Wine with Meg + Mel

Mel Gilcrist, Meg Brodtmann
  • 5.0 (2)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The fun + frank podcast which helps you navigate the world of wine. Hosted by Australia's first female Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann, and self-titled Master of Sabrage Mel Gilcrist.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Right Glass: A deep dive into Glassware with SPIEGELAU CEO Richard Voit

    Send us Fan Mail We taste and test how different glasses change the way wine shows up, from aroma to texture, with SPIEGELAU CEO Richard Voit. We land on a simple, practical setup for real life: buy fewer glasses, buy better, and match the glass to what you actually drink.  Throughout this episode we try Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (Of Course!) and even Champagne and the results left us shocked. We've highlighted our favourite glasses from this experience for you! SPIEGELAU Definition Burgundy Glass SPIEGELAU Definition Universal Glass SPIEGELAU Lifestyle Burgundy Glass And a couple others we loved! SPIEGELAU Perfect Serve D.O.F SPIEGELAU Perfect Serve Nick & Nora Until the 24th of April Wine with Meg & Mel  listeners have access to 45% off full priced items if you use our code "megmel" at checkout! Head to - https://www.spiegelau.com/en-au/shop?mtm_campaign=wwmm&mtm_kwd=digital&mtm_source=podcast#sort=bestSeller  Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    55 min

  2. MAR 25

    $50 Small Town Supermarket Wine Survival Guide for a Weekend Away!

    Send us Fan Mail You know that moment on a weekend away when you’re standing in a local supermarket with bananas in one hand and a basket in the other, staring at a random wall of wine and thinking, “How am I meant to pick something good from this?” That’s the problem we set out to solve with a simple challenge: we’re heading to an Airbnb with mates, we each get $50, and we have to buy wine that delivers on both value and drinkability. No swapping bottles back onto the shelf, no overthinking, and yes, we absolutely forget to check whether the place has a corkscrew.  We taste our way through supermarket sparkling wine (including a proper method traditional bottle), then get practical about what to look for when the shelves are slow-moving. Meg breaks down the hidden “lot number” clue that can tell you when sparkling was disgorged or bottled, and we talk honestly about how serving temperature can make a good pick feel even better. From there it’s a tour of budget whites with real holiday utility: Clare Valley Riesling as a sharp, zesty safe bet, Pinot Grigio marketing that doesn’t quite match the glass, and a $15 Soave that surprises us by being genuinely crowd-friendly.  Then we push the budget to its limits with a litre bottle of Chardonnay and unpack why cheap Chardonnay can end up tasting sweet, overly tropical, or simply built to please the broadest possible palate. On reds, we land on a French Vin de France “mystery blend” that’s far more drinkable than it has any right to be, before debating whether cheap Sangiovese is a smart gamble in Australia. If you want straightforward wine shopping tips, supermarket wine picks, and a few laughs for your next holiday, hit play. Subscribe, share it with a mate who always panics at the bottle shop, and leave us a review with your own best budget wine find. Winning Wines right here! https://bluepyrenees.com.au/collections/sparkling/products/2022-blue-pyrenees-vintage-brut https://winesellersdirect.com.au/products/pasqua-delle-venezie-soave-doc-2024-italy https://www.thewinecollective.com.au/products/2023-la-ptite-pierre-rouge?currency=AUD&variant=41800285782125&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=848595b13a55&/?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=TWC_PMax_Shopping_TWC_Warehouse_AU&utm_term=51045064&utm_content=warehouse&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21044783965&gbraid=0AAAAADv9ltxqmYF5cfpBqLRRnkpQV8YCL&gclid=Cj0KCQjwj47OBhCmARIsAF5wUEGYNHdfoOHP4yLI1yix-UONZZH9KqcE7HsPaKANW9Xa2oh1jyPBQIAaArjoEALw_wcB Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    27 min

  3. MAR 18

    Goon Review! "Traditional" Goon Vs the Modern Bagnum

    Send us Fan Mail We put goon on trial by tasting Bagnum versus a classic tap cask, blind, and learned just how easily packaging can mess with perception. Along the way we unpack why a Goon Bag can inflate (unintentionally, unlike Austin's high school pillows), what freshness really means in larger formats, and why the cheaper option can still be the best drink in the glass.  • What counts as goon and why the tap matters  • Bagnum versus cask pricing and how it plays out per bottle  • The “inflated Bag” problem explained by CO2 and heat  • Blind Sauvignon Blanc tasting WOW Banrock Station Sauvignon Blanc https://banrockstation.com.au/collections/our-wines/products/sauvignon-blanc-2l?variant=50397991698736 • Blind Shiraz tasting WineSmith Shiraz 2025 https://www.winesmiths.com.au/premium-selection-shiraz-nv/RESSHI6.html • Cost of goods in alternative packaging and why bigger is not always cheaper  • Extraction, free run and pressings explained in plain language  • Freshness tips for boxed wine and why retailer turnover matters  Please make sure that you are following us on all the social platforms! Listen next week as we tell you "what to buy when you're staring at a wall of WTF?!" Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    31 min

  4. MAR 11

    Wine News: How Hedge Funds, Record Exports, And Troye Sivan (?!) Are Shaping Australian Wine

    Send us Fan Mail We break down why hedge funds are shorting Treasury Wine Estates in plain language, explore how Victoria Wine posted a record year, and unpack Penfolds’ culture pivot with Troye Sivan and the switch from the Australian Open to F1. We close by mapping the new logic of event sponsorships and what authenticity now means for wine brands. • How short selling works and why TWE is targeted • Luxury strategy under China headwinds • Why Victoria’s wine contribution hit records • The role of exports, trade fairs, and funding • Authenticity versus prestige for younger drinkers • Penfolds x Troye Sivan collaboration strategy • Shifting from AO/Melbourne Cup to F1 to reach new audiences • De Bortoli at Melbourne Cup and brand stretch • Sponsorship ROI, ethics, and audience fit • Teaser for goon versus bagnums next week Tune in next week for Goon Versus Bagnums! Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    26 min

  5. MAR 4

    Pairing Thai Food, with Wines that Work!

    Send us Fan Mail We test Thai favourites (roti with satay, pad Thai and green curry) against a tight wine list to find pairings that truly work. A skinsy white surprises with satay, Riesling shines with pad Thai, Moscato calms green curry, and a light red secretly turns up the heat. We would love your feedback on this episode!  Did you enjoy it, or do you want us to just shut up and keep giving you actual education about wine? Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    31 min

  6. FEB 25

    Mel from Marketing's POD TAKEOVER!

    Send us Fan Mail What passes the Pub test? Beyond catchy slogans and sleek aesthetics, where does alcohol marketing cross the line? We examine Australia’s ABAC standards through the lens of recent, real-world complaints. By breaking down which campaigns were cleared and which were banned, Mel takes us inside the alcohol marketing world and boy did we get an education! Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    30 min

  7. FEB 18

    From Coonawarra To Cape Jaffa: Are South Australia’s Cool-Climate Whites a New Fave?!

    Send us Fan Mail Forget everything you thought you knew about the Limestone Coast being "just for Cabernet." We’re following Meg’s week-long trek along South Australia’s wind-whipped shoreline to discover a region that’s cooling down and sharpening up. From the electric Blue Lake of Mount Gambier to the chalky soils of Robe and Cape Jaffa, we’re trading heavy reds for whites that speak with a bright, textural accent. It’s a coastal vibe where the air is crisp, the acids are zesty, and the Sauvignon Blanc actually tastes like an explosion of passionfruit and sea spray. We’re stripping the ego out of the glass and getting into why "skin contact" is more than just a buzzword, it’s the secret to making a Riesling the ultimate partner for fatty sausages or miso veg. Along the way, we settle the ultimate dinner-party debate (yes, you do pronounce the ‘T’ in Moët) and celebrate the cellar door moments that actually stick—think dog treats, impromptu picnics, and which labels pair best with a bag of chips. Whether you’re a die-hard Cabernet fan or ready to join "Team Coastal White," this is your permission slip to explore the grippy, unpretentious, and slightly salty side of the southeast. Wines Tasted Wangolina Sauvignon Blanc 2025, $23.00 https://www.wangolina.com.au/wine/limestone-coast-sauvignon-blanc/57593/ Wangolina Original Semillon 2023, $35.00 https://www.wangolina.com.au/wine/the-originals-semillon/52892/ Patrick of Coonawarra Methode Skinny Riesling 2023, $32.00 https://patrickofcoonawarra.com/collections/all-wines/products/2023-methode-skinny-riesling-20-off Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    27 min

  8. FEB 11

    Wine News: New Season, New Studio, Big Wine Questions; Saving Riverland; Gen Z's drinking and Bloege to Beckham!

    Send us Fan Mail A fresh studio, a new season, and the most pressing question in Australian wine: how do we move a region built on volume toward a future built on value? We open with Riverland’s reality—cheap grapes, heavy irrigation, and a glut of ageing red—and ask whether protecting old vines and dialing back yields can spark a quality reset. Brendan Carter’s deep dive provides a hopeful blueprint, but we weigh the hard limits: rainfall differences, trellis vs bush vines, and the sheer scale that makes a Swartland‑style pivot harder here. From there, we break down a $139m industry plan that puts dignity at the centre. Think concessional loans for growers to exit or replant, water leasing to manage transitions, safe removal of unsaleable stock, and a mandatory code of conduct to ensure minimum sustainable prices and fairer payment terms. It’s not just policy talk; it’s a roadmap to share risk more evenly so growers aren’t left carrying the cash flow burden while the market resets at home and abroad. We also tackle the Gen Z question without the hand‑wringing. Wellness trends, tight budgets, and an explosion of formats—from no‑alc beer to smart RTDs—reshape habits, while most drinkers still want simple cues over flowery notes: when to open, how cold to serve, what to eat with it. Sustainability could bridge the gap. Two new grants push low‑emission packaging, including aluminium and flat recyclable PET that slash freight emissions and warehouse space without sacrificing weeknight quality. And for a dash of fun, we toast blœge—a bright red‑white blend that’s chillable, perfumed, and category‑breaking—plus a viral luxury bottle cameo reminding us that wine is story as much as substance. If you care about Australian wine’s next chapter—from fair grower payments to climate‑smart bottles and fresher styles that meet how we actually drink—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a wine‑curious friend, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. What change would you prioritise first? Follow us on instagram @winewithmegandmel and TikTok! @winewithmegmel

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The fun + frank podcast which helps you navigate the world of wine. Hosted by Australia's first female Master of Wine Meg Brodtmann, and self-titled Master of Sabrage Mel Gilcrist.

Information

  • Creator
    Mel Gilcrist, Meg Brodtmann
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    213
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Wine with Meg + Mel
  • Show Website
    Wine with Meg + Mel

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