Halliday Wine Companion

What happens when a love of wine turns into three vineyards, a restaurant and an entirely new way of thinking about the land?In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, we’re joined by Pen Naish and Nicholas Brown of Black Estate, one of North Canterbury’s most distinctive family-owned wineries.Pen and Nicholas took over Black Estate in 2007, but neither started out expecting to build a life in wine. Pen was working as a corporate lawyer, while Nicholas found his way into winemaking through wine retail, vineyard work and vintages across New Zealand, Italy and the Napa Valley.Nearly two decades later, Black Estate encompasses three organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards plus a fourth leased site, a celebrated restaurant and cellar door, and a philosophy centred on expressing place as clearly as possible.In this conversation, we explore the evolution of Black Estate, the people who influenced Nicholas’s approach to winemaking, and why North Canterbury has become such an exciting region for pinot noir, chardonnay and emerging varieties.Nicholas explains the challenges of transitioning established vineyards away from conventional farming, from managing vine vigour and water to understanding what is really happening beneath the soil.We also get into the role of native yeast, why vineyard biodiversity matters, the use of cattle and regenerative grazing, and how increasing organic matter can dramatically change the amount of water a vineyard can retain.Then there’s chardonnay.Despite pinot noir historically taking much of the spotlight in New Zealand’s South Island, Nicholas believes North Canterbury has the ingredients to produce exceptional chardonnay, with its cool nights, naturally low yields and remarkable mix of clay, gravel and limestone soils.Pen and Nicholas also share what they’re experimenting with next, including chenin blanc, cabernet franc and a high-wire vineyard system designed to allow sheep to graze beneath the vines during the growing season.A conversation about wine, farming, family and why some of the most interesting things happening in the vineyard start long before the grapes reach the winery.Halliday Wine CompanionFollow Halliday Wine Companion on InstagramFollow Anna Webster on InstagramOrder the 2027 Halliday Wine CompanionAbout the guestsPen Naish is co-owner of Black Estate and leads the winery’s sales, marketing, restaurant and cellar door.Nicholas Brown is Black Estate’s winemaker and leads its vineyard program. His career has included vintages in Marlborough, Italy and the Napa Valley before returning to North Canterbury.Discover Black Estate:https://blackestate.co.nz/Black Estate on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/blackestate/Pen Naish – New Zealand Wine:https://www.nzwine.com/en/media/our-people/pen-naish/Chapters00:00 – The Black Estate story03:28 – How Nicholas found winemaking10:29 – Growing Black Estate14:38 – Converting to biodynamic farming18:17 – Native yeast and terroir20:17 – The history of Netherwood vineyard24:21 – Chenin blanc and cabernet franc28:39 – Black Estate’s winemaking philosophy30:02 – Frost and a changing climate33:24 – Regenerative farming and soil health38:12 – Why North Canterbury chardonnay stands out42:11 – What varieties could be next?43:45 – The future of Black Estate

Stephen Pannell is one of Australia’s most influential winemakers and a driving force behind the rise of modern McLaren Vale grenache.In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Steve shares how a childhood spent working in vineyards in Margaret River eventually led him to winemaking, despite his best efforts to avoid the family profession. From producing more than 200 million bottles of red wine at Hardys to rediscovering his creativity in Barolo, Steve explains how pinot noir and nebbiolo shaped his unique approach to grenache.The conversation explores what makes McLaren Vale grenache so expressive, the importance of tannin, picking decisions and old-vine vineyards, and why great wine should reflect the land rather than the hand of the winemaker. Steve also takes us inside his Little Branch vineyard in Blewitt Springs, where century-old grenache vines produce his distinctly different Sunrise and Sunset wines.Steve also discusses the restoration of his Koomilya vineyard, the inspiration behind his Halliday award-winning Mataro Rosé, and his mission to preserve the future of warm-climate Australian shiraz. He also makes a passionate case for taking rosé, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio and merlot seriously, while encouraging wine drinkers to trust their own tastes.As the Australian wine industry faces one of its most challenging periods, Steve reflects on why the country has never made better wine and considers the Mediterranean and Italian varieties that could define its future.Halliday Wine CompanionFollow Halliday Wine Companion on InstagramFollow Anna Webster on InstagramFollow S.C. Pannell on InstagramExplore S.C. Pannell wines: https://scpannell.com.au/In this episode:How Steve Pannell found his way into winemakingThe evolution of modern Australian grenacheWhat pinot noir and nebbiolo taught Steve about grenacheWhy tannin is essential to the identity of red wineThe influence of soil, ironstone and the ocean in McLaren ValeWhat makes Blewitt Springs such a distinctive grenache regionThe story behind the century-old Little Branch vineyardHow Sunrise and Sunset grenache express two parts of the same siteRestoring biodiversity at the Koomilya vineyardWhy premium fruit is essential to serious roséProtecting the future of warm-climate Australian shirazMediterranean grape varieties suited to Australia’s changing climateWhy wine drinkers should never feel intimidated by personal tasteSteve’s hopes for the future of Australian wine

Bruce Tyrrell AM has spent more than five decades shaping Australian wine. As the fourth generation of one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries, he has helped transform Tyrrell’s, champion Hunter Valley semillon around the world, and preserve some of Australia’s most important old-vine vineyards.Fresh from being named the 2027 James Halliday Hall of Fame inductee, Bruce joins the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast to reflect on growing up at Tyrrell’s, joining the family business in 1974 and witnessing the evolution from fortified wine and manual vineyard work to modern winemaking.Bruce shares the story behind Tyrrell’s iconic Vat 1 Semillon, including the secret decision to hold the wine back for five years despite the pressure it placed on the winery’s cash flow. He also explains why Hunter Valley semillon is unlike any other wine in the world, how screw caps changed wine quality, and what makes the Hunter Valley one of Australia’s most challenging regions for growing grapes.The conversation also explores Tyrrell’s historic vineyards, including the 1908-planted HVD vineyard, and the Sacred Sites collection, along with the family succession plan involving Bruce’s children, Chris, John and Jane.Halliday Wine CompanionFollow Halliday Wine Companion on InstagramFollow Anna Webster on InstagramOrder the 2027 Halliday Wine CompanionIn this episode:Bruce’s earliest memories of growing up at Tyrrell’sHow a rugby injury led him back to the family wineryThe evolution of Australian drinking and dining cultureTyrrell’s role in producing Australia’s first commercial chardonnayWhy Bruce secretly stored Vat 1 Semillon to delay its releaseHow Hunter Valley semillon earned international recognitionThe story behind Johnno’s Semillon and Tyrrell’s Sacred SitesWhy Tyrrell’s embraced screw capsThe challenges of making wine in the Hunter ValleyBruce’s advice for Tyrell’s next generationWhat comes next after more than 50 years in the wine industryExplore Tyrrell’s Wines and discover more about the winery’s family history.For more Australian wine stories, expert reviews and independent ratings, visit Halliday Wine Companion.This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge them as the enduring custodians of this Country and recognise their continuing cultural practices of caring for the land and waters. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to the Traditional Owners of the many lands across Australia and beyond whose wineries and stories we are privileged to share.

What really goes into reviewing thousands of Australian wines and selecting the very best for the Halliday Wine Companion?To celebrate the release of the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion and the annual Halliday Awards, Halliday’s Head of Tasting and General Manager, Katrina Butler, takes us behind the scenes of Australia’s most comprehensive wine guide.Katrina explains the wine submission process, how the Halliday Tasting Team assesses quality and maintains consistency, and why the reviews are written with everyday wine drinkers in mind.The conversation also explores score inflation, the value of bronze-medal wines, and how to remain objective when wine tasting is inherently subjective. Katrina reveals how approximately 9000 wines are narrowed down for the Companion and how the country’s best bottles are selected through blind judging.You’ll also hear how winners are chosen across categories including Winery of the Year, Winemaker of the Year, Best New Winery, Dark Horse Winery and the James Halliday Hall of Fame.Plus, Katrina and host Anna Webster discuss the current state of Australian wine, the growing diversity of grape varieties, the increasing prominence of women in wine and why the quality of Australian wine has never been stronger.Halliday Wine CompanionFollow Halliday Wine Companion on InstagramFollow Anna Webster on InstagramFollow Katrina Butler on InstagramOrder the 2027 Halliday Wine CompanionIn this episode:How wineries can submit wines to Halliday Wine CompanionWhat Halliday’s critics look for when reviewing a wineBlind tasting versus reviewing wines by producerHow critics manage palate fatigueThe difference between Halliday reviews and wine show judgingHow a nine-person Tasting Team maintains consistent scoresWhether score inflation is affecting the 100-point wine systemWhy bronze-medal wines deserve more recognitionHow approximately 9000 wines are narrowed down for the CompanionHow the annual Halliday Wine Companion Awards are judgedWhat makes a winery worthy of Winery of the YearThe strict criteria wines must meet to be inducted into the Halliday Hall of FameHow climate change and market conditions are reshaping Australian wineWhy Australian wine belongs on the world stageWhether you’re a winemaker considering submitting your wines, a collector searching for the best Australian bottles or simply curious about how wine scores and awards are determined, this episode offers a rare look inside the Halliday Wine Companion tasting and judging process.This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge them as the enduring custodians of this Country, and we recognise their continuing cultural practices of caring for the land and waters. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.We extend that respect to the Traditional Owners of the many lands across Australia and beyond whose wineries and stories we are privileged to share.

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 unexpected encounter with wine inspired him to abandon the conventional business career expected of him and pursue winemaking. That decision took him from putting nets on vineyards at Shadowfax to working alongside respected winemakers at O’Leary Walker, Clyde Park and Giant Steps, before travelling to Italy to work at renowned Barolo producer Vietti. Eddie also reveals how he became involved with a pioneering urban winery in Hong Kong, where grapes from regions including the Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Bordeaux, Tuscany and Piedmont were snap-frozen and transported to the city for winemaking. The conversation explores the explosive growth of Hong Kong’s wine market, the rise of Chinese fine wine, changing drinking preferences across Asia and the global perception problem currently facing Australian wine. Eddie explains why Australian wine is too often viewed internationally as either inexpensive and uncomplicated, or represented solely by a handful of famous luxury producers. He believes Australia needs to present its wines with greater confidence, pride and aspiration. Anna and Eddie also delve into the creation of his premium E.J. McDougall label, including its old-vine McLaren Vale Shiraz and Grenache, Margaret River Chardonnay and forthcoming Tasmanian Riesling. They discuss the importance of trusted grower relationships, limited production, international allocations and Eddie’s ambition to produce wines capable of representing Australia on the world stage. Plus, Eddie shares the remarkable story behind The Flying Winemaker television series, his work promoting Chinese wine through the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards and the philosophy that continues to guide his career. Follow E.J. McDougall on Instagram Explore E.J. McDougall Wines Discover The Flying Winemaker Halliday Wine Companion Follow Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram Follow Anna Webster on Instagram Preorder the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion In This Episode The glass of pinot blanc that changed Eddie’s life Growing up between Hong Kong and Australia Learning winemaking at Shadowfax, O’Leary Walker and Giant Steps Working at Vietti in Piedmont Making wine inside a Hong Kong industrial building How snap-frozen grapes can be used for winemaking Why Hong Kong became one of the world’s major wine hubs How The Flying Winemaker business model works Why Australian wine is struggling for global recognition The launch of the premium E.J. McDougall label Old-vine Shiraz and Grenache from McLaren Vale Margaret River Chardonnay and Tasmanian Riesling The changing Chinese wine market Creating The Flying Winemaker television series The growth of the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards Why relationships remain essential in the wine industry   00:00 Introducing Eddie McDougall00:29 Growing up in Hong Kong and Australia01:46 The glass of wine that changed Eddie’s life03:24 Leaving business behind to study winemaking04:31 Eddie’s first vintage at Shadowfax07:32 O’Leary Walker, Clyde Park and Giant Steps09:56 Working at Vietti and discovering fine wine12:24 Inside Hong Kong’s urban winery17:04 What happens when grapes are snap-frozen?18:40 How Hong Kong became a global wine hub21:09 The Flying Winemaker business model24:24 Australian wine’s international perception problem29:01 Creating the E.J. McDougall fine wine label30:50 McLaren Vale old-vine Shiraz35:40 Producing Margaret River Chardonnay38:41 Tasmanian Riesling and international allocations41:30 Turning The Flying Winemaker into a television series45:03 Connecting wine with Asian food and culture47:23 The rise of Chinese fine wine51:45 Why Australian exports to China have changed53:19 Relationships, responsibility and giving back54:35 Eddie’s pursuit of simplicity and mastery   Eddie McDougall, Halliday Wine Companion podcast, Australian wine, The Flying Winemaker, E.J. McDougall Wines, Australian winemaker, McLaren Vale Shiraz, McLaren Vale Grenache, Margaret River Chardonnay, Tasmanian Riesling, Hong Kong wine industry, Chinese wine, Australian fine wine, wine podcast, Anna Webster, Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.