We spent over $1,000,000 on wine!

We spent over $1,000,000 on wine!

Author: SESSION in PROGRESS February 18, 2026 Duration: 24:03

Master Sommelier Carlos Santos goes behind the scenes of building a $1.5 million restaurant wine list for a new Byron Bay venue created by chef Shannon Bennett.From $35,000 magnums to $40 best-selling wines, we break down how sommeliers curate world-class wine lists, negotiate rare allocations, and balance prestige bottles with everyday drinkers.


You’ll learn:

• How a Master Sommelier builds a wine list from scratch

• Why some wines sell more than others

• The hardest wines to source in Australia

• How trade tastings and supplier relationships work

• Why Australian wine is dominating restaurant lists

• How price psychology shapes customer ordersIf you love wine, restaurants, or the behind-the-scenes world of hospitality, this episode is for you.


Recorded at our new Collins Street studio by SESSION in PROGRESS.


SPONSORS

Grays.comhttps://www.grays.com/search/wine

RIEDEL: https://www.riedel.com/en-au/shop#sort=bestSeller

(Australians use code: GOTSOMME New Zealand: GOTSOMMENZ at check out for 20% off)


FOLLOW GOT SOMME

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotsomme/

Studio: https://www.instagram.com/session.in.progress/


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TIMESTAMPS

00:00 $1.5 million wine list reveal

01:30 Building a wine list from scratch

05:10 Choosing wines for Byron Bay diners

08:20 Hardest wines to source

12:00 Back vintages and vertical tastings

16:40 Why $40 wines outsell $1,000 wines

19:30 The $35,000 bottle

22:00 Trade tastings & negotiation secrets

25:00 Supporting Australian wineries


Welcome to Got Somme, the ultimate wine podcast where Master Sommeliers and wine experts share their tips, blind tasting challenges, and insider knowledge from vineyards around the world. Whether you’re a wine beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, we explore everything from wine education and wine tasting techniques to sparkling wines, red vs white, and the best wines under $30.


Subscribe for weekly episodes and join us as we taste, learn, and uncover the stories behind your favourite wines. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their wine knowledge, discover new wine regions, or just enjoy a fun, educational chat about wine.


Ever felt a bit lost staring at a wine list or wondering what you're actually tasting in your glass? Got Somme is here to help, without any of the pretence. This isn't a stuffy lecture; it's a conversation between Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and his mate, radio announcer Angus O'Loughlin, who's keen to learn but starting from scratch. Each episode, Carlos guides Angus-and by extension, all of us-through the fundamentals, breaking down everything from grape varieties and regional styles to understanding why a wine tastes the way it does. The real magic happens when they're joined by some of the world's most respected winemakers, who share the stories and craft behind their bottles. You'll hear Carlos explain how to pick a good wine from a bad one, demystifying terms like tannin and terroir along the way. It's an accessible, often funny journey into wine, perfect for anyone who enjoys a glass but wants to understand the world behind it. Produced by SESSION in PROGRESS, this podcast turns curiosity into genuine knowledge, one bottle at a time.
Author: Language: en-au Episodes: 100

Got Somme : Master Sommelier's Wine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
"They are PERFECT" - Master Sommelier on Mount Mary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:06
We've all heard about following in your father's footsteps but for Sam Middleton of Mount Mary Vineyard we wanted to know if expectation meant invitation "There was probably never any doubt that I would end up doing what…
Master (Sommelier) Class in DECANTING! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:42
Have a cracking bottle of Red Wine and you don't know if you should decant it? If you should - how long for? Master Sommelier Carlos Santos is here to debunk the decanting myths and describe the many benefits, including…
WORLD FIRST tasting of six 90+ point rated Chardonnays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:00
"I've never done this" Toolangi Chief Winemaker Kaspar Hermann joins Master Sommelier Carlos Santos and Angus O'Loughlin in the Got Somme studio to do a WORLD FIRST tasting of 6 vintages of their famous 'F Block' chardon…
Top 10 Australian Chardonnays future DECIDED! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:53
Embarking his 20th vintage in Yarra Valley Toolangi winemaker Kaspar Hermann knows a thing or two about getting the best from a Chardonnay grape. Marrying into a wine making family, and taking a viticulture course himsel…
Most POPULAR wine of 2024 is... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:21
Grenache In this episode, we delve into the rich history and global allure of Grenache, tracing its origins from the sun-kissed vineyards of Spain to its flourishing presence in France, Australia, and beyond. Discover th…
SHOCKED this wine is planted in THIS location! 🏝 🍷 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:30
Till the moment we pressed record on the podcast equipment host Angus O'Loughlin had NO idea that Malbec not only could be grown in France but was the first region to do so! Prepare to embark on a wine-tasting journey li…
EXPERT Cheesemonger pairs WORLD'S BEST Cheese with Wines 🧀 🍷 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:16
Meet Cheesemonger Anthony Femia 🧀 BUT Not just any expert on cultured milks! An Internationally recognised Cheesemonger who was the first Australian invited to France to select his very own flavour profile of Comté. This…
Master Sommelier pairs Fast Food with Wine 🍟🍔🍕 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:18
Maccas matched with Moscato? KFC companied with Chardonnay? Taco Bell with Barolo? Last year we posted a meme of McDonald's burgers being matched with Wines and it got thousands of likes! This year we thought we would wi…
Taylor Swift's TOLD US her FAVOURITE wine! REVEAL 🤯 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:15
We met her and saw the bottle 🤯 In this episode Angus O'Loughlin gives a behind the scenes look at what it's like to meet Taylor Swift and the bottle he saw gifted to her that's been revealed as her favourite grape varie…
57 wines to choose from and they brought these 4! Lethbridge Wines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:08
Bottles brought into studio: 2007 & 2018 'Allegra' Chardonnay 2019 'Mietta' Pinot Noir 2018 'Indra' Shiraz 2018 'Hugo' Super Tuscan Check out their website: https://www.lethbridgewines.com/ Follow them on Facebook: https…