Battle of the Vines

Liinaa and Frank go head to head to see which Australian state makes the best Sparkling Wine. Over three rounds and three different price-ranges, our 'Mixed Dozen' everyday people will be judging and choosing their favourite Sparkling Wine from across Australia.

Chardonnay is the wine Australia is falling in and out of love with - and the affair is back on hot and strong and the new style Chardonnays are stunning. Arthur presents an informative glass guide on why the Riedel oaked chardonnay wine glass has such a spectacular bowl and Liinaa and Arthur go back to the seventies for a mini history of Australian Chardonnay.

The trickiest and most mercurial of all the varietals sends Frank and Liinaa to all corners of Australia and the results are highly surprising. Will traditional Pinot powers such as Victoria and Tasmania trump lesser known regions?

It is an age old question - Which do you prefer, Shiraz or Cab Sav? Frank baffles Arthur with that curly question before dazzling him with a Shiraz from the cooler climes of Victoria’s Pyrenees made by Andrew Koerner. Arthur counters with a Margaret River Cab Sav from Glenn Goodall of Xanadu.

Seeking high value whites, Frank brings Queensland into the competition for the first time with Dylan Rhymer’s perky SSB from Ballandean Estate in Granite Belt. Arthur brings in Swan Valley and John Griffith’s Verdelho. So will the people of WA pick and identify a local Verdelho, or will Queensland score its first points and play spoiler to WA global wine domination ambitions?