What makes good wine 'good value'?
I’m joined by winemaker and wine lecturer Chris Barnes to unpack what makes a wine not just good — but great value in today’s market.
This week on Prime Time, we’re doing something a bit different — and a whole lot of fun. We’re diving into the world of wine… without blowing the budget. We’re expanding our curiosity, our learnings and our tastebuds.
I’m joined by winemaker and wine lecturer Chris Barnes to unpack what makes a wine not just good — but great value right now. Is it the grape? The price? The story on the label? Or simply whether it tastes good to you?
We go behind the cellar door to explore how winemakers think about pricing in today’s market — with that big post-China-export hangover still lingering — what trends are worth sipping, and how to spot the hidden gems (like $30 bottles that drink like they’re worth $60).
Whether you're stocking up for a dinner party or hunting for your next Friday night drop, this is the wine chat you didn’t know you needed.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST HERE:
Highlights of the conversation:
Wine is food, not fuss: Chris reframes wine as a processed food—meant to be explored like cuisine, not worshipped.
From cheap to chic: Why your wine journey probably started in a cask and evolved from there.
Virtual travel through wine: Can't get to Sicily? Drink your way there with local Aussie versions of Mediterranean varietals.
Don’t be a grape snob: Embrace new grape varieties like Fiano, Tempranillo and Vermentino—lighter, fresher, and better suited to our climate.
Why price ≠ quality (after a point): Learn where the real wine value lies—and when you're just paying for a name.
Wine clubs demystified: The good, the dodgy, and the delightful bargains that fall out of your Sunday paper.
Become a gem hunter: Chris shares how to spot those underpriced wines that should be double the cost.
Spitting gets respect: The #1 tip to taste more wine without regret (or a boot full of impulse buys).
Cool climate = cool wine: For crisp whites, seek out wines from cooler Aussie regions — and don’t be fooled by supermarket “brands.”
Everything old is new again: Buttery Chardonnay is back baby, and it’s Gen Z’s new favourite.
Your wine homework this week
Pick 6 single bottles of Italian or lesser-known varieties around the $20–$30 mark. Taste, learn, compare — and next time you clink glasses, tell a better story.
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