Specialising in premium organic, biodynamic & sustainably produced wines from around the world. Gregory as Dan and Mr. Scher as Daniel.
Small Story Merchants is a boutique wine distribution company based in Victoria and specialising in premium organic, biodynamic and sustainably produced wines from Australia and around the world. By coincidence, our two wine ambassasdors are both named "Daniel", so to avoid confusion we refer to Mr. This is the story of the wines they have on offer, the producers they represent, the characters the
y meet and the antics that unfold as they journey around Melbourne with a boot full of samples and a passion for their trade.
MEET THE TEAM
When asked what wine region from the portfolio excites you most, Daniel Scher answered Tasmania. Read on for his full answer...
'Tassie is so hot in the Victorian trade right now, and I am proud of the wines from Small Wonder. I am embracing the exciting future of this ACO (certified organic) vineyard.'
MEET THE TEAM
Daniel Scher
Portfolio Pick: Schneider Kalkstein Spatburgunder 2021
When asked why, Dan put it simply: 'Because of its well-rounded, harmonious style and incredible value.'
🍷: .weilerschlipf
MEET THE TEAM
Daniel Scher
Role: Brand Ambassador
Nickname: Danno
Current favourite tune: 'Danielle (Put A Smile On My Face)' by Fred Again...
Sport of choice: AFL 24/7
Your team/s: The Mighty Hawthorn Football Club
Interests/hobbies: Pickleball, cooking, dining with my beautiful wife, travel, running & of course, time with my boy Miso (Cavoodle)
All-time favourite dish + wine pairing: Sharing a Chateaubriand with all the trimmings whilst sipping on 2015 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru
📷:
MEET THE TEAM
When asked what wine region from the portfolio excites you most, Dan Gregory answered Baden. Read on for his full answer...
'Baden offers great potential as a region that will continue to become very trendy and in demand in the wine world. It’s one of the very few European homes of Pinot Noir. It’s a wine region with hundreds of years of history, and more and more very high-quality producers are emerging from here that offer excellent quality and diverse styles and values. It’s no longer the home of a generic dry red from Germany and is now being rightfully compared to that other more famous European Pinot Noir region (Burgundy).'
MEET THE TEAM
Dan Gregory
Portfolio Pick: Schneider Kapf Spatburgunder 2020
'It's a superb Pinot Noir, so full and detailed. A hedonistic wine experience. French clones grown organically in the South West of Germany in Baden. Sublime.'
🍷: .weilerschlipf
MEET THE TEAM
Dan Gregory
Role: Sales Manager
Nickname: Danny G
Current favourite tune: 'Million Dollar Baby' by Tommy Richman
Sport of choice: Rugby
Your team/s: Western Force & The Wallabies
Interests/hobbies: Music/playing guitar, playing touch footy, family time with wifey & my boys.
All-time favourite dish + wine pairing: Japanese-style wagyu beef slices with a glass of aged Tempranillo (Rioja or Ribero del Duero)
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making a splash down at Manly beach. To taste these vivacious, cool climate wines out of Tasmania get in touch with our man on the ground in NSW, Wayne.
We have become somewhat of an ambassador for vinous adventures with a German accent. This time of year we find ourselves gravitating towards the sleek, refined style of Spätburgunder.
Those familiar with the Small Story Merchants' portfolio will certainly know the texture, detail and beautifully expressive Pinot Noirs from .weilerschlipf, the amplitude and vivacity of .salwey and the grateful, relaxed style of Shelter.
To take a peak behind the cellar door and learn more about our excellent selection of Spätburgunder, get in touