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Top of the drops: Wine, beer and spirit reviews 2021

38 stories
Glasses of wine.

Top of the drops: Wine and beer reviews 2020

Red to white wines.

Top of the drops: Wine and beer reviews 2019

Red to white wines.

Top of the drops: Wine and beer reviews 2018

Amaro, an intensely bitter herbal liqueur, is having a moment.

The bitter truth about amari: Three to try

  • Amy Cooper
The vineyard altitudes range from about 300 to 550 metres in the Adelaide Hills.

Three wines from the Adelaide Hills

  • Huon Hooke
Minimal tannin extraction and little or no time in oak barrels is all part of the style.

Three light young reds to quaff early

  • Huon Hooke
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White vermouth releases its subtleties with only ice and lemon for company.

Vermouth finds its voice: Three to try

  • Amy Cooper
Some of the most pleasurable wines are found in unexpected places.

Three wines from unexpected places

  • Huon Hooke
The pinot noir vine is fussy about where it's grown.

Three bottles of good-value pinot noir

  • Huon Hooke
Brewers are experimenting with beers that display deep chocolate notes.

Hoppy Easter! Bring on the chocolate beer

  • Amy Cooper
Why do we drink so much of the same varietals? Isn't that just a little boring?

Three bottles of alternative dry whites

  • Huon Hooke
Anything grapes can do, Australian apples can do better.

From pip to sip: Three Australian craft ciders

  • Amy Cooper
Grenache still offers good value for money.

Three good-value grenache (and grenache blends) to try

  • Huon Hooke
Tequila's cast of thousands includes Justin Timberlake, Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Seacrest and Kendall Jenner.

Star pour: How celebrities are taking over the bottle shop

  • Amy Cooper
Fresh, light, young and uncomplicated, prosecco originated in north-eastern Italy and took over the world.

Three bottles of prosecco to enjoy

  • Huon Hooke
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Maturing in oak barrels gives Black Gate's rum bold toffee and caramel characters.

​The mother of all spirits: Three bottles crafted by women

  • Amy Cooper
The real heat this winter is brought to you by botanical-infused spiced rum.

Why spiced rum is hot right now

  • Amy Cooper
The Barossa is a place whose name is synonymous with dark, rich, ripe, voluptuous shiraz wines.

Three bottles from the Barossa Valley

  • Huon Hooke
Missing Japan? Cheer yourself up with these three shochu spirits.

Pretend you're in Japan with these three shochu spirits to sip

  • Amy Cooper
Aotearoa produces an exciting variety of wines.

Three New Zealand wines to savour

  • Huon Hooke
Fill your balloon with one of the new, small-batch Aussie brandies.

Brandy is back: Three small-batch stars to try

  • Amy Cooper
A love affair with riesling requires commitment.

Three crisp, chilled rieslings to try

  • Katie Spain
A bottole of Penfolds Grange from 1951 recently sold for $142,131.

Three reds from Penfolds, including the latest Grange release

  • Katie Spain
Margaret River is staking a strong claim to be the next big chenin blanc region.

Three bottles of chenin blanc to try

  • Huon Hooke
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Australia's early wine industry was dominated by fortified wines.

Fortify yourself against winter chills and ills

  • Huon Hooke
Winemaker Andrew Scott's creations regularly earn him a top 50 spot in the annual Young Gun of Wine awards.

Three wines from Queensland, made with love and creativity

  • Katie Spain
Sweet wines are arguably a better match with cheese than dessert.

Three sweet table wines to try

  • Huon Hooke
Hunter Valley winemaker Ollie Margan.

A new chapter for this Hunter Valley single-estate vineyard

  • Katie Spain
You don't have to look far in France to find a grenache rosé.

Three bottles of grenache rosé to enjoy

  • Huon Hooke
Utterly joyful and a whole lot of fun: Clover Hill with amaro negroni twist.

Three bottles of fizz to enjoy

  • Katie Spain
Italian grape varieties such as fiano have taken root in McLaren Vale.

A fiano romance: Three bottles to try

  • Huon Hooke
Most of Australia's best value, inexpensive wines are made by big companies.

Three budget wines that deliver on flavour and value

  • Huon Hooke
Increasing numbers of vineyards and wineries are going organic in Australia.

Three organic wines to enjoy

  • Huon Hooke
Every man and his distillery dog seem to be experimenting with gin these days.

Gin, three ways

  • Katie Spain
Small producers from the Margaret River are starting to grab headlines.

Three smaller Margaret River labels making waves

  • Huon Hooke
More sparkling wine is consumed during the festive season than at any other time of year.

Three Australian sparkling wines for the festive season

  • Huon Hooke