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Andrew Caillard MW

@andrewcaillardmw

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Master of Wine ~ Qantas squatter ~ Baron of the Barossa ~ Langton's ~ Painter ~ Pinnacle Drinks Australia

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'The atmospheric energy that rolls across the Margaret River countryside (Wadandi-Boodja land), is a vitalising force that profoundly impacts the hymn and hum of life,' says Andrew Caillard MW. 'The huge oceanic swells that bash into the coastline are powered by persistent cool winds that have a beneficial refrigeration effect during the summer months. This extraordinary tension, combined with the region’s perfect isolation, geography and free-draining soils, profoundly contributes to the charisma and expression of Margaret River wine.⁠
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'While climate, geography, generational effort and sustainable growing are significant strands of the Margaret River wine story, the extensive clonal plantings of 'Gingin' Chardonnay and 'Houghton' Cabernet Sauvignon have made a transformational difference. These clones carry a signature that translates to a memorable regional swagger in the wines.'⁠
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At the link in bio, Caillard outlines what Gingin and Houghton bring to the outstanding and distinctive whites and reds of a region that has rapidly ascended to the top and developed an undeniable sense of place in its wines. Plus, we share eight medal-winning examples from this year's IWSC judging carried out in the region.⁠
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#margaretriver #wine ⁠
#aussiewine #australia #chardonnay

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Superb vertical of Grange along with annual Collection Release 2026

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Craggy Range’s 2024 Prestige Release is earning exceptional acclaim, with critics Ken Gargett and Andrew Caillard praising it as an outstanding collection that showcases the remarkable quality of Hawke’s Bay. From the near-perfect Le Sol Syrah to the standout Aroha Pinot Noir these wines set a new benchmark for New Zealand fine wine.

#CraggyRange #NewZealandWine #FineWine #WineLovers #HawkesBay

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After a serene arrival in Sydney, the wheels nearly fell off on the first night when Andrew and Alex Caillard, Huon Hooke and Stuey Knox gathered to smash a few outstanding wines at Fix - precisely 20 years after I helped Stuey open his amazing wine bar while launching one of my Aussie books with Tyson Stelzer! It’s so good to be back. Looking forward to taking up my role as International Judge at the 200th Sydney Royal Wine Show, 20 years after fulfilling the same role! #SRWS #greattaste

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I sat down at a blind tasting table this month and realised I was the least experienced person in the room. Masters of Wine, a Master Sommelier and some of the most respected wine writers in Australia and New Zealand. Some of them I have followed for years. I have read their reviews, studied their ratings, learned my palate partly through their words. Sitting down to taste blind beside them & sharing a few bottles together off the clock, is not something I expected this early.

It began with a warm welcome in Christchurch & a tour of the art gallery, the right kind of easing-in for friends arriving from across the ditch. The blind flights came first. Then out to the vineyard, where we walked the sites & sampled the soils from each one by hand, and a beautiful soup was served in the middle of the vines. Feeling how the ground changes underfoot after you have already tasted the wine in the glass is the closest you get to reading terroir in reverse. Finely executed from start to finish.

The premise: New Zealand Chardonnay poured blind against white Burgundy. Same grape, opposite ends of the earth. Same wines, same order, will be poured again in London and then in Vosne Romanee. Three tables, three palates, one question.

What stayed with me was Steve Smith MW. The terroir, the soil structures, the clones, the way he reads New Zealand wine against the finest labels in the world. Not to beat them. To aspire to them.

And every night I went back to a quiet hotel room & drilled my own blind flights for the Advanced exam. Learning from the best all day, then sitting alone with six glasses trying to close the gap.

Results follow once all three tastings are done. Until then I will say only this: it was a very good couple of days for New Zealand Chardonnay.

Two soils, half a world apart, closer than either side expected. That is the whole story & it is only beginning.

If you’ve tasted NZ Chardonnay and white Burgundy side by side, where did the line between them actually blur?

