My wine column, published in the winter 2023 issue of Inside Rotterdam

I’ve never been one to be persuaded by wine labels. Clever as some of these branding aesthetics may be, I think it’s fair to say that by now, we all know we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. And yet wineries continue implementing the most astute marketing tactics, hoping to spark our interest enough to grab their bottles off the shelf. 

Admittedly, when I came across the Two Hands Wines’ Sexy Beast Cabernet Sauvignon, I was intrigued, albeit somewhat apprehensively. Perhaps even ‘seduced’ would be a better word. Not only did the catchy name tickle the depths of my imagination, but oh, that label! A close-up of a kiss so succulent it made me blush. Would the wine, however, live up to its ambrosial promise? I caressed the bottle and poured myself a glass in delicious anticipation. But first, some background about Two Hands Wines.

When Aussie friends Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz decided to go into winemaking back in 1999, their mission was to craft excellent wines from Australia’s flagship red varietal – Shiraz – highlighting the unique terroir and diversity of the region’s vineyards. Based in the renowned Barossa Valley in South Australia, the winery is committed to a meticulous winemaking process, which includes small-batch fermentation, oak ageing and a focus on individual vineyard expressions.

Full column can be read here: wine Column Paola