Not just another wine panel...
When it comes to wine, taste is personal.
One person's "notes of cherry" is another's cough syrup.
And let's be frank: half those buzz words you read on the back of a wine label don't always match up to expectations.
But bad wine is a mood killer in any language.
So every quarter, a bunch of The Wine Collective's most dedicated wine hounds help taste through the nonsense to find the bottles that you, your dad and the in-laws will all happily drink.
1
We taste hundreds.
Every few months the whole panel gets in a room with a few hundred bottles. It's a big job. Not that you'll catch us complaining.
2
So you don't have to
There's a lot of ordinary wine out there, and life's too short to drink it. We work through the lot so you can skip straight to the good stuff.
3
Labels off
We taste it all blind, so a flash name or a big price tag can't sway anyone. Then we argue about nearly every bottle. That's half the fun.
4
Only the best make it
Only about one in twenty is good enough to keep. Good enough for dads, in-laws and even the harshest critic to come back for seconds.
We taste hundreds
So you don't have to
Labels off
Only the best make it
The Faces Behind The Wine
Mark Pollard
The Big Chief
Trent Andrews
The Buyer
Simon Green
The Sommelier
Liz O'Reilly
Voice of the People
Mark Pollard
The Big Chief
Trent Andrews
The Buyer
Simon Green
The Sommelier
Liz O'Reilly
Voice of the People
Meet The Latest Panel Picks
Dont Just Believe Our Word...
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is The Wine Collective Tasting Panel?
The Tasting Panel consists of four wine experts, including a Head Buyer, sommelier, wine writer and Wine Society veteran. They evaluate hundreds of wines and select only those worth drinking.
Tasting panels have helped guide The Wine Collective's wine selection for 80 years. Every bottle available on the website has already passed the panel's demanding standards.
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Who is on the tasting panel?
The panel has four members, each bringing different experience and preferences.
Mark Pollard: The Head Buyer, with 20 years of industry experience. He appreciates traditional wines, particularly Beaujolais and Grenache, while championing lesser-known varieties.
Trent Andrews: A former pastry chef who discovered his passion for wine while working at Qantas. He values balance and generous flavours, with Krug Champagne and Hill of Grace among his favourites.
Simon Green: An experienced Sydney restaurant sommelier and wine writer who appreciates the history and people behind great wines. His favourites include Vouvray and German Riesling.
Liz O'Reilly: A former Wine Society professional and trusted advisor with a passion for food and wine pairing, as well as winemaking.
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How does the panel choose which wines to stock?
The panel evaluates wines through blind tastings, keeping labels hidden to prevent brand recognition or pricing from influencing decisions.
Members discuss each wine and reject anything that doesn't meet their standards. Only wines that impress the panel are selected for sale.
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What is blind tasting, and why does it matter?
Blind tasting means evaluating wine without knowing its brand, label or price.
This ensures wines are judged on their actual quality rather than reputation or cost. Both expensive and affordable bottles receive a fair assessment based entirely on what's in the glass.
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How often does the panel taste?
The panel meets weekly to evaluate new releases and revisit previous favourites.
These regular tastings help keep the wine selection fresh and introduce customers to new discoveries.
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Does the panel score the wines?
Yes. Wines are scored out of 100.
Scores may appear on product listings as a TWC Panel score or under the name of the individual reviewer. These ratings help customers understand how each wine performed during evaluation.
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Are the panel's wines exclusive to The Wine Collective?
Many are exclusive.
The panel actively seeks smaller producers and unusual wines that aren't widely available elsewhere. When they discover an exceptional wine, they may even purchase the entire vintage to offer customers something special
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Why does panel-selected wine cost less?
The Wine Collective works directly with winemakers, reducing the number of intermediaries and associated markups.
This allows the business to offer carefully selected wines at competitive prices without customers paying extra for brand prestige.
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Can I suggest a wine to the panel?
Absolutely. Customers are encouraged to recommend wines they've discovered or exceptional offers they've found.
Winemakers interested in submitting wines for consideration can contact the team at tradingteam@thewinecollective.com.au.
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What makes The Wine Collective different?
The Wine Collective combines 80 years of wine heritage with a panel of knowledgeable wine professionals who personally select the wines sold.
Its philosophy focuses on making quality wine approachable, avoiding unnecessary pretension and offering good value to people who genuinely enjoy wine.
