Introducing Fairways & Vines

A Journey through Australia's Golf and Wine Landscape

Good Morning from Cape Wickham, King Island Tasmania

Welcome to Fairways & Vines,

Growing up in Sydney, my love affair with golf began as a wide-eyed kid, pestering my father to teach me the game. He'd reluctantly relent on Christmas Day - just dad and me at the local course, having it all to ourselves while others celebrated at home. Little did I know this would plant the seeds for a lifelong passion.

Wine entered my life during university years, again with my father as guide. Weekend escapes to the Hunter Valley and accompanying him to wine producer dinners opened my eyes to Australia's vibrant wine culture. Later, my consulting career allowed for an unexpected wine education, as client dinners across the country let me explore Australia's finest wine lists.

Today, these passions have evolved. I've started building a small but growing wine cellar. Nothing heroic, but carefully curating 4-6 cases a year, aiming for a collection that will let me enjoy a special bottle weekly after a decade of patience. And luckily just before Melbourne's Covid lockdowns hit, I joined Huntingdale Golf Club, a famous sandbelt club, and got much more committed to golf as a core part of my life and welbeing.

As I've reached a stage in life where I can dedicate more time to these pursuits (admittedly, expensive ones!), I've realized how perfectly golf and wine complement each other. Both reward patience, knowledge, and appreciation of craft. Both offer lifetime journeys of discovery. Golf offers a lifetime project in character building.

This brings me to Fairways & Vines. Drawing on my days in Harvard and San Francisco, I've noticed growing interest from American friends in experiencing Australia's world-class golf courses, and seem to be drinking very good wine. This project aims to be your trusted guide to experiencing the best of both worlds Down Under.

While this might evolve into curated golf and wine tours for U.S. visitors, for now, it's about sharing insights and discoveries with fellow enthusiasts.

Let me start by sharing some of my personal favorites:

5 of My Favourite Australian Golf Courses:

• Kingston Heath - A masterclass in strategic design and sublime bunkering

• Royal Melbourne West - Simply world-class, a test of both skill and wisdom

• Cape Wickham - Dramatic coastal golf at its finest

• Barnbougle Lost Farm - Pure links golf in Tasmania's wild beauty

• Huntingdale - My home course, a classic sandbelt challenge (currently being renovated)

5 of my Favourite Australian Wines:

• Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir - Burgundian finesse meets Australian terroir

• Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon - Margaret River excellence in a bottle

• Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1 - A Victorian icon of complexity and elegance

• Tolpuddle Chardonnay - Tasmania's answer to fine white Burgundy

• Henschke Hill of Grace Shiraz - Australian wine royalty, pure and simple

Here in Melbourne, we're blessed with an embarrassment of riches - world-class golf courses and wine regions within easy reach. There's so much more to explore and share.

This is just the beginning of our journey together. Whether you're planning an Australian golf adventure, seeking wine discoveries, or dreaming of combining both, I look forward to being your guide to the finest fairways and finest wines this remarkable country has to offer.