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Sake! Here in Australia, we think of sake as the Japanese spirit made from rice. In Japan, sake means any alcoholic beverage - but we’ll stick to the typical Aussie definition for this article.(Tip, if you are in Japan, you’ll be looking for ‘nihonshu’ - a word that covers most kinds of sakes as we know them)There are a huge range of sakes to choose from - they differ in clarity, body, flavour and aroma. With so many choices, it can be hard to know where to start. And honestly with so many varie …

First, here’s a little rosé 101.Rosé is predominantly made from red grapes. The colour of any wine comes from the skins of the grapes - the juice is clear. The juice in rosé spends less time with the skins than a red wine, but just enough time for the pinky hue to bleed out.This also means that the colour of the wine isn’t actually an indication of its sweetness, like many believe. Just because darker wines could be mistaken for a candy-like pink, doesn't mean that they’ll taste like marshmallow …

It's time to get shopping. This year, we're here to help you give a gift that your friends and family will really love. We've got gifts lined up to suit all tastes. Want to download a copy to take into our store? Download your gift guide now. For the G&T lover in your life Grab the Four Pillars Christmas Gin. It’s the result of adding the family pudding recipe to a still, and tastes like Christmas in a bottle. This lively spirit was made one Victorian Derby Day when Four Pillars’ Cam …

The Aperol Spritz was the drink of the season last spring, and we don’t think it’s going anywhere as the weather heats up again.It’s simple. Classic. And best of all, it’s tasty.So how are we going to put a spin on the 2018 favourite to move it into 2019?Typically, a spritz involves some kind of wine - usually a bubbly prosecco - something bitter - a spirit and, you know, bitters! - and soda water.Spritz basicsFor a standard spritz, all you need is booze and soda water.Grab - A liqueur A spark …

Let’s say you get invited to a dinner.Maybe it’s for work.You’re really keen to impress.Your boss (who asked you to join them at dinner - maybe you’re getting a promotion - don’t stuff this up!) loves their wine. It’s your time to step up. You really need to shine.Don’t panic. We’re here to help.BodyHow does the wine feel in your mouth?Big, round and powerful? Light and lean? Something in the middle?This is the ‘body’ of the wine.The best way to learn about the body of a wine is to get tasting. …

We love a good story.While it can’t make your wine taste better, knowing the origins, history and tales behind each drop lends another aspect to the wine tasting experience.Samuel’s story is one to savour - it starts in 1849 and carries on until today.Sam finds SAIf you’ve ever visited Yalumba in the Barossa, you know it’s got lush grounds and historic buildings galore. There’s clearly a story weaving through the rows of vines.At 35, Samuel Smith decided to leave his hometown of Wareham in Dorse …