Past Online Tastings
During the COVID-19 lockdown, we ran a series of online, interactive tastings. These tasting are done completely online, and questions are definitely encouraged, to be read out and answered. You can use your phone or laptop, you do not need a camera or microphone to take part. If you need any help with your connectivity or how to improve your online tasting experience, Click here.
HOW DOES IT WORK? You buy a pre-organised box of wines, the morning of the event, we will send you the login details for the event, which will start at 6:30pm that night. We will be opening 3 bottles of wine (enough to get a good taste and comparison, but not too many that it's wasteful!) and discussing them.
WHO RUNS THEM? Our Head Wine Buyer Mark Faber runs these events (he's already ran the majority of our in-person events, so there's no real change there). For our online events, we have brought in our mates from around the industry, from both here and overseas to host events depending on what the topic is! We've previously had winemakers such as Peter Fraser (Yangarra), Steve Pannell, (SC Pannell) as well as winemakers from Italy and France!
HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS? The best news is, these are FREE! You've got to buy the wines to taste along with our team, but we all need some wine at home during this period, don't we? We'll be offering 6 packs and dozen boxes, depending on the tasting.
Some of the highlights
Special Guest Ricky Ponting
Online Tasting - Ponting Wines
First up let's be clear, Ricky is NOT the winemaker, but played a major role in choosing the wines! Ponting Wines is a collaboration between one of Australia’s most celebrated cricketers, Ricky Ponting, and Ben Riggs, an award-winning Australian winemaker known for uncompromising, high-quality wines. Masters of their craft, these men have forged their partnership to celebrate their dedication and achievements.
At this online tasting we'll have one hour with one of the greats of Australian cricketing, who will talk us through two of his wines, the 'Pioneer' Chardonnay and the 'Mowbray Boy' Pinot Noir, both sourced from Ricky's home state of Tasmania, well established for producing beautiful wines!
MW Debate!
Online Tasting - Old World V New World
The ultimate debate in wine, Old World V New World. Two Master of Wines' going head to head on arguably the most controversial subject in wine, we have Alistair Cooper MW in the corner for the Old World and Andrea Pritzker MW for the New World. In this main event, we'll be tasting two wines from each world one red and one white with two field experts using them as tools to educate us on why their world is best. Not to be missed!
This tasting will be about 4 wines, to be opened during online tastings held on Thursday the 18th of February at 6.30pm AEDT.
Special Guests Sam Neill & Jen Parr!
Online Tasting - Two Week Central Otago Pinot Tour
In hopeful preparation for a real trip to New Zealand, we're going to take you on a virtual tour of the famous Central Otago! Across our two sessions, we'll travel through the six sub-regions of Central Otago to showcase what the region has to offer. From brands you'll recognise to lesser-known hidden gems, we'll be trying some delicious Pinot Noirs and learning from the experts about this unique region.
We're going to have some very special guests for this tasting event including Sam Neill of Two Paddocks, New Zealand Winemaker of the Year 2020, Jen Parr of Valli Wines along with Paul Pujol of Prophet's Rock joining us plus more to be announced to give you some insights from the winemakers themselves on this unique region and the special wines it has to offer.
Week 1:
- CHARD FARM PINOT GRIS
- TWO PADDOCKS PINOT NOIR 2019
- PROPHET'S ROCK HOME PINOT NOIR 2017
Week 2:
- MAUDE PINOT NOIR 2018
- PEREGRINE CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR 2014
- VALLI BANNOCKBURN VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2017
This tasting will be on 6 different bottles of wine's, to be opened during online tastings held on Thursday the 28th of January and 4th of February 2021 at 6.30pm AEDT each night.
Special Guests Max Chapoutier & Philippe Guigal!
Online Tasting - Jewels Of The Rhone With A Master Of Wine
This pack contains 3 bottles of some of the most revered and rare wines in the world. Wines are to be opened during an online tasting held on Thursday the 19th of November 2020 at 6.30pm AEDT.
This will be a private, guided tasting with Master of Wine, Alistair Cooper. Alistair has just returned from an En Primeur trip to the Rhone Valley and has come back with evaluations and stories he will be sharing with us first.
Wines being tasted
- CHAPOUTIER ERMITAGE "DE L'OREE" BLANC 2014
- JL CHAVE HERMITAGE 2013
- GUIGAL 'LA TURQUE' 2016
Our First 4 Week Tour!
Online Tasting - Italian Wine From North To South, 4 Week Course
This tasting is about 12 different wines, all to be opened during a series of 4 online tastings held throughout May and early June 2020.
Across 4 weeks we will taste wines sourced from the diverse corners of this country famous for its wines. Week 1 will take us to the North-East to the regions of Friuli and the Veneto. This region is famous for Sparkling wines and crisp, dry whites, but also makes some fascinating reds
- BABO PROSECCO NV
- POGGIO DEI PRINCIPI PINOT GRIGIO 2018
- CA'DELLA SCALA ALLEGRETTO VALPOLICELLA DOC 2017
Week 2 takes us to the North-West to Piemonte- the foot of the mountains. This region is famous for big, age-worthy red, Nebbiolo and rich food.
- PIETRO RINALDI DOLCETTO 2018
- ASCHERI LANGHE NEBBIOLO 2017
- ASCHERI BAROLO 2015
Week 3 we travel to Tuscany in central Italy, one of Italy's most famous wine regions. We will study Sangiovese in all its glory across different vintages, styles and expressions.
- LE MICCINE CHIANTI CLASSICO DOCG 2017
- LE MICCINE CHIANTI RISERVA DOCG 2016
- VAL DI SUGA ROSSO DI MONTALCINO 2017
Our final training session in Week 4 will take us to the Centre and south of Italy, to the areas that hug the sunny coastline of Italy as well as the high mountains. These are the less famous, but often most exciting regions to try!
- MASCHIARELLI CASTELLO PECORINO 2018
- VALORI MONTEPULCIANO D’ABRUZZO DOC 2016
- POGGIO ANIMA 'ASMODEUS' NERO D'AVOLA SICILIA 2017
Where it all began!
Online Tasting - Variety Comparison Of Chardonnay
This tasting was about 3 different wines opened during an online tasting held on Thursday the 30th of April 2020.
This event is all about Chardonnay, one of the most widely-planted, divisive, as well as diverse grape varieties on earth. At this tasting will take a deep dive into this variety and look at 3 different styles of Chardonnay. First we'll try the unoaked, lean and light expression from Chablis, then move south to the home of Chardonnay with a wine from Burgundy, and finally we'll taste a locally-grown wine from the Margaret River in Western Australia, often sited as one of our best regions for growing Chardonnay. This tasting will be done completely online, and questions are definitely encouraged, to be read out and answered. You can use your phone or laptop, you do not need a camera or microphone to take part.