#TheMountainSommelier #Chardonnay #nzwine

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Is chardonnay from New Zealand as good - or better than - chardonnay from Burgundy? It’s the question that keeps @stevesmithmw up at night; and one that I, along with 15 other writers, critics and a fair whack of the world’s MWs from across ANZ, was more than happy to help find the answer to.

With two more events still to happen in London and Vosne-Romanée, the results of the blind tasting, which involved 24 wines from @pyramidvalleyvineyards, @smithandsheth and Burgundy, are embargoed until September.

So for now, enjoy the BTS frivolities and also maybe, just quietly, stock up on some NZ chardy…?

More in highlights 🤙🏼

👸🏼👸🏻 @sakimoto_japanese_bistro

She’s beauty, she’s @natalie.e.grace

The bar for tasting venues has been set high @chchartgallery

Chardonnay smackdown #oppositesattract

Also ft (cos IG limits tags): @camdouglasms, @john_saker_wine and @surajmrgc.

40mls per person, per wine… No more, no less.

On board the Southland sushi train 🚅

Didn’t see @withnailian’s parents’ house en route to @pyramidvalleyvineyards; did see Pegasus Bay, Bell Hill and the frog rock, though. 🐸 🪨

Stunning, @alexanderkirkwood____. Vineyard isn’t bad either.

Mandi 💕

How is this real 😭

Fanciest soup kitchen I ever saw

Soup with a view

@maxallendrinks is always so thrilled to see me

“Everything the limestone touches…”

Boys and their (admittedly very cool) toys @vine_gardner_nick

🖕🏼@withnailian

2024 Pyramid pinots 🍷😍

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NEW VIDEO JUST DROPPED: In 1976, a British wine merchant ran a blind tasting in Paris that changed the wine world forever. He took a handful of Californian wines, put them up against the best of France, and the French got humiliated. It built the entire market for wine outside Europe — and Australia wasn't on the invite list. (How rude?!)

He never came down here. So fifty years later, we went up there.

We flew to California, spent $15,000 we probably shouldn't have, and tracked down the original wines that beat the French. Convinced two Americans to taste them blind, next to a bunch of Aussie wines they had no reason to be kind to. Then poured the line-up for ourselves.

Fifty years late to a party we weren't invited to.

Turns out we were worth waiting for.

Link In Bio!

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The Ninth Edition of Penfolds The Rewards of Patience is now published. It was truly an honour to be invited to contribute to this historic publication. @penfolds #greattaste #grange #yattarna #bin389 🇦🇺 🍷

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The Masters of Wine want to see young Australians at the biggest event in the global wine calendar. Here’s your way in. 🍷🎟️

Wine Australia’s Emerging Talent Bursary is sending 10 people aged 35 and under to the IMW International Symposium 2027 in Adelaide – the marquee event of the global wine calendar. 500 people from the top of the wine world, four days of world-class tastings, provocative presentations, and the kind of conversations that actually change how you think about wine.

The bursary covers your costs. All it takes is four short answers.

Applications close THIS FRIDAY 24 April at 11:59pm Adelaide time. More details via the 👉 link in our bio – and tag someone who needs to see this.

#AustralianWine #WineAustralia #MastersOfWine #IMWSymposium #WineEducation

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Some fantastic words by @andrewcaillardmw in The Vintage Journal today covering the new Chardonnays from our Tiers Vineyard and Tiers 1.5M Vineyard. “The results highlight the quality of the vineyard, the epigenetic evolution of the vines, and winemaking methods,” he writes, placing the 2025 vintage of these fantastic wines into the greater canon of the Tiers Vineyard. Thank you very much for your thoughts and eloquent writing!

Read his chronicle of The Tiers Vineyard, as well as a short history of The Foggy Hill Vineyard, as well as his reviews of the 2025 Tiers Vineyard and Tiers 1.5M Vineyard Chardonnays at the link in our bio.

#chardonnay #winehistory #australianark

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