Join lawyer/wine explorer, Tom Massey, in the Cellar Door to hear the stories of the people and wineries in the wonderful world of wine. Tom is joined by winery owners, wine makers and other wine personalities to hear and share their stories, the stories of the wineries and the stories of the wines. It's a podcast about where it all came from and where it's all going.
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August 15, 2026Episode 201 hr 11 min
What Is a Wine Business Actually Worth?
Send us Fan MailWhat makes a wine business worth buying?You might think it's the vineyard. Or the winery. Maybe it's the brand, the wine sitting in the cellar, or the customers who have been buying it for generations.But what if one of the biggest things affecting the value of a wine business is actually the person who owns it?To answer these questions I reached out to Toby Langley of Langley and Co. Toby has spent decades working with buyers and sellers of wine businesses, and he has a fascinating perspective on what actually creates value in this industry.We talk about mergers and acquisitions, why people sell, what buyers are looking for, succession, vineyards, inventory, foreign investment and the changing economics of Australian wine.And perhaps most importantly, we get into the question every wine business owner eventually has to confront: if you wanted to sell your business tomorrow, what would someone actually be buying?Here is my conversation with Toby Langley, and a massive thanks to Toby for joining me, on the Cellar Door Podcast. Support the show
August 8, 202658 min
What Makes a Place? Mac Forbes on Wine, Identity, and the Yarra Valley.
Send us Fan MailFor Mac Forbes, wine has never been just about what’s in the glass.It’s about identity. Place. Curiosity. And the willingness to choose the harder path in pursuit of something meaningful.Over the past two decades, Mac has built one of Australia’s most respected wine businesses by questioning convention—from dry farming and single vineyards to a philosophy centred on understanding the Yarra Valley on its own terms.In this conversation, we explore the challenges facing Australian wine today, the lessons Mac has drawn from family, Indigenous perspectives on land, and why emotion plays such a powerful role in the wines we make and the bottles we choose.More than anything, this is a conversation about purpose, resilience, and leaving something better for the next generation.Support the show
July 25, 2026Episode 2331 min
There Is No Such Thing as the Wine Market
Send us Fan MailMost conversations about wine start with a simple assumption: that there is such a thing as the wine market.Joe Fattorini argues that's completely wrong.In this episode, we unpack why treating wine as a single market leads to poor marketing, poor positioning, and missed opportunities. Drawing on examples from around the world, Joe explains why the most successful wine businesses don't try to sell to everyone—they understand exactly who they're selling to, why those people buy, and what problem they're really solving.Whether you're a winery owner, marketer, retailer, or simply fascinated by how brands succeed, this conversation is packed with practical insights into segmentation, positioning, consumer behaviour, and the future of wine marketing.Here's my conversation with Joe Fattorini.Support the show
July 18, 2026Episode 221 hr 5 min
200 Years of Excellence: Inside the Sydney Royal Wine Show
Send us Fan MailFor most wine drinkers, a wine show is something that happens in the background.A medal on a bottle. A trophy announced at an awards dinner. A score that helps guide a purchasing decision.But behind those medals sits one of the most important institutions in Australian wine.This year, the Sydney Royal Wine Show celebrates an extraordinary milestone: 200 years since wine was first included in the competitions of what would become the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. Over those two centuries, the show has helped benchmark quality, foster excellence, train future judges, and contribute to the development of the Australian wine industry.Few people understand that world better than Sally Evans.A long-serving Councillor of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales, former Steward-in-Chief, former Chair of the Sydney Royal Wine Committee, and one of the Sydney Royal's most passionate advocates, Sally has spent decades helping shape and support one of Australia's most respected wine competitions.In this conversation, we explore the history of the Sydney Royal Wine Show, how wine judging actually works, what happens behind the scenes during judging week, and why wine shows continue to matter in an increasingly competitive wine market.Most importantly, we discuss the role wine shows play in bringing people together, sharing knowledge, encouraging excellence, and helping shape the future of Australian wine.So, as the Sydney Royal Wine Show celebrates its bicentenary and prepares for the Sydney Royal 200 Symposium, please enjoy my conversation with Sally Evans.Support the show
July 11, 2026Episode 2144 min
Seeing Ghosts: Who Really Controls Australian Wine?
