A couple of weeks ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to chat with one of Australia's most famed winemakers, Chris Pfeiffer. Not only did he pour me tastes of his wonderful wines — the Muscat was my fave — but he also gave me a whole new perspective on Australian wines.

With 30 years of winemaking under his belt, Chris is incredibly knowledgeable without being pretentious. He takes pride in his homeland, the Southern Australia region known as Rutherglen, and has created a distinct style of wine that he refers to as "refined restraint." Unlike more traditional, big and rich Australian wines, Pfeiffer's are beautifully balanced. To see what Chris had to say on a recent trip to San Francisco, read more