Sip with the Sommelier – Chris Morrison

The arrival of Gowings Bar & Grill’s sparkly new Autumn wine list brings plenty of good things. How do we know this? We sat and sipped with QT Hotels Group Wine Director, Chris Morrison.

If you haven’t met Chris, he’s the dapper man in the smart blue suit cutting a suave figure in a bustling QT Hotels dining room near you.

Chris has consulted on all things wine for tiny brands such as Qantas. Sommelier awards have been flung at him left, right and centre and he’s even penned a book all about the subject. He’s trotted all around the globe as an ambassador for Jacob’s Creek, Pernod Ricard, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet Champagne houses; championing a people-first approach to wine. That means, focusing on the people who drink it (that’s you, our guests, and boy do you quaff a lot of the stuff, we love you for it), sell it (our stellar team) and make it (our producers and winemakers).

We whisked Chris away for five minutes to find out why we should be fighting over who gets first dibs on QT Sydney’s Gowings Bar & Grill Autumn wine list.

Chris, talk us through QT Sydney’s approach to wine?

If there is one thing we want our guests to feel when they drink wine at QT is that there is a wine for everyone. We especially want drinking wine at QT to be a fun, immersive and demystifying experience. We do this by using the most important resource in our wine program – our people. Our sommeliers are wine communicators and sometimes translators but never educators. We talk to you, not at you. We are passionate about finding the right wine for you, every time you dine or drink with us

Tell us your elevator pitch on the new Gowings Bar & Grill Autumn wine list?

Our wine list pays homage to the classical and contemporary Australian wine industry with a European and Mediterranean accent. We love the wines of the ‘Med’ for their freshness, vibrancy and mouth-watering flavours which suit drinkers of all tastes and share a delicious narrative with the food of Gowings Restaurant. We are also passionate about the new generation of Australian winemakers and we work with some of the Country’s most exciting new wines and winemakers. We have created a tribute to Australian winemakers, both past and present, and the remarkable Australian wines that are their legacy. We are continually sourcing rare and aged bottles for our wine list from wineries, winemakers and private cellars from around the country. Importantly, the Gowings wine list represents the 100 years of history and tradition behind the magnificent Gowings Building that now also houses one of Australia’s newest and most popular boutique hotels, QT Sydney.

If you were dining in Gowings, tell us your ideal starter, main and dessert and wine to match – let’s go for a “sure thing” and an “adventurous” choice.

Heirloom Carrots

Sure thing: 2018 Cullen ‘Amber’ Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Margaret River WA

Skin contact white wines carry savoury, layers of texture and flavour that love the sweet, earthy flavours of roast vegetables.

Adventurous: 2018 Unico Zelo ‘Cherry Fields’ Dolcetto, Polish Hill SA

Dolcetto’s soft dark fruits, brisk acidity and flick of drying tannin suit the smokiness and richness from roasted vegetables.

Minute Steak

Sure thing: 2018 Rikard Cabernet Franc, Orange  NSW

Minute steaks are actually very delicate pieces of protein and need mid-weight reds like Cab Franc  with finely etched tannins and plenty of acidity to carry and enhance flavour in the dish,  not overpower it.

Adventurous: 2017 Le Petit Mort ‘Amphora’ Saperavi QLD

Dark, chewy wine that shows just enough restraint to be the perfect partner for minute steak.

Cannoli

Sure thing: Cantina Pellegrino ‘Passito Liquoroso’

Made from muscat grapes and full of tangerine and cherry flavours backed by a delicate sweetness. A wine style suited to the rich, creamy desserts of southern Italy.

Adventurous: Rallo ‘Vegine Soleras’ Marsala

A fortified wine native to Sicily full of honey, nutty flavours that you could pour over a cannoli if you wanted to.

Lastly, can you share five Autumn wines we need to order now?

Salo Chardonnay, Yarra Valley

Brash Higgins ‘ZBO’ Zibbibo, McLaren Vale

MADA Nebbiolo Rose, Canberra District

COS ‘Nero di Lupo’ Nero d’Avola, Sicily

Vinden the Headcase ‘Sommerset Vineyard’ Tempranillo, Hunter Valley

Secure your seat at Gowings Bar & Grill here.