Halliday Wine Companion

About Halliday Wine Companion

The Halliday Wine Companion Podcast (formerly known as By The Glass) is back with a new look, a new host, and a bunch of new and exciting guests. Join Halliday editor Anna Webster as she sits down with industry experts – including winemakers, sommeliers, distillers, critics, retailers, and more – to chat about, unpack and explore a range of wine- and drinks-related topics. From interviews with top producers and the stories behind your favourite bottles, to the science of cellaring, deep dives into wine regions and grape varieties, and much more, this fun and conversational podcast is essential listening for anyone who loves wine. So, pour a glass and settle in.

Publisher

Halliday Wine Companion

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

8 Jul 2021

Latest episode

29 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

42 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Black Estate: Biodynamic Wine, North Canterbury & the Future of Chardonnay

   What happens when a love of wine turns into three vineyards, a restaurant and an entirely new way of thinking about the land? In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, we’re joined by Pen Naish and Nicholas Brown of Black Estate, one of North Canterbury’s most distinctive family-owned wineries. Pen and Nicholas took over Black Estate in 2007, but neither started out expecting to build a life in wine. Pen was working as a corporate lawyer, while Nicholas found his way into winemaking through wine retail, vineyard work and vintages across New Zealand, Italy and the Napa Valley. Nearly two decades later, Black Estate encompasses three organically and biodynamically farmed vineyards plus a fourth leased site, a celebrated restaurant and cellar door, and a philosophy centred on expressing place as clearly as possible. In this conversation, we explore the evolution of Black Estate, the people who influenced Nicholas’s approach to winemaking, and why North Canterbury has become such an exciting region for pinot noir, chardonnay and emerging varieties. Nicholas explains the challenges of transitioning established vineyards away from conventional farming, from managing vine vigour and water to understanding what is really happening beneath the soil. We also get into the role of native yeast, why vineyard biodiversity matters, the use of cattle and regenerative grazing, and how increasing organic matter can dramatically change the amount of water a vineyard can retain. Then there’s chardonnay. Despite pinot noir historically taking much of the spotlight in New Zealand’s South Island, Nicholas believes North Canterbury has the ingredients to produce exceptional chardonnay, with its cool nights, naturally low yields and remarkable mix of clay, gravel and limestone soils. Pen and Nicholas also share what they’re experimenting with next, including chenin blanc, cabernet franc and a high-wire vineyard system designed to allow sheep to graze beneath the vines during the growing season. A conversation about wine, farming, family and why some of the most interesting things happening in the vineyard start long before the grapes reach the winery. Halliday Wine Companion (https://winecompanion.com.au/) Follow Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/winecompanion/) Follow Anna Webster on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/annawebster_/) Order the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion (https://shop.winecompanion.com.au/products/2027-halliday-wine-companion) About the guests Pen Naish is co-owner of Black Estate and leads the winery’s sales, marketing, restaurant and cellar door. Nicholas Brown is Black Estate’s winemaker and leads its vineyard program. His career has included vintages in Marlborough, Italy and the Napa Valley before returning to North Canterbury. Discover Black Estate:https://blackestate.co.nz/ (https://blackestate.co.nz/) Black Estate on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/blackestate/ (https://www.instagram.com/blackestate/) Pen Naish – New Zealand Wine:https://www.nzwine.com/en/media/our-people/pen-naish/ (https://www.nzwine.com/en/media/our-people/pen-naish/) Chapters 00:00 – The Black Estate story 03:28 – How Nicholas found winemaking 10:29 – Growing Black Estate 14:38 – Converting to biodynamic farming 18:17 – Native yeast and terroir 20:17 – The history of Netherwood vineyard 24:21 – Chenin blanc and cabernet franc 28:39 – Black Estate’s winemaking philosophy 30:02 – Frost and a changing climate 33:24 – Regenerative farming and soil health 38:12 – Why North Canterbury chardonnay stands out 42:11 – What varieties could be next? 43:45 – The future of Black Estate

2. 

