What if your new favourite Australian wine came from a region you have never heard of and cost less than $30?
Angus O’Loughlin and Master Sommelier Carlos Santos are joined by winemaker Andrew Dawson from Yeah Wine to explore Blackwood Valley, one of Western Australia’s most exciting and overlooked wine regions.
Nestled inland from Margaret River, Blackwood Valley is home to family-run vineyards, rolling hills and a distinctive continental climate that produces beautifully expressive Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, without the premium price tag.
The conversation begins with a 2023 Whimwood Estate Chardonnay so good Angus ordered 12 bottles. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in French oak, this impressive Blackwood Valley wine is crafted using techniques commonly associated with much more expensive Chardonnay.
From there, the trio tastes Beulah Wines’ 2023 Shiraz, a bright, medium-bodied expression grown by the Nield family, before discovering Andrew’s Yeah Wine 2023 “Bringing Sexy Back” Merlot, made using fruit grown by Mick Hester in Blackwood Valley.
A big thank you to our friends at Blackwood Valley Wines and to Andrew Dawson from Yeah Wine for helping us discover the remarkable people, vineyards and wines behind this special Western Australian region.
Wines featured in this episode
- 2023 Whimwood Estate Chardonnay: View and purchase the Chardonnay
- 2023 Beulah Wines Shiraz: View Beulah Wines’ range
- 2023 Yeah Wine “Bringing Sexy Back” Merlot: View and purchase the Merlot
Discover Blackwood Valley WinesWebsite: https://blackwoodvalleywine.com.au/Instagram: @blackwoodvalleywine
Discover Whimwood Estate WinesWebsite: https://www.whimwoodestatewines.com.au/Instagram: @whimwoodestatewines
Discover Andrew Dawson and Yeah WineWebsite: https://www.yeahwine.com.au/Instagram: @yeah_wine
Chapters
00:00 The $28 Chardonnay worth talking about
00:42 Meet Yeah Wine’s Andrew Dawson
02:16 Discovering Blackwood Valley
03:17 Blackwood Valley vs Margaret River
04:40 Tasting Whimwood Estate Chardonnay
08:06 Finding exceptional wine without the premium price
08:30 Blackwood Valley’s climate, hills and vineyards
10:41 The families behind Blackwood Valley wine
12:10 Tasting Beulah Wines’ 2023 Shiraz
14:17 Why Western Australian Shiraz tastes different
15:16 The family story behind Beulah Wines
16:37 Blackwood Valley vs Margaret River Cabernet
18:02 Is Blackwood Valley Australia’s answer to southern France?
20:17 Yeah Wine’s “Bringing Sexy Back” Merlot
22:44 Making wine approachable without the pretension
24:30 What is happening to the Australian wine industry?
26:44 Sustainable winegrowing in Blackwood Valley
27:56 Why visit Blackwood Valley?
28:53 The best Blackwood Valley wines to buy for $50
Welcome to Got Somme, the ultimate wine podcast where Master Sommeliers and wine experts share their tips, blind tasting challenges, and insider knowledge from vineyards around the world. Whether you’re a wine beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, we explore everything from wine education and wine tasting techniques to sparkling wines, red vs white, and the best wines under $30.Subscribe for weekly episodes and join us as we taste, learn, and uncover the stories behind your favourite wines. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their wine knowledge, discover new wine regions, or just enjoy a fun, educational chat about wine.
