2026 Halliday Wine of the Year | Giles Cooke of Thistledown Wines

In this episode of the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, Giles Cooke MW, co-founder of Thistledown Wines, shares his journey in the wine industry and the philosophy behind his winemaking. He reflects on winning Wine of the Year, the history of the Smart Vineyard in McLaren Vale, and the techniques used to craft wines that are expressive of site. Host Anna Webster and Giles explore the challenges and rewards of the Master of Wine program, the potential of grenache in Australia, and Giles’ personal passion for food and wine pairing. The conversation also touches on the 2024 vintage, the balance of intuition and experience in winemaking, and future aspirations for Thistledown Wines. Connect with us: Thistledown Wines Thistledown Wines on Instagram Giles Cooke MW on Instagram Halliday Wine Companion Halliday Wine Companion on Instagram Halliday Wine Club Buy the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion LANGTONS LANGTONS on Instagram Key Takeaways The Smart Vineyard holds historic significance in McLaren Vale Great winemaking is about translating the vineyard into the bottle Grenache is often misunderstood because of its lighter style and colour The 2024 vintage was generous compared to previous years The Master of Wine program is rigorous and demands dedication Winemaking combines experience, intuition and trial and error Thistledown Wines focuses on medium-bodied, food-friendly wines Episode Chapters 00:00 – Winning Wine of the Year: A Journey of Doubt and Pride03:35 – The Smart Vineyard: History and Significance06:30 – Crafting the Wine: Techniques and Philosophy12:08 – Tasting the Wine: Aromatics and Flavour Profile14:00 – The 2024 Vintage: Insights and Decisions16:32 – Giles Cooke’s Wine Journey: From Passion to Profession18:33 – Master of Wine: The Challenges and Experience21:08 – Learning Winemaking: Experience and Intuition24:08 – Establishing Thistledown: Vision and Challenges27:35 – The Evolution of Grenache: Perception and Future29:55 – Exploring Other Varieties: Grenache Blanc and More31:59 – Quickfire Questions:    If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to the Halliday Wine Companion Podcast, leave a review, and share it with others who love Australian wine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.