Send us Fan MailThis episode welcomes back Ed Cavanagh — wine writer, historian, policy researcher, and author of the forthcoming book Crushed: The Hand of Government on the Australian Wine Industry.Ed has spent the last several years digging into the policies, regulations, and market forces that have shaped Australian wine, and his latest paper examines the controversial topic of : ghost labels.Ghost labels are wine brands created and owned by major retailers rather than independent wineries. On their own, they're not necessarily a problem. The wine may be well made and fairly priced. But Ed argues that ghost labels are a symptom of a much bigger issue — the growing concentration of power within Australia's wine retail sector.In this conversation, we explore how Coles and Woolworths came to dominate so much of the liquor market, why Ed distinguishes between a duopoly and a duopsony, and what that concentration of buying and selling power means for wineries trying to compete.Drawing on decades of industry history, Senate inquiries, ACCC investigations, and competition policy, Ed asks a challenging question: have we become so focused on issues like oversupply, exports, and changing consumer tastes that we've overlooked the role market concentration plays in shaping the fortunes of Australian wine?It's a fascinating discussion about economics, competition, public policy, and ultimately the future of the Australian wine industry.Here's my conversation with Ed Cavanagh. A massive thanks for joining me on the CDP. Support the show
July 4, 2026Episode 2040 min
Navigating Wine Distribution's Commercial Minefield - with Will Taylor
Send us Fan MailFor many wineries, making great wine is only half the challenge. The other half is getting that wine into the hands of consumers.Behind every bottle that finds its way onto a restaurant wine list, an independent retailer's shelf, or a national distribution network sits a commercial relationship that most wine drinkers never see. And when those relationships work well, they can help build brands, grow businesses, and create long-term success. When they don't, the consequences can be costly.My guest today is Will Taylor, Senior Partner at Finlaysons and one of Australia's leading wine industry lawyers. Over the past three decades, Will has advised wineries, distributors, grapegrowers, and wine businesses through some of the industry's most significant commercial challenges.In this episode, we're diving into the world of wine distribution agreements. We explore why these contracts matter, the common mistakes wineries make when entering distribution relationships, the risks of relying on handshake deals, how disputes arise, and why a well-drafted agreement can be one of the most valuable tools a wine business has.Here's my conversation with Will Taylor. A huge thanks to Will for joining me.Support the show
June 27, 2026Episode 1944 min
The Greatest Marketing Story Ever Bottled? Professor Kathy Burk on How France Conquered Wine
Send us Fan MailFor centuries, France has occupied a unique place in the world of wine. Its vineyards, classifications, language, and traditions have shaped how we think about fine wine, from Bordeaux and Burgundy to concepts like terroir and appellation. But how did French wine come to dominate the global imagination? And was that dominance really built on superior wine, or on something else entirely?My guest today is historian Kathy Burk. Kathy is Professor Emerita of Modern and Contemporary History at University College London, an acclaimed author, broadcaster, and one of the world's leading historians of economic and cultural history. In this conversation, we explore the rise of French wine, the role of England in creating the reputation of Bordeaux, the significance of the 1855 Classification, the origins of concepts like terroir and chaptalisation, and how the famous 1976 Judgment of Paris challenged centuries of French supremacy. Along the way, Kathy takes us from the Stone Age to modern California, revealing how trade, politics, empire, religion, and marketing helped shape the wine world we know today.And where better to begin than at the very beginning.Here is Kathy Burk.Support the show
June 20, 2026Episode 181 hr 9 min
Keeping the Faith: Charlie and Sophie Melton on Brand, Legacy and the Future of a Barossa Icon
Send us Fan MailFor more than four decades, Charles Melton has been one of the defining voices of the Barossa Valley. His journey stretches from the wine glut of the 1980s, through the rise of modern Australian wine, to the creation of one of the country's most recognisable labels.I recently had the pleasure of sitting down at the Charles Melton winery on Krondorf Road with Charles Melton and his daughter Sophie Melton, the next generation helping to shape the future of the family business.We discuss brand, authenticity, family, and the challenge of remaining relevant in an industry that has changed dramatically over the last fifty years. Charles reflects on his early days in the industry, surviving the industry's darkest periods, and developing a brand that today enjoys a loyal following across multiple generations. Sophie shares what it is like to inherit that legacy, and how she is finding her own voice as a winemaker through her Domaine Sophie Claire label.Together, they explore the power of story in wine, the importance of place, the realities of today's wine market, and why the strongest brands are often built not through marketing campaigns, but through decades of genuine human connection.Whether you're interested in the history of the Barossa, the business of building a premium wine brand, or the future of Australian wine, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how one family has navigated change while remaining true to its values.This is my conversation with Charles and Sophie Melton. A huge thanks to Charles and Sophie for joining.Topics covered:The history of the Barossa vine pull and how oversupply crises shaped the regionNorth vs south Barossa style differences and what makes the southern end distinctThe origin story of Nine Popes — and its surprising connection to Châteauneuf-du-PapeBrand authenticity, storytelling, and what keeps Charles Melton relevant across four generations of customersThe current Australian wine industry glut and how small producers are navigating itDistribution philosophy: long-term relationships, staying boutique, and resisting over-expansionThe Young Gun of Wine awards and what it means for a new generation winemaker to competeStaying true to classic Barossa varieties — Grenache, Shiraz, Mataro, Cabernet — rather than chasing trendsKeywords: Charles Melton Wines, Barossa Valley wine, Nine Popes, Grenache Barossa, Sophie Melton winemaker, Domaine Sophie Claire, Peter Lehmann, Barossa vine pull, Krondorf Road winery, Young Gun of Wine, Australian wine industry, family winery, wine brand storytelling, Barossa Shiraz, cellar door BarossaSupport the show
June 13, 2026Episode 171 hr 0 min
The Hidden Life of Vineyards - with Dylan Grigg
Send us Fan MailWine is full of simple stories.Old vines are better than young vines. Great vineyards are all about terroir. Climate determines quality. Pick the right variety, put it in the right place, and the rest takes care of itself.They're neat stories. They're marketable stories.According to this week's guest, they're also dangerously incomplete.Dylan Grigg is one of the most respected viticulturists in Australia. He's a consultant, researcher, vineyard owner, international speaker, former Australian Viticulturist of the Year, and a man whose work takes him from the Barossa Valley to Tasmania, Western Australia, California, Spain and beyond.In this conversation, we explore the extraordinary complexity that exists beneath the surface of every vineyard. We discuss old vines, epigenetics, vine memory, climate variability, regenerative viticulture, and why so many of the questions wine lovers ask can never be answered with a simple yes or no.We unpack Dylan's remarkable journey from a young apprentice chef in the Barossa to earning a PhD, before relocating his family to Catalonia and building an international reputation as one of the wine industry's most respected vineyard minds.Along the way, Dylan explains why vineyards aren't spreadsheets, why experience matters as much as science, and why the best viticulturists often spend their lives becoming more comfortable with uncertainty rather than less.This is my conversation with Dylan Grigg. A huge thanks to Dylan for joining meSupport the show
June 6, 2026Episode 161 hr 31 min
Part 2 with Robert Joseph - The Next Chapter for the Wine Industry
Send us Fan MailIn Part 1 of my conversation with wine industry commentator, producer, and recovering wine critic Robert Joseph, we explored a deceptively simple question: where do wineries actually make their money?But that conversation quickly led to a much bigger one.What happens when the traditional wine business model comes under pressure?In this second part, we move beyond profitability and into the forces reshaping the global wine industry. We discuss ageing vineyard owners, succession challenges, private equity, direct-to-consumer sales, wine tourism, changing consumer behaviour, and why adaptation may be the defining challenge for wineries over the next decade.We also tackle the role of wine critics and traditional wine media, and Robert offers some characteristically frank views on Australia's place in the global wine market and whether we've lost clarity about what Australian wine stands for internationally. Buckle up for this section team. Whether you're a wine producer, retailer, marketer, or simply fascinated by the business of wine, there's plenty here to challenge conventional thinking.And if you'd like to explore these ideas further, I highly recommend following Robert's work through Wine Thinker and his Substack, where he continues to ask some of the most important, and often uncomfortable, questions facing the wine industry today.This is Part 2 of my conversation with Robert Joseph.Support the show
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