Wine and Comedy – The Perfect Blend.

Wine and Comedy – the perfect blend. Stepping out of my comfort zone with In Pour Taste.

by Niina Cunynghame-Lang

This year sees my second time on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Something I never thought I would do once, let alone two runs! In Pour Taste: a comedy wine tasting experience is the brainchild of two Australian comedians, Ethan Cavanagh and Sweeney Preston, who were originally approached by a new wine bar in Melbourne to come up with a comedy event for a tasting with a difference, and In Pour Taste was born. The show, which won an award at the Adelaide Fringe in its first iteration, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe last year and has since toured the world and comedy circuit, gaining an almost cult-like following.
The premise is that the duo are joined by a wine expert for each show and the audience gets 5 wines to taste throughout the show, introduced in traditional style by the expert, with them delivering a comedy angle, destroying any snobbery we may have about wine and the way we talk about it. It is great fun to be a part of and they have got the tone just right in how they deliver.

In early 2024, I got a call from a friend saying her brother-in-law works for a production company in London and they are looking for a wine expert for a show at the Edinburgh Fringe. Would I be interested in chatting to him? Feeling a bit lost at that time in my professional life, I thought, ‘why the hell not?’, and a couple of weeks later ended up on a FaceTime call to Melbourne to see if I got the job. Luckily, I did and a few months later, I was nervously sourcing wine for my first Fringe appearance. Public speaking is not my thing. I have always avoided making speeches or doing presentations since I was a kid, so this was really pushing my boundaries. But I am a big believer in doing something every day that scares you and saying ‘Yes’ more! Plus, as I was in control over what I would be showing, I should be fine in chatting about the wines and hopefully teaching the audience a fact or two about what they were drinking.

Sourcing five wines for the shows is easier said than done. I didn’t want to show wines that everyone had tasted before, and as a wine merchant, I wanted to use the experience to show the public what other amazing grape varieties and regions are out there and how to get out of their own comfort zones, all within a certain budget. I know too many friends who reach for the same bottle every time as it’s ‘just easier’ and admit that they know nothing about wine but wish they knew more. This was my time.

I passed my WSET Diploma in 2015 and I have always loved sharing my knowledge with friends and answering any questions they have about wine as well as telling them what wine they should be having with their dinner. Wine is my passion and jumping up on stage to talk about my passion isn’t scary, it’s a joy. I know Ethan and Sweeney have my back if anyone heckles and I am all up for breaking down barriers when it comes to wine snobbery and making it easier to understand and more accessible for people. Wine lovers shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help and I want them to support their local wine shops and bars and tell them what style they like so they can discover this whole new world. It will drag you in and leave you wanting more.
Having started working at De Burgh wine merchants 6 months ago, I broached the idea of doing this year’s show with them and how great it would be to show people something fun from our list of about 800 wines… but where to start? Well…

The first wine is in honour of the 2 Australian hosts, an unoaked Chardonnay by Brookford, from South East Australia. Easy and unpretentious, this is bright and zesty and full of soft tropical fruits and citrus zing. A bit like my Aussie hosts.

Second, we have a Spanish Verdejo by Javier Sanz from Rueda – this is lovely with a nice texture from 3 month lees contact and has a nice grapefruit, lime note with fennel and touch of anise. A relatively unknown region that hopefully people will start to explore.

Third, a lovely Provence style Rosé, ‘Elixir’, Bruno Andreu from the Languedoc-Roussillon. Made from 100% Syrah, this has a touch more intensity to it than Provencal rosé and this is a lovely modern take with a rustic French edge. It’s beautiful and a team favourite.

Fourth, my favourite wine region – Portugal. This Vinho Tinto is a blend of local grape varieties from Lisbon and is just a juicy, fresh style with a touch of oak allowing some gentle spice notes to come through and add a touch complexity. This is superb value and fabulous with a BBQ.

And last but not least, a South Italian red from Campania, Aglianico – the ‘Barolo of the South’ full of fruit, spice, chocolate and mystical powers from the witches of Sannia… I can already hear Ethan and Sweeney taking me down a peg or two as I write..
I will leave it there as I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise too much. You will just need to come and see the show to find out more!

At the Edinburgh Fringe every evening (apart from Wednesday) until 24th August 2025
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/in-pour-taste-a-comedy-wine-tasting-experience

Touring round the UK in September & October 2025
https://inpourtasteshow.com/

If you can’t make any of those, why not try the In Pour Taste box and explore for yourself!
In Pour Taste Mixed Box