Two friends. Two countries. One very good excuse to catch up.
Wine plus Friendship is a long-distance phone call disguised as a podcast — where best friends Maddie and Andrea explore wine, connection, and staying close in adulthood… one glass at a time.
There’s zero snobbery here (okay... maybe a little snobbery - but completely undeserved). Just:
🍷 curious questions
💬 honest conversations
😂 light chaos
❤️ and the kind of friendship that survives time zones
“Missions,” reflections, stories, and probably a confession or two about choosing bottles by the label alone.
If you’ve ever poured a glass and immediately reached for your phone to text a friend — this podcast is for you.
New episodes ~ whenever life allows. Bring a glass. Stay for the friendship.
Maddie, Andrea & special return guest Francesca explore the much maligned Merlot in the first stop on their Redemption Tour. Does Merlot deserve to be cancelled or should we give it another chance?
Wines features:
La Raison d'Hetre 2023 (Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux)
Cont'Ugo, Guado al Tasso, 2022 (Bolgheri, Tuscany)
20 Sept 2026
The most scientific episode we've ever done
Andrea & Maddie put serving temperature to the test — chilling and then re-warming a Grenache and a Sangiovese side by side to find out what temperature actually does to a wine. Along the way: why cold sharpens acid and tannin but mutes sweetness and aroma, a real-time science experiment complicated by wine warming up faster than expected, a checklist for picking a chillable red at the shop, and the surprisingly recent history of the chilled-red trend.
Wines featured:
Fervor "Nuvo Movo" Grenache 2025 (Swan Valley, Western Australia)
Vignoble Anne Collard "Shi Fu Mi" (France — 70% Grenache, 20% Marselan, 10% Mourvèdre)
Ravensworth 2024 Regional Sangiovese (Hilltops/Canberra District, Australia)
Strada Bianche Chianti DOCG (Tuscany, Italy)
6 Sept 2026
Bring Back Pét-Nat (?)
Maddie & Andrea finally give sparkling wine the deep dive it deserves — with the help of guest expert Emily who explains the what and the how of sparkling wine. They put a Spanish traditional-method rosé and a "dying category" pét-nat to the test, debate flute vs. tulip glassware, bust some Prosecco myths, and land on a surprising verdict.
Wines featured:
Viña Eguia Brut Cava (Catalunya, Spain)
Azimut Rosat Brut Nature Cava (Catalunya, Spain)
La Violetta 'Das Sakrifizz' Pét-Nat Riesling (Denmark, Western Australia)
Criante "Niente Panico" Catarratto Frizzante (Sicilia, Italy)
Find us on instagram @wineplusfriendship
9 Aug 2026
A pleasurable, if not optimal, experience
Maddie & Andrea put the "rules" of wine pairing to the test — by breaking them on purpose. This episode, they pair inexpensive white and red wines with snacks that really shouldn't work. Along the way they get into umami vs. salt, why chilli turns wine bland instead of horrifying, and how low-alcohol wines survive spicy food better than high-alcohol ones — plus a detour into Palooza vs. curated tastings, and whether rules are, in fact, for losers.
Wines featured:
Millbrook Viognier 2022
Fasoli Gino "Pigio" Pinot Grigio DOC 2024
Jeanne Marie Chardonnay 2024
Monte Sasso Braschi Famoso 2020
Hoi Polloi Red Blend (Margaret River)
Les Champs d'Amour Cabernet Sauvignon 2024
28 Jul 2026
The Secret Life of Oxygen
Maddie & Andrea follow one tiny molecule through the entire winemaking process: oxygen.
Why do winemakers spend so much effort keeping oxygen away from wine—only for Sherry producers to embrace it? We explore sulfites, flor and oxidation before tasting our way through the Sherry spectrum, from a fresh Fino to an Amontillado and finally an Oloroso, discovering how oxygen can completely transform the same grape.
Along the way, Maddie finally catches up on her long-overdue homework assignments.
