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The Cellar Door PodcastAuthor: Tom Massey
Join lawyer/wine explorer, Tom Massey, in the Cellar Door to hear the stories of the people and wineries in the wonderful world of wine. Tom is joined by winery owners, wine makers and other wine personalities to hear and share their stories, the stories of the wineries and the stories of the wines. It's a podcast about where it all came from and where it's all going. Language: en-au Genres: Arts, Food, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Pinot on the Edge: Liam Van Pelt and the Magic of Ashton Hills
Saturday, 6 December, 2025
Send us a textToday on The Cellar Door Podcast, I’m joined by Liam Van Pelt, winemaker at the legendary Ashton Hills. I first met Liam at the cellar door, where he, his sister, and the world’s coolest dog poured a lineup that completely reset my expectations: sparkling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay, and a tour through one of the highest, coldest, wettest pockets of the Hills.In this episode, we dig into what makes that site so distinctive, why Piccadilly Valley fruit carries such a signature, and how Liam works in a region where disease pressure, altitude, and climate make every vintage a battle but a battle worth fighting.We talk Pinot Noir, how Ashton Hills blends to build perfume, spice, and depth. We explore Chardonnay, Liam’s current “favourite child,” and why he thinks the Piccadilly Valley may be Australia’s most exciting source of cool-climate expressions. And we dive into the rise of Gamay in the Hills and the momentum behind this increasingly bulletproof, joyously fragrant variety.Liam also shares his own journey, from Broken Hill to hospitality to almost walking away from wine entirely, until a vintage with the legend Andrew Thomo Thomas reignited his spark and a fateful meeting with Stephen George changed his trajectory. Today, he’s carrying forward one of Australia’s great Pinot legacies with instinct, patience, and quiet determination. This is Liam’s story. A massive thanks to Liam for joining me on the CDP.Support the show
