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Earlier this year, I found myself on a guided tour of a winery as historic and captivating as it was charming and picturesque — and none of it by accident. Tucked away in the Victorian Highlands, in the storied town of Beechworth, just off Pennyweight Lane, sits Pennyweight Wines, a family-run gem helmed by the illustrious Morris family.

I had the privilege of being shown around by Stephen Morris Senior, who, along with his wife Elizabeth — a wonderful host in her own right — founded Pennyweight. Now, it was a bold move to give a tour in the middle of vintage, but it paid off in spades. I was treated to some authentic Beechworth hospitality and even managed to sneak a peek at winemaker Stephen Morris Junior at work in the barrel room.

Stephen Senior is as humble as he is generous. He avoids the spotlight but leaves no doubt about his confidence in the wines of Pennyweight and the Beechworth region. Like father, like son.

After some convincing, I managed to twist his arm into sitting down for a chat on the show. He joked that I was stuck with him because Stephen Junior was far too focused on the wines to be distracted — and honestly, that tells you just about everything you need to know about what’s in bottle at Pennyweight. If you get the chance to experience these wines, don’t hesitate. Gold takes many forms in Beechworth, and it seems some of the local producers are dabbling in alchemy.

It was a privilege to speak with Stephen Morris Senior — we talked Beechworth wines, the terroir, the region’s rich history, and a family legacy steeped in craftsmanship. A huge thank you to Stephen Senior for joining me. I hope you enjoy this conversation.

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Welcome to CDP Insights, a Cellar Door Podcast initiative where we stay up to date with market trends and get sharp industry insights. My guest is Joe Fattorini and in this episode we discuss how brands grow from a marketing perspective.

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In 2024, a new world wine region caught my attention for a very particular reason. While many wine-producing countries were grappling with declining export values, South Africa bucked the trend — not just holding steady, but actually gaining in value. It reminded me of my conversation back in Episode 37 of Season 4, with Anthony Hamilton Russell, who spoke so passionately about South Africa’s ambition, confidence, and its ongoing quest to command greater attention on the global wine stage.

The latest numbers hinted at something more than coincidence. It looked like a long-term strategy was finally hitting its stride. I wanted to understand what was happening behind the scenes — what was driving this momentum — so I reached out to Siobhan Thompson, the CEO of Wines of South Africa, the independent industry body solely focused on export markets and global activity.

Siobhan was generous with her time, and what followed was a fascinating conversation about market dynamics, strategic storytelling, and the bold, creative marketing mindset she’s bringing to the South African wine industry.

It’s a chat filled with insights from so many angles, and I’m thrilled to share it with you. So, without any further delay — a huge thank you to Siobhan for joining me, and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

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