Wines featured
Lustau Jarana Fino
Valdespino Contrabandista Amontillado
Zuleta Oloroso
Lustau Don Nuño Oloroso
12 Jul 2026
Battle of the Noble Grapes (Part 2)
The battle continues.
Andrea and Maddie make the case for Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Pinot Noir before putting two finalists head-to-head in a tasting showdown. Along the way they debate prestige versus personality, discover that not all Cabernet is as bold as its reputation, and crown the ultimate noble grape.
Wines featured:
J.H. Meyer Cuvée Pinot Noir 2022 (Western Cape, South Africa)
Tilly J Pinot Noir 2024 (Yarra Valley, Victoria)
Journey's End Cabernet Sauvignon (Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Domaine Defialy Willow Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 (Macedon Ranges, Victoria)
3 Jul 2026
BONUS: A Toast
A special AKA "Friendship Plus Wine"
Andrea and Maddie raise a glass to Taylor Swift (and her rumoured wedding!) and spend some time talking about the music, lyrics and memories that have meant the most to them over the years. Along the way they sip sparkling wine, reminisce about London, share the Taylor Swift songs that have shaped their lives, and discuss why her songwriting resonates so deeply.
Wines featured:
Jo Landron Atmosphères Méthode Traditionnelle Sparkling (Loire Valley, France)
Champagne Copin-Marie Brut Rosé (Champagne, France)
28 Jun 2026
Battle of the Noble Grapes (Part 1)
What makes a grape "noble" anyway?
Andrea and Maddie kick off a two-part battle to crown the king (or queen) of the noble white grapes. They make the case for and against Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling and go head-to-head in a tasting showdown. Along the way they discuss consultant-style scoring frameworks, mutant grapes, petrol aromas, and whether the honorary grape deserves a place among wine royalty.
Wines featured:
Haddow + Dineen Grain of Truth Pinot Gris 2024 (Tasmania)
Haddow + Dineen Sehnsucht Riesling 2024 (Tasmania)
Willm Pinot Gris 2022 (Alsace)
Gustave Lorentz Altenberg de Bergheim Riesling 2020 (Alsace)
17 May 2026
A Place That Stinks of Desperation
Maddie & Andrea investigate whether wine glasses actually matter by drinking Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir out of coffee mugs, water glasses, crystal stemware, and giant Burgundy bowls. Along the way they discuss crystal vs glass, varietal-specific stemware, quiet luxury, and why some vessels feel refined while others feel… desperate.
Wines featured:
Dr. Bürklin-Wolf Riesling Trocken 2022
Thomas William Chardonnay 2024
Franklin Estate “Spätberg(down)under” Pinot Noir 2024
Capas del Bosque Pinot Noir 2024
Glasses & vessels featured:
Riedel Wine Friendly Glass 003
Spiegelau Burgundy glass
Stemless Amazon wine glasses
Water glass / rocks glass
Coffee mug
Special thanks to contributors:
Camilo
Priscilla
Nat
Jack
Fabian
Josh
24 Apr 2026
The dirt on soil [EDITED]
[Edited to fix corrupted audio]
Maddie & Andrea dig into the role of soil in wine (pun fully intended) while tasting Pinot Noir from Burgundy and New Zealand. Along the way, they bust some common wine myths, question whether you can actually taste “minerality,” and discover just how much soil influences what ends up in your glass.
Maddie shares some facts about the science of smell (including the fact that humans can detect one trillion scents), mispronounce several wine regions with confidence, and encounter a particularly… questionable Pinot.
By the end, they come to a surprising conclusion: soil matters — just not in the way you might think.
Wines featured:
Maison Champy Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023
Paddy Borthwick Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2022
Monthelie-Douhairet-Porcheret Savigny-les-Beaune 2021
Valli Burn Cottage Vineyards Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
8 Apr 2026
How Tasty is a Cow Horn?
Maddie & Andrea (& a special guest) walk through how to taste wine and answer questions like what is biodynamic wine? Why do I want to taste dirt in my wine? Is a pear the same as a tomato?
Wines featured:
Sassotondo San Lorenzo 2021
I Forestieri Giratondo Rosso 2022
Cullen Wines Red Moon 2024
La Bien Planta Garnacha 2023
10 Mar 2026
Sure as... Syrah!
Maddie & Andrea talk food and wine pairing and peppery Shiraz (or Syrah?). Who wore it better, France or Australia?
Wines featured
Wine paired: Wild Bee Chardonnay from Big Table Farm (link (https://www.bigtablefarm.com/past-vintages-of-wild-bee-chardonnay))
French Syrah:
Etienne Becheras “Le Pieurre d’Arras” Crozes-Hermitage 2022 (link (https://www.vivino.com/en/becheras-crozes-hermitage/w/1515768?srsltid=AfmBOooV4lgC1P0W7_Dvkzk8bZV1xZ2rlrb9X5R4yWldQ-8JLg9z2RZm))
Julien Cecillon “Les Marguerites” Crozes-Hermitage 2022 (link (https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/julien+cecillon+les+marguerite+croze+hermitage+rhone+france?srsltid=AfmBOor4qHOdK_k8NVbHwjksHdhfjg0KdNrqoHAtclzIz8qMb9cr5_yo))
Australian Shiraz:
Karatta “Lost Ram” Shiraz 2023 (link (https://www.karattawines.com.au/collections/red-wines/products/2022-lost-ram-shiraz-copy))
Frankland Estates Shiraz 2023 (link (https://www.franklandestate.com.au/node/12687))
16 Feb 2026
Tapas is Not Food!
Maddie & Andrea (& a special guest) talk Spain.
Rioja or Ribera del Duero? Who makes the best Paella in DC? Answers to these questions and more.
Wines featured:
Nivarius 2022 Tempranillo Blanco (Rioja) (link (https://palaciosvinosdefinca.com/en/nivarius/))
Valenciso 2020 Cemento (Rioja) (link (https://www.bibendum.com.au/collections/vendors?q=Valenciso))
2022 Granito del Caldazo Garnacha (Sierra de Gredos) (link (https://www.vivino.com/en/comando-g-sierra-de-gredos-granito-del-cadalso-garnacha/w/5992599?srsltid=AfmBOoo3QgiK4bKTn0vnIrW8acxFucdpc-zv7YSjbNxoa2p05iWqkGXs))
3 Feb 2026
Oak'd
Maddie & Andrea get topical. Andrea apologises twice.
Chats include: the role of oak in winemaking, how to hook a “wine guy”, what does full bodied mean, what if trees in France were endangered.
Wines featured:
Cerro Añon 2023 Crianza and 2018 Gran Reserva Rioja (https://www.grupobodegasolarra.com/en/label/cerro-anon/ (https://www.grupobodegasolarra.com/en/label/cerro-anon/))
Leeuwin Estates Art Series 2025 Sauvignon Blanc (https://leeuwinestate.com.au/wine/art-series-sauvignon-blanc/48037/ (https://leeuwinestate.com.au/wine/art-series-sauvignon-blanc/48037/))
Mr. Barval Prima Alba 2025 Sauvignon Blanc (https://mrbarval.com/collections/shop-all/products/prima-alba-2025 (https://mrbarval.com/collections/shop-all/products/prima-alba-2025))
3 Jan 2026
Let's Revisit This Wine
Maddie & Andrea (re)record their very first podcast episode. Topics discussed include: their origin story, the benefits of fries (or beer), Napa wine tasting. Laughs are had. Missions are accepted.
Wines featured:
Tantalus (https://tantalus.ca/ (https://tantalus.ca/))
Yellowtail (correction: it was the 2003 Cab Sauv that won the Jimmy Watson award, not the 2001 Shiraz - link (https://www.melbourneroyal.com.au/virtual-museum/resources/information-hub/jimmy-watson-memorial-trophy-winners/))
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
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