Five Way Cellars – One of Sydney’s Wine Institutions

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Wined Up Podcast, Trent sits down with Ches Cook from Five Way Cellars, the independent Paddington wine store his parents Ian and Prue opened in 1987 after Ian came home from a year in Europe wanting to bring that world of wine back to Sydney. Ches has now worked there for half his life, and he takes us through what's changed, and what hasn't, across nearly forty years of European-focused wine retail. The chat moves from a standout cellar visit in the Mosel and an unopened birthday bottle of Côte-Rôtie, through to the philosophy that actually keeps a small shop full of loyal customers: knowing people, being straight with them, and never pretending to love a bottle you don't. Ches breaks down why a higher price tag doesn't mean better wine, what a genuine beginner should actually look for on a label, and the seven types of wine drinker he sees walk through the door, tosser included. There's a proper detour into a mega-steep, volcanic Grand Cru in Alsace that almost nobody wants to farm, a case for Beechworth as Australia's best-kept Nebbiolo secret, and an honest read on where Burgundy's pricing might be heading. As Ian approaches 70 and the next generation starts taking the reins, Ches reflects on what he's learned from watching his dad build trust with an entire city, one recommendation at a time. It all circles back to that Grange. Wine, Ches argues, isn't something to hoard for bragging rights, it's something to open with the people who matter. Whether you're just starting out or you've already got a cellar full of Shiraz and only want Pinot, there's something here for you. 👉 Subscribe to @thewinedup and tell us below: What's sitting in your cellar that you're waiting too long to open? Drop it in the comments 👇 Go check out fivewaycellars.com.au YouTube Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:18 The Wined Up Ice Breaker Questions 11:01 What Actually Is Five Way Cellars 17:28 The Real Difference Is Connection 20:37 The Grand Cru Almost No One Wants to Farm 24:01 Building Trust One Bottle at a Time 30:43 The Biggest Mistake Wine Buyers Make 33:04 A Beginner's Guide to Buying Better Wine 37:31 The Seven Types of Wine Drinker 46:01 Beechworth: Australia's Nebbiolo Secret 48:04 Rapid-Fire This or That 50:58 What Excites (and Worries) Ches 53:57 Why You Never Sell the Grange 🎙️ Clip from The Wined Up Podcast 📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @the.wined.up 🌐 Visit https://www.thewinedup.com.au 📩 [email protected] #fivewaycellars #paddington #sydneywine #independentbottleshop #TheWinedUpPodcast #wedrinkwelearnweconnect We Drink. We Try. We Learn. We Connect. Drink Responsibly. 🍷 Follow Us on YouTube (@TheWinedUp), Instagram (The.Wined.Up), Tik Tok (@TheWinedUp), Spotify (The Wined Up), Amazon Music ( TheWinedUp), and Apple Podcasts (The Wined Up).  Visit our website https://www.thewinedup.com.au or email us at [email protected].   Drink More, Try More, Learn More.