EPISODE 47
The Wine Episode for People Who Hate Wine Talk...
Listen: ON SPOTIFY
Watch: ON YOUTUBE
This week on BEHIND! we’re not talking about the usual suspects. No Bordeaux, no Barossa, no Napa cult classics. We’re pouring a glass of Queensland red — yeah, you heard that right — and taking a long, honest look at a wine region most folks still don’t take seriously.
Pete cracks open a bottle of Nero d’Avola from the Granite Belt — a grape with Sicilian roots, now thriving in a corner of Australia most people think is too hot to grow good wine. What follows is a conversation that covers everything from misunderstood varietals to the reality of what it takes to build a wine industry in a place with a rough rep and even rougher logistics.
We talk about the early days of Queensland wine — the backyard winemakers, the overpriced bottles, the not-so-great first impressions — and how far the region’s come. We dig into why altitude matters, how acid is the backbone of a good bottle, and why you should never judge a wine by its postcode.
This isn’t a wine masterclass. It’s not about tasting notes or gold medals (though we touch on both). It’s about understanding where wine fits into real life — cracking a bottle after mowing the lawn, bringing something different to a dinner party, or just knowing how to ask for what you like without getting side-eyed by a sommelier.
We also get into:
The real reason Granite Belt reds are turning heads
Why Italian varietals are booming in Aussie soil
The myth of wine “prestige” and the power of simply drinking what you like How to actually talk to wine professionals (without feeling like a dick)
The wild art of sabering champagne... and why it might be the dumbest flex in hospitality
What “tannin” means, what acid does, and why both matter more than the label
Whether you’re deep in the wine world or just trying to figure out what bottle goes with pork sausages, this one’s a reminder that wine is supposed to be fun — not fancy.
Do you have a favourite Queensland wine? – drop us a line here.