Blind-tasting with Merrick Watts: Wine, wit and high pressure situations.
Wine tasting with Merrick at Wines of Tasmania HQ
L-R Yael Sandler (Josef Chromy), Katrina Myburgh (Wines of Tasmania), Merrick Watts, Linda Morice (Sinapius), Cynthea Semmens (Marion’s Vineyard), Ockie Myburgh (Josef Chromy).
It was during 2000, the Olympic year, in Sydney, that my friend miraculously got through to the Nova 969 switchboard. Merrick and Rosso, the two most popular radio hosts at the time, were inviting listeners to go on a Magical Mystery Bus Trip. A day with them. To somewhere. To do something. My friend won a seat on the bus – and could bring a friend.
“You’re coming with me, right?”
My response, despite not knowing what I was committing to, but as you do when it’s likely the closest you’ll ever get to being invited to the Oscars, or let’s face it, the Logies, was “Yes! Count me in!”
Truth be told, the day was pretty average, but that didn’t matter. It was a claim to fame I’d be able to use 20 years later.
Fast forward to 2020 and Launceston was hosting the first-ever Grapes of Mirth, a comedy festival being hosted by Merrick Watts, at Josef Chromy winery.
During one of the breaks, I decided it was entirely appropriate to accost Merrick backstage to remind him of our connection.
“No way! That’s awesome! Yeah, I remember that day! Thanks for coming to say hi”.
Wow. What a nice guy. He’d clearly perfected the art of gently palming off middle-aged women backstage. Alas, I walked away with my pride intact.
He came back the next year and in that time, I’d launched Wines of Tasmania. A more formal encounter backstage and now, having met the guy twice, there was that moment to see if he’d remember me. “G’day Merrick” I said. “How’s it going!? I remember you!” he said.
The conversation eventually led to us talking about the wine industry and his love of Tasmanian wine. He understood the complexities of the industry and appreciated the effort our winemakers go to producing top quality wine, particularly Pinot Noir. He could talk about Tasmanian Sparkling wine and its reputation on the world stage. He knew several key players and his passion and knowledge of wine was obvious.
The generosity of the guy was unhindered. He was happy to help me tell the Wines of Tasmania story, highlighting the smaller, family-owned wineries who own, grow and make their wine here in Tassie. The ones we represent in our subscription and gift wine boxes.
It was this year, 2022, when Merrick returned to Tassie, again for Grapes of Mirth, that he accepted my invitation to join our Wines of Tasmania blind taste. Where a panel comes together to decide which wines make the cut for our upcoming subscription boxes.
With a WSET level 3 certification, Merrick doesn’t just like wine, he’s properly educated in the process of grape growing and winemaking. When talking about wine, Merrick shifts into a different gear. One that is considered. Almost reserved, as he analyses the wines and shares his feedback. It was a true surprise when all you’ve only known the guy is to be funny.
Merrick Watts talking through the red bracket after the reveal at our blind-tasting
And more recently a warrior. Or weapon, as his kid’s friends call him. Merrick endured and ended up winning one of the most gruelling military training programmes, which is televised as SAS Australia on 7. I asked him where that interest came from because it seemed so different from the funny-guy persona most people know him to be. Merrick responded that he had wanted to be in the SAS his whole life. That, and to be a comedian. So, when the opportunity to be on SAS Australia presented, “it was a no brainer”.
“Actually, my personality is suited to both comedy and the SAS. They are both high-pressure environments and all the profiling tests I did reinforced that – I thrive under pressure. I work best when the intensity is up there. I don’t freak out like most people would in that situation.”
It makes perfect sense. When he’s doing comedy, he’s larger than life, totally switched on, focused, intense even, yet when he’s in his wine realm, he’s still laser-focused, intense, but calm and considered as he articulates his thoughts on each wine.
It was truly a delight to catch up with Merrick again and it reminded me of a few life lessons. Always be kind and generous, particularly if you’re an industry leader, and even when you encounter an overzealous middle-aged fan. Never judge a book by its cover. And take that risk, say yes, start that business, or go on that bus trip.
You never know where the journey may end up.
Merrick Watts accepting a Wines of Tasmania gift box from Katrina Myburgh, Founder, Wines of Tasmania