Products Culture Style Podcast

S01E01: Wine Wisdom: Chris Carpenter on Cabernet and Shiraz

Show: Products Culture Style
Release date: 8 October 2025
Duration: 31m 30s
Intro & Summary
In this episode, Nick Hall sits down with acclaimed winemaker Chris Carpenter to unpack the magic of Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard in McLaren Vale. From an early “eureka” bottle to the nuts and bolts of viticulture, Chris shares how science, music, and terroir weave into his approach to Cabernet and Shiraz across Australia and Napa Valley.
Summary: We cover Hickinbotham’s high-country Clarendon fruit, why Cabernet and Shiraz behave so differently on site, and how vintage, canopy, and cellar decisions shape age-worthy wines. Chris also reflects on juggling hemispheres, the role of restraint, and practical tips for drinkers building a collection without breaking the bank.
Key Takeaways:
Terroir drives style at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard. Elevation, exposure and soil diversity yield structured Cabernet and expressive Shiraz that reward patience and thoughtful cellaring. These variables matter more than recipe-style winemaking.
Great wine is built in the vineyard and refined in the cellar. Decisions around canopy, irrigation, ferment management and oak work together, but restraint is key; the goal is transparency rather than manipulation.
Collect smart: focus on producers with consistency across vintages, then taste, track and learn. A modest budget can still build depth if you buy two bottles—one for now, one for later—and take notes as wines evolve.
Chapters
00:00 — Origin story: a ‘eureka’ bottle
04:30 — Introducing Chris Carpenter
09:00 — Cabernet vs Shiraz philosophy
13:30 — Hickinbotham & Clarendon terroir
18:00 — Viticulture & winemaking approach
22:30 — Vintage variation & climate
27:00 — Tasting, ageing & buying advice
Resources & Links Mentioned
Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard
Chris Carpenter – Winemaker Profile
McLaren Vale (Official Region)
Adelaide Hills Wine Region (Official)
Visit Napa Valley (Official DMO)
Wine Australia – Cabernet Sauvignon
Wine Australia – Shiraz
Related Articles on Man of Many
11 Best Wineries in McLaren Vale
Types of Red Wine: A Beginner’s Guide
15 Best Australian Red Wine Brands
15 Best Wine Clubs and Subscriptions in Australia
Host & Guest Details
Host — Nick Hall
Nick Hall is a multi-award-winning journalist and the Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many. Based in Sydney, he leads editorial across long-form features, brand storytelling and multimedia, and was named Editor of the Year at the 2022 Mumbrella Publish Awards.
Author Bio
Website
Guest — Chris Carpenter
Chris Carpenter is a jazz-loving biochemist-turned-winemaker known for crafting elite, mountain-grown Cabernet in Napa Valley (Cardinale, Lokoya, La Jota, Mt. Brave) and, in Australia, for his work at Hickinbotham Clarendon Vineyard in McLaren Vale.
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Man of Many is Australia’s largest men’s lifestyle site and the country’s first 100% Carbon-Neutral digital publisher. Established in 2012, our mission is to inform, engage, and empower readers and listeners with comprehensive, accurate, and timely content. Proudly independent and recognised as the 2025 Media Brand of the Year and 2025 Website of the Year, we provide premium yet approachable content that resonates with a total global reach of over 6 million people monthly. With over 900,000+ social followers and over 130,000 newsletter subscribers, we are dedicated to our purpose of empowering people to make positive investments in themselves and their communities.
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