Advertise on podcast: Top Up Wines

Emma’s got a pretty big gig. As Director of Wine for the State Buildings and COMO, she’s curating wine lists for award-winning venues like Wildflower, Long Chim, Post, Petition and Wine Merchant. But despite the high-end nature of the day to day, Emma is as down to earth and humble as they come.In this chat, Emma takes JB and Masto on a real journey, from the early days to now. Hear stories about everything from work ethic and wine comps to cooking up a storm at home for her mates. Plug in, take some notes, and get to know one the country’s best. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nice to jump on the hospo side for this yarn. Benny Wood is one of Masto’s good mates, and the venue manager at one of our faves, Corner Dairy in Doubleview. It’s a bar that’s all about local, with an exclusive Australian only wine list. Amen to that. During this ep, the boys bounce around. Benny talks about being a kid who grew up living in pubs, he gives his thoughts on when natty wine went too far and stacks more. Masto brings in a couple of bottles of his favourite local drops, while sharing an origin story about his lack of bladder capacity. Belly laughs galore here. Cheers!  Pouring during this ep, Marchand & Burch Barrow Chardonnay and Low Boi Riesling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fire watching. Backstage antics. Elective surgery gone wrong. This chat has it all. Sam Smith is one of those people. He’s done stuff. He’s seen things. And he hits the fork in the road at full speed. During this ep, Sammy talks about his early days as a chef, starting out at Perth institution Duende, before he left to work on remote islands up north and later start one of Bondi’s most loved cafes. He tells Masto and JB how muso and mate Matt Corby helped him leave the kitchen behind to pursue the tunes. Thanks for that, Matt. The Beefs are a vibe, combining Aussie pub, surf and rock culture in a way only Sammy can. If you haven’t already, go have a listen. This ep brings heaps of stories from the road (shoutout Amyl and the Sniffers), some deep thoughts on the therapeutic qualities of watching a fire, and plenty of laughs from Masto’s overshares about elective surgery. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Damo is one passionate guy. He loves wine like few do. And boy, can he tell a story. He’s got stacks of them too, with vintage number 31 in the books this year. One of the country’s most celebrated and respected winemakers, Damo was the long-time chief winemaker at Millbrook Winery, before heading to Nikola Estate in 2020. During this ep, Damo shares stories far and wide with Masto and JB, including his unique entry into the world of winemaking, traveling the country in his Kingswood and why he has such strong love for the Swan Valley. Stacks more is revealed during this chat, so sit back, pour a glass or two, and enjoy the ride. Pouring during this ep, Nikola Estate Riesling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The timing couldn’t be better. In 2025, Cherubino Wines is celebrating 20 years. And what a couple of decades it’s been. Masto and JB sit down with Larry Cherubino for a chat that covers some ground and digs deep into it. Plug in for yarns about the early days and a lifelong love of farming. There are stories of transition, from making wine for some of Australia’s biggest names, to going out on your own. Does it ever get old seeing your name on a bottle? Nope. Larry explains how great wine starts with great soil, diving into what makes Frankland River so special. We get the time-machine out and see how the local wine industry would look if we started it all again today, while skipping to the future for a look ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is where it all starts. JB and Masto sit down and see where it all goes. The pours are big, the stories deep and the laughs strong. The guys chat wine bugs, memorable drops and the driver behind Top Up, while Masto shares a yarn about the two special bottles he’ll never ever crack. Pouring during this ep, Flametree S.R.S Chardonnay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.