My Story
I still remember my first taste of wine, sometime in my early teens. In the early 1980s, Australia was just beginning its rise as a powerhouse in the global wine world, and that energy was infectious.
Like many young Aussies, I started drinking at the local outback pub around sixteen, beginning with cider and beer before discovering wine. Back then, dating in your late teens meant trying to show a bit of sophistication, and nothing said “worldly” quite like bringing along a bottle of wine.
Two bottles became my go-to choices: Rosemount Traminer Riesling, with its floral sweetness and spice, and Kaiser Stuhl Rosé, light and refreshing. By eighteen the legal drinking age it was almost a rite of passage to spend weekends wine tasting, and the best part was that the tastings were free. Those weekends sparked more than just social fun; they began a lifelong fascination with finding out about the story behind every bottle.
Stepping In With Both Feet
Australians are deeply proud of their wines, and I’ve carried that pride with me ever since returning to Minnesota. Over the past 40 years, I’ve worked to share and promote Australian wines here in the Twin Cities — from private tastings to large-scale events.
One of my proudest achievements was negotiating with Wine Australia to bring their “G’Day USA: A Taste of Australia” (known as G’Day in a Glass) event to Minnesota. We showcased over 300 Australian wines and even flew in seven winemakers from across Australia to pour, share stories, and celebrate their craft. It was a milestone moment for connecting Australian wine culture with an eager Midwestern audience.
Why Somm Wine Yea
Quite simply, I love wine, and I want to help others understand and love it too.
Somm Wine Yea is my way of sharing that passion: a place for my wine musings, tasting notes, event stories, and the lessons I’ve gathered over decades of exploring vineyards and cellars around the world.
My goal is to make wine more approachable and enjoyable for everyone. Along the way, I’ll share practical tips, educational tools, and links to help you become more confident in your own wine journey.
Some of the topics I’ll be exploring include:
- Wine basics – how to taste, serve, and appreciate wine
- The primary nine styles of wine – from crisp whites to bold reds
- How to identify flavors and detect wine faults
- Handling and storage – treating your bottles like the treasures they are
There’s a world of information (and inspiration) out there, and I hope Somm Wine Yea becomes a space where you’ll enjoy exploring it all with me.
Cheers,
Neal McMahon