Smidge Wines is more than what is in the bottle. It is the story of a quiet wine nerd who stepped away from global recognition and a regular pay cheque to build his own, first-generation winery – one small site in McLaren Vale, from berry to bottle.

For over a decade Matt was founding winemaker and first employee at Two Hands Wines, where he helped craft wines that appeared in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World for 10 consecutive years – a record that remains unmatched for a winemaker. Those experiences, and many other accolades, gave him the confidence to back himself and create his own vision for what a small, modern Australian winery can be.

Spend any time with Matt and it quickly becomes clear that his depth of experience is matched by a genuine enthusiasm to share what he knows. He has a knack for making complex ideas feel simple, whether he is talking about tannin and structure or just what is in your glass on the day.

He often traces it back to his childhood, watching and helping his Spanish grandmother in the kitchen, where he first learned about flavour, balance and patience. Since then he has made wine in France, California and across Australia, each step adding to a quiet bank of knowledge before he was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Len Evans Tutorial.

While his achievements around the world are exceptional – and more than many would need – Matt tends to dismiss the attention. His own view is simple: you are only as good as your last wine. That philosophy underpins every picking decision, every ferment and every barrel at Smidge.

With this level of care, you can taste the experience, patience and respect for site in Matt’s wines – it is unmistakable.

If you would like to get a feel for how Matt thinks about what is in the glass at home, you can download his free 7 tips for tasting wine at home guide, or begin with the First Pour Pack, a three-bottle introduction to Smidge.