   16 Sept 2026

   Stephen Pannell: The godfather of modern grenache on terroir, tannin and Australian wine

   Stephen Pannell is one of Australia’s most influential winemakers and a driving force behind the rise of modern McLaren Vale grenache. In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Steve shares how a childhood spent working in vineyards in Margaret River eventually led him to winemaking, despite his best efforts to avoid the family profession. From producing more than 200 million bottles of red wine at Hardys to rediscovering his creativity in Barolo, Steve explains how pinot noir and nebbiolo shaped his unique approach to grenache. The conversation explores what makes McLaren Vale grenache so expressive, the importance of tannin, picking decisions and old-vine vineyards, and why great wine should reflect the land rather than the hand of the winemaker. Steve also takes us inside his Little Branch vineyard in Blewitt Springs, where century-old grenache vines produce his distinctly different Sunrise and Sunset wines. Steve also discusses the restoration of his Koomilya vineyard, the inspiration behind his Halliday award-winning Mataro Rosé, and his mission to preserve the future of warm-climate Australian shiraz. He also makes a passionate case for taking rosé, sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio and merlot seriously, while encouraging wine drinkers to trust their own tastes. As the Australian wine industry faces one of its most challenging periods, Steve reflects on why the country has never made better wine and considers the Mediterranean and Italian varieties that could define its future. Halliday Wine Companion (https://winecompanion.com.au/) Follow Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/winecompanion/) Follow Anna Webster on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/annawebster_/) Follow S.C. Pannell on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/scpannell/) Explore S.C. Pannell wines: https://scpannell.com.au/ (https://scpannell.com.au/) In this episode: How Steve Pannell found his way into winemaking The evolution of modern Australian grenache What pinot noir and nebbiolo taught Steve about grenache Why tannin is essential to the identity of red wine The influence of soil, ironstone and the ocean in McLaren Vale What makes Blewitt Springs such a distinctive grenache region The story behind the century-old Little Branch vineyard How Sunrise and Sunset grenache express two parts of the same site Restoring biodiversity at the Koomilya vineyard Why premium fruit is essential to serious rosé Protecting the future of warm-climate Australian shiraz Mediterranean grape varieties suited to Australia’s changing climate Why wine drinkers should never feel intimidated by personal taste Steve’s hopes for the future of Australian wine

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Bruce Tyrrell on 170 Years of Wine, Risk and Reinvention

   Bruce Tyrrell AM has spent more than five decades shaping Australian wine. As the fourth generation of one of Australia’s oldest family-owned wineries, he has helped transform Tyrrell’s, champion Hunter Valley semillon around the world, and preserve some of Australia’s most important old-vine vineyards. Fresh from being named the 2027 James Halliday Hall of Fame inductee (https://www.winecompanion.com.au/resources/awards/halliday-wine-companion-award-winners/2027-hall-of-fame-australian-wine-industry), Bruce joins the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast to reflect on growing up at Tyrrell’s, joining the family business in 1974 and witnessing the evolution from fortified wine and manual vineyard work to modern winemaking. Bruce shares the story behind Tyrrell’s iconic Vat 1 Semillon, including the secret decision to hold the wine back for five years despite the pressure it placed on the winery’s cash flow. He also explains why Hunter Valley semillon is unlike any other wine in the world, how screw caps changed wine quality, and what makes the Hunter Valley one of Australia’s most challenging regions for growing grapes. The conversation also explores Tyrrell’s historic vineyards, including the 1908-planted HVD vineyard, and the Sacred Sites collection, along with the family succession plan involving Bruce’s children, Chris, John and Jane. Halliday Wine Companion (https://winecompanion.com.au/) Follow Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/winecompanion/) Follow Anna Webster on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/annawebster_/) Order the 2027 Halliday Wine Companion (https://shop.winecompanion.com.au/collections/books/products/2027-halliday-wine-companion) In this episode: Bruce’s earliest memories of growing up at Tyrrell’s How a rugby injury led him back to the family winery The evolution of Australian drinking and dining culture Tyrrell’s role in producing Australia’s first commercial chardonnay Why Bruce secretly stored Vat 1 Semillon to delay its release How Hunter Valley semillon earned international recognition The story behind Johnno’s Semillon and Tyrrell’s Sacred Sites Why Tyrrell’s embraced screw caps The challenges of making wine in the Hunter Valley Bruce’s advice for Tyrell’s next generation What comes next after more than 50 years in the wine industry Explore Tyrrell’s Wines (https://www.tyrrells.com.au/) and discover more about the winery’s family history (https://www.tyrrells.com.au/family/history). For more Australian wine stories, expert reviews and independent ratings, visit Halliday Wine Companion (https://www.winecompanion.com.au/). This podcast was recorded on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We acknowledge them as the enduring custodians of this Country and recognise their continuing cultural practices of caring for the land and waters. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend that respect to the Traditional Owners of the many lands across Australia and beyond whose wineries and stories we are privileged to share.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

95,635

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.8 / 5

5 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 57 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

52

Social presence

97

YouTube

76

Engagement

31

Contact Halliday Wine Companion

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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