Meet the new wave of experts making wine fun for a whole new audience.
Wine is versatile, beloved by the masses and offers something for every taste and preference. So, why does most wine education feel stuffy and exclusive to old, white men? If wine truly is for everyone, then confining people to a strict set of do’s and don’ts is, as San Francisco-based sommelier Josh Decolongon (@sommeligay) says, “like visiting a country with a low English-speaking population and then insisting on only speaking English.”
The fact is, when wine recommendations, information and education comes from a multitude of people from different backgrounds, lifestyles and fancies, the conversation gets so much bigger, the ways to drink exponentially larger, and we all get to enjoy wine that much more. Here, we’re highlighting the accounts making wine and alcohol education actually fun.
AKA: Georgia Panagopoulou, a globe-trotting digital wine marketer from Athens, Greece.
The bio: Georgia , 32, has worked in chemical engineering, wine management, digital and social media, and she’s on a mission to help wine translate to new people through her digital wine marketing business. It’s a job that sees her zooming all over the world, so her account is as much holiday inspo as it is about wine. Georgia is bridging the gap between the old-guard wine experts and the new wave of vinfluencers. She has pin-able travel pics, but she also goes to all the traditional wine media events and can talk the sommelier talk.
Follow for: Pretty pics with lengthy detailed wine descriptions in the captions, an inside look at what the big wine companies do at their media trips and awards, and, if you’re so inclined, tips for your own social media influencing.
AKA: Merrick Watts, beloved comedian, radio and TV presenter who’s turned his attention to wine and running Grapes of Mirth, a wine and comedy festival.
The bio: Merrick might be a joker, but his interest in wine is serious, and his feed is a great way to learn more while having a laugh. At 25, a trip to the Barossa Valley turned Merrick from a self-declared “beer-drinking scallywag”, into someone with an appreciation for wine, and a thirst to learn more. Two decades on, Merrick has completed his WSET 3 (so he’s a certified wine buff) and has combined his interests with a touring comedy show, An Idiot’s Guide to Wine and a festival, Grapes of Mirth, happening in the Barossa Valley this October.
Follow for: Merrick’s weekly snacks and wine pairings, like rosé and Doritos, and his charming mix of humour and earnest admiration for the wine world.
AKA: Sean Menezes, Wine Merchant at Dan Murphy’s Ascot Vale, VIC.
The bio: Sean Menezes is exactly who you want to help you find a great bottle (which he will actually do if you pop into the Ascot Vale store in Melbourne). He’s truly excited about wine, has tried everything, and knows bucket loads about it. If you can’t get the man in person, his saved highlights are a go-to for bottles under $30, plus great beers or alternative bottles to your usual go-tos.
Follow for: BTS moments of wine events, store antics and recs you can pick up from your local Dan’s.
AKA: Mary John was born and raised in Venezuela, and currently lives in Perth, WA. She is a wine communicator and social media strategist for the wine industry, and now working towards completing her WSET diploma.
The bio: A Barossa shiraz was the catalyst for Mary’s ongoing quest to be a wine master – “It took me back to my childhood of aromas of Christmas black cake, and the rest, as they say, is history”. Mary’s content is bright and joyful, and she always looks like she’s having a seriously good time. Her wine descriptions are thorough but not wordy, and her reels will put a smile on your face.
Follow for: Fun bottle selfies and WA-related info. Mary may be a jetsetter, but her Perth recommendations are top notch.
AKA: Jules van Costello is a winemaker, educator and owner of winery Known Unknown in Wellington, NZ.
The bio: Jules’s life is all about wine: he makes it, talks about it, writes about it and, you know, drinks it. His winery Known Unknown makes interesting, off-the-wall, lo-fi and natural wines, and his new book Beyond the Vines: The Changing Landscape of Wine in Aotearoa New Zealand challenges the status quo of how we’ve been doing wine. Jules identifies as queer, is in a heterosexual relationship with his wife, and they have kids, including a brand new baby boy. He shares parts of his personal life in amongst the wine talk, and occasionally with the wine talk, like his video explaining malolactic fermentation while laying next to his sleeping newborn.
Follow for: His 60-second quick-talk explanations of big wine concepts and general ethos that the wine industry can be doing more to be better. Follow on TikTok, too.
AKA: Richard Doumani, Wine Merchant at Dan Murphy’s Alphington, VIC, and co-host of The Wine Show Australia.
The bio: Richard, or Richo, as he’s better known, is a true drawcard of the Alphington Dan Murphy’s store in Melbourne. He posts snack-sized store tours of new products, promos and updates, like the new wines in the enomatic. He also gives great info on the latest wine news, the award winners, the new releases and more. His channel is like a news show, but for wine.
Follow for: Updates from the drinks world and the occasional moment when Richo pulls out his guitar.
AKA: Ella Pradella is a wine blogger and content creator with WSET 2 accreditation, based in Brisbane, Queensland.
The bio: The Cheeky Vino is Ella’s side hustle to a full-time job as a professional marketing advisor for an engineering firm. Her POV is that most wine drinkers aren’t looking for a 99-point wine; just something nice to go with their pizza. Her account is about fun (memorable) wine facts (like that pinot noir means black pine cone) and affordable recommendations for different varietals.
Follow for: Understandable explanations of wine stuff, like old world vs new world wine, entertaining wine recs and her general wine-loving attitude.
AKA: Angus O'Loughlin and Carlos Santos – a power duo who teamed up to find the best wine for under $30, documenting the journey on their podcast, Got Somme.
The bio: Angus is a novice wine enthusiast (plus mega accomplished radio man), Santos is Wine Director at the legendary Vue de Monde and one of just 269 Master Sommeliers in the world. Together, the two blind-taste their way through sub-$30 wines, sharing their perspectives on one bottle per episode. It’s expert info, delivered in a way everyone can get around. Their Instagram account provides snippets of the pod and show notes for each bottle – easy to save and pull up next time you’re wine shopping.
Follow for: This odd couple in wine are endearing but, more than that, they are finding seriously great drops at very affordable prices.
AKA: Alana Kaye, a professional writer and wine enthusiast based in the Southern Highlands, NSW.
The bio: Alana’s rosé-hued posts are full of joyful and exceedingly digestible wine education. As she says, she’s not one for long-winded or extensive tasting notes, it’s about enjoying wine, having fun, and maybe learning something along the way. Plus, plenty of her reccos are easily findable at Dan’s.
Follow for: Snackable info on homegrown wines, live wine tastings and her Thirsty Hungry series, where she pairs easy-to-find wines with home-cooked meals or a cheeky takeaway.
AKA: Us. Yep, we couldn’t not include our own account.
The bio: So, you may have noticed, our social game got a lot stronger with the launch of Dan’s Daily. Now it’s a delicious, glossy wealth of cocktail recipes, newness, entertaining ideas and collaborations with some of our favourite people. Are we biased? Yes. Is it still one of the best accounts in wine? Abso-bloody-lutely.
Follow for: Inspiration for your next night out, night in, get together or cocktail adventure, sound bites from new articles and interviews, oh and the occasional (truly awesome) competition. We’re pretty good at those.
