's groundbreaking Rootstock Festival, the challenge of defining natural wine, and judging Halliday's inaugural 'wildcard' category. Mike…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Giles Cooke MW, co-founder of Thistledown Wines , shares his journey in the wine industry and the philosophy behind his winemaking. He reflects on winning Wine of the Year, the history of the Smart Vineyard in McLaren Vale, and the techniques used to craft wines that are expressive of site. Host Anna Webster and Giles explore the challenges…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, recorded the morning after the 2026 Halliday Awards, Anna Webster sits down with Vasse Felix's chief winemaker Virginia Willcock over a strong coffee to discuss her latest accolade, Winemaker of the Year. Virginia reflects on her remarkable career in the wine industry, shares the stories behind iconic wines such as Tom Cullity and Heytesbury…
Step onto the auction floor with Michael Anderson, Head of Auctions at LANGTONS, and discover how rare bottles move from cellar to gavel. We unpack the do's and don'ts of bidding, reveal the labels that keep climbing in value, and hear Michael's personal journey from hospitality to helming Australia's biggest fine-wine marketplace. Whether you buy to drink, invest, or simply daydream, this chat…
In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast , respected wine critic and educator Philip Rich reflects on his decades-long journey through the Australian and global wine landscape. Drawing on his early days in wine retail, including co-founding Prince Wine Store, Philip shares insights into the evolution of wine knowledge and the challenges of modern wine sourcing. He unpacks what makes…
In the first episode of the new and improved Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Halliday editor and host Anna Webster speaks with Melanie Chester, head winemaker at Giant Steps in the Yarra Valley. We celebrate Giant Steps being named the 2025 Winery of the Year, discuss the importance of terroir, and the inspiration behind the new Circle of Fifths range. Mel also shares insights into wine judging,…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 17: Rowly Milhinch, Scion , Rutherglen Rutherglen is one of Australia's oldest wine regions. Grapevines came to the region in the 1850s during the gold rush and Rutherglen, as many of you will already know, became Australia's unchallenged capital of fortified wines. The future of regions like Rutherglen rely heavily on either new blood moving in or…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 16: Nick Brown, All Saints , Rutherglen Today I am in Rutherglen in Victoria's Northeast and I am joined by a descendant of wine royalty. Nick Brown from All Saints Estate. If the last name hasn't given it away, Nick has lived and breathed wine his whole life, spending his childhood running about the cellars of his family winery Brown Brothers in Milawa.…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 15: Daniel Tokar, Tokar Estate , Yarra Valley Today we are talking all things Tempranillo! There's no denying it's the signature wine grape of Spain, and a very very old one at that…dating back to 1100 BC. There are about 500 clones of Tempranillo in Spain alone, and it is not only one of the world's most planted grape varieties, it's one of the most…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 14: Dylan McMahon, Seville Estate , Yarra Valley. Join me as I sit down with Dylan McMahon from Seville Estate in Victoria's Yarra Valley to reflect on the last two years. From his greatest learnings, to the moments that shaped Seville Estate as a business. Dylan candidly discusses what life was like running a business during one of the most difficult…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 13: Ben Ranken, Wilimee Wines , Macedon Ranges. Today's topic is of huge interest to me. Underwater wine. I'm fascinated by it. It's a process whereby wine is aged or preserved under water. And there are some high-profile cases. Now, back in 2010 it was reported divers found bottles of champagne…some 230 years old…at the bottom of the Baltic. It's reported…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 12: Former Hawthorn footy captain Richie Vandenberg is on a mission to remove and recycle one billion single-use plastic bottles from our oceans by 2030, via his wine label The Hidden Sea . Want to know what wine we were drinking? 2021 PINOT GRIGIO. Light, lively and crisp with fresh fruits and mouth watering pear, peach and bright acidity. 2021…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 11: Wine educator Nicole Bilson on Malolactic Fermentation Today we sit down with wine educator Nicole Bilson to learn about the winemaking technique, malolactic fermentation. Now, while many of you may not have heard of this technique before - most of you will have tasted the effects of it! Particularly if you're a chardonnay drinker. It's what gives some…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 10: Giles Cooke MW, Thistledown Wines , South Australia. We catch up with Giles Cooke, winemaker and Award Winning Varietal (grenache) recipient at the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards , to discuss all things grenache! Grenache in Australia has quite a chequered past but is now gaining recognition as a standalone variety - take a deep dive with us as we…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 9: Kate Laurie, Deviation Road , Adelaide Hills. We catch up with Kate Laurie, winemaker and Sparkling Wine of the Year recipient at the 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards , to discuss all things sparkling wine and champagne. Raised in WA Kate actually lived in Champagne, France, for three years after graduating university, to hone her skills in…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 8: Sarah Crowe, Yarra Yering , Yarra Valley. Today I am joined by Sarah Crowe, winemaker and General Manager at Yarra Yering. Sarah was the first woman to win Winemaker of the Year at the 2017 Halliday Wine Companion Awards and this year she has taken out Wine of the Year AND Yarra Yering has been crowned Winery of the Year, making them the first producer…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 7: Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion taster. Join Jeni and I as we discuss the ins & outs of last night's 2022 Halliday Wine Companion Awards! Any thoughts or suggestions for upcoming episodes? Please email us at bytheglass@hardiegrant.com and don't forget to follow Halliday Wine Companion over on instagram here. Want to know what wine we were drinking?…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 6: Belinda Hughes, Rieslingfreak , South Australia. Just like Sauvignon blanc from the Marlborough - Riesling has had its fair share of bad press, often associated with Germany's mass exports of the 70s and 80s. Now while its often thought of as a sweet wine, Riesling can vary from bone-dry through to wines that rich, textural and sticky. It truly is a…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 5: Stuart Pym, Flowstone Wines, Margaret River. Now, while New Zealand's Marlborough region is synonymous with sauvignon blanc - it's actually a bit of an international juggernaut of sorts - remaining one of the fastest growing wines in the world. And while there's been a real shift away from those distinct grassy, tropical fruit-laden wines we all think…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 4: Barnaby Flanders, Garagiste. The turn of phrase Single Vineyard or townships wines is often thrown around in today's wine world, and on today's show we delve into this very notion and explore the world of site-specific wines. Join us as we chat with viticulturist and winemaker Barny Flanders, from Garagiste on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, who…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 2: Erin Larkin, Halliday tasting team. Independent wine writer, judge and Halliday wine taster Erin Larkin shares her tips on how to taste like a pro! From how to swirl, spit and describe your next glass of wine. Erin also offers up interesting insight into life as a professional taster, from how many wines she tries in a day to how she breaks tradition…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 1: Penny Vine, Cutler & Co. So perhaps you're new to wine or wanting to learn more about it...wherever you're at, this first episode is all about laying a strong foundation. From how to store and serve your wine at home, to chatting with the sommelier at your favourite restaurant. Sommelier Penny Vine takes it back to basics. For a bit of background, Penny…
Halliday Wine Companion 'By the Glass' EP 3: Holly Klintworth, Bass & Flinders. Holly heads up her families distillery Bass & Flinders on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Founded in 2009 as a project, inspired by a passion for the traditional distilled fruit and grape based products of Europe, Holly and her family set out to add value to the local region by turning wine into spirit, showcasing…
