"The right glass can take your wine experience from good to great," Dunne says. "Just like adjusting acoustics when listening to music, the right vessel allows each wine to show its true personality."

Dunne was a 2015 Len Evans Scholar and the Sydney Morning Herald 2011 Good Food Guide Louis Roederer Sommelier of the Year as well as group sommelier for the Solotel Hospitality Group which includes key venues such as Aria in Sydney. He's coming to Canberra as part of the Fireside Festival to run a masterclass on how the right glassware can change the wine experience.

"The Plumm story is one of elegance and simplicity," Dunne says. "Proudly Australian, we've been making wine glasses since 2009 and we're the only wine glass brand owned by a wine company. We worked with winemakers to create the vintage range which consists of five shapes to cover all wine styles."

He'll be joined by Alex McKay from Collector Wines and Jake Carter from Sholto Wines who'll give a sneak peek of his yet-to-be released pet nat. Dunne says he can't wait to showcase some local wines.

"The diversity in style and range of wines here in the Canberra district is absolutely exceptional," Dunne says. "There is an exciting new generation of winemakers coming through now who are pushing the boundaries, making quality, thought-provoking wines."

The night will be held at Lucky's Speakeasy at QT Hotel on August 28 from 6.30pm. Tickets are $120pp which includes six wines, cheese plate and four Plumm Vintage glasses in a take home box or $55pp which includes masterclass, five wines, oyster canape and cheese plate. Bookings are essential due to COVID restrictions. Bookings at canberrawines.com.au

Mt Majura wine maker Frank van de Loo has been nominated as one of the finalists in the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology Awards for excellence. The finalists were selected by a committee of ASVO members chaired by 2017 ASVO winemaker of the year, Mike Hayes.

"The awards delivered an exceptional class of assiduous finalists all shining examples of the extraordinary talent Australia has to offer," he said. "The cross section of finalists all developed their own stylistic approach to quality combined with an altruistic approach to research and development. Undoubtedly one of the finest selections ever seen in the awards."

The innovative approach to his work does not just stop at winemaking. He has also been actively involved in seeking alternative varieties suited to a changing climate and other sustainability initiatives. He has been actively involved in sharing information with the broader wine community and in supporting industry organisations including ASVO. "It's a real honour to be nominated when there are so many winemakers doing interesting work in our industry," van de Loo said.

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Also nominated as winemaker of the year were Peter Leske from Revenir Winemaking and Samantha Connew from Tasmania's Stargazer.

Fans of BentSpoke's limited-release Cluster 8 will be pleased to know it's making a comeback on August 28.

"This is a release we as brewers always look forward to putting into cans," said Richard Watkins co-founder and head brewer Richard Watkins. "One of our favourite BrewPub beers and experiences, we now get to share with the rest of the country. As always Cluster 8 is big, hoppy yet well balanced and of course, best enjoyed fresh."

Cluster 8 will be available at the BentSpoke Brewpub in Braddon, and nationally through BentSpoke's network of retail partners.