Want to go to Tuscany with Laurie in October of 2026? email laurie@thewinecoach.com for a brochure and join us for an info session on 9/28 to find out more REGISTER HERE
Summary
Laurie Forster sits down with Mark Davidson, one of the world’s leading experts on Australian wine, to bust common myths and dive into the country’s rich and evolving wine scene. Its not all Shiraz these days and Laurie introduces you to 2 of her favorite wines from down under. Mark reveals the diversity and complexity of Australia’s vineyards and the role of Wine Australia in shaping global perception. He shares his personal journey into the wine world, insights from his acclaimed book The Wines of Australia, and highlights the new generation of winemakers who are redefining what Australian wine means today.
Takeaways
• Mark Davidson’s love affair with wine started with one unforgettable sip: a 1971 Chambolle-Musigny.
• Forget the stereotypes: Australian wine is not just “cheap and cheerful” or “big and bold.”
• Aussie Riesling? Crisp, dry, and complex—not the sugar bomb people assume.
• Chardonnay in Australia has leveled up, now delivering elegance, balance, and world-class complexity.
• Southern Mediterranean grapes like Fiano and Vermentino are thriving down under and reshaping Australia’s wine identity.
• Producers like Unico Zelo are breaking the mold with innovative wines crafted from Italian varietals.
• Want to go deeper? Resources like Mark’s book The Wines of Australia & Australian Wine Discovered make learning about Australian wine accessible and exciting.
Wines Tasted
Pewsey Vale Estate Riesling 2024
Unico Zelo Truffle Hound Red 2022
Follow The Sipping Point on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio or wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss an episode!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel @thewinecoach to get video footage of the podcasts an more.
Let's Stay Connected:
Instagram @thewinecoach
Facebook @winecoach
TikTok @LaurieForster
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com