Grace De Morgan - Everything Happens for a Riesling

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A RIESLING is the wine book that says boo to acting like a snob. Its your ultimate guide to hacking the world of vino. Grace De Morgan is here to help you get more of the wine experiences you want, minus the pretentiousness.

This is a toolkit, not a textbook a cheat sheet for all the vino-related questions you didnt realise you had. I mean, where do you store wine if you dont have a cellar? Who (or what) is Gewrztraminer? Are decanters a thing?

Whether you cant tell your ros from your Riesling or are busy studying to be a Master Sommelier, EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A RIESLING has got something to make you go Mmm, more please.

The ACTUAL best. Its one of those little luxuries that makes your bath more sensual, your meal more moreish and your catch-up with mates that much more cackle-inducing. Its both a way to mark the end of a long day and kick off a freaky weekend. It helps commiserate and celebrate. The only problem with it is that theres just so much of the good stuff out there. So how do you see the wood for the trees? The vines for the grapes? The sheer quantity of info can be bloody intimidating.

This book is here to eaaaaase you into the world of wine. A way to decode and demystify some of the rules and rituals surrounding this delicious drank. A friendly push to get you to try new things and ask more questions.

Every wine lover is learning something new erry-time they take a sip. You cannot possibly learn everything about this nectar of the gods and call it a day. Its not a Rubiks cube. Its not the moderate Sudoku from your Sunday paper. Theres no way to get an A+ and a sparkly unicorn sticker. Wine is living, which means its dynamic, which means its essentially unknowable. Deep? Yeah, theres more where that came from, baby.

Dont feel pretentious this book isnt about loading you up with obscure facts to pepper at a bougie white guys dinner party. Sure, youll learn about the history of wine, Aussie and NZ regions to watch out for, and what wines would be like if they were real people, but youll also find out from the best (and most hilarious) about how to get more of the wine you like (without the wank). Ive interviewed a variety of wine professionals and vino lovers who approach wine in very different ways, but who are all equally passionate about it. Think of them like a team of superheroes saving you from bad wine experiences and needless social anxiety.

Tim Watkins

Head Sommelier at Automata in Chippendale, Sydney (Champagne Taittinger Sommelier of the Year 2017)

I started working in restaurants in 2000, but I didnt drink wine. I was a beer drinker and an occasional spirit drinker. I was actually studying music at the time. Like a lot of people who get into hospitality, I was only doing it for a year or two. This is my eighteenth year now.

FAST FACT: People have a real fear of sweetness, but some of the nicest wines I have ever drunk in my life are beautifully balanced Rieslings from Germany, which have an excellent sweetness and acidity to them.

Amanda Yallop

Head Sommelier at Quay Restaurant in Circular Quay, Sydney (Australias Most Awarded Restaurant)

I fell into wine naturally by being a nerd. I think everybodys a nerd about something. You just have to embrace it. Growing up in Australia, I thought I was mature having a Kahlua and milk. I lived overseas for about ten years and when I was backpacking, I was buying whatever I could afford and whatever was on special. So I started experimenting and having fun that way.

FAST FACT: Ive got girlfriends whove got the latest handbag, which I dont care about. Any bag I buy has to be able to take a magnum and thats the only rule that I have. But their rule is the label. And thats fine. It would never occur to them to spend money on wine and it would never occur to me to spend that sort of money on handbags. Everybody has something that theyre willing to spend money on once theyve paid bills, students loans and everything else.

Samantha Connew

Award-Winning Winemaker at Stargazer Wine in Tasmania

I spent most of my childhood in Blenheim, Marlborough the land of Sauvignon Blanc. But that was before the wine industry was really taking off and my parents werent interested in wine at all. I literally remember the first time I bought wine in a bottle, not cask. It was Yalumba. I think it cost $7. Throughout uni while I was doing my law degree, I supported myself by working at restaurants. I knew that I didnt want to practise law and got hooked on this whole wine caper. So I ended up going back to uni and doing post-grad oenology and viticulture at Lincoln University, just outside of Christchurch.

FAST FACT: I think one of my favourite producers, in terms of Tasmanian wines, is Sinapius. Hes doing a lot of really cool vineyard stuff and does a lot of work with different clones, whether its Chardonnay or Pinot or what have you. Some interesting field blends as well. Down south, Anna Pooley and her husband Justin Bubb are making some great wines at Pooley Wines.

Michael Ng

Winemaker at Ironcloud Wines in Geographe, Western Australia (One of Wine Companions Top 10 Dark Horses of the Year 2018)

I grew up in Melbourne and first got into wine when I saw people drinking it with dinner in restaurants. My family never drank wine, only beer and spirits. I asked, Why arent we drinking wine? This was when I was about 15 years old. That was the start. Then I learned more about wine through magazines. Winestate , Decanter , Selector and The Age Epicure were my favourites.

FAST FACT: The best thing [about South West Australia] is that not just one or two varieties, but multiple varieties grow well and produce great wines, compared to many other regions in Australia and the rest of the world, where most of the regions have only one stand-out variety.