Robert Whale might be onto something. Back in 1985, as managing director of a wine importer, Whale introduced wine drinkers in our region to the wonders of wines from Down Under. Big, juicy reds — which ran the gamut from such well-known wines as Peter Lehmann from Barossa and Parker Coonawarra Estate from Coonawarra to undiscovered gems such as Yellowglen from Victoria and Knappstein from the Clare Valley — opened up new avenues for consumers. In 2003, Whale founded Robert Whale Selections in order to focus specifically on boutique wineries in Australia and New Zealand that cut against the traditional grain.

Today, Whale looks for wines from these two countries that are both food-friendly and fun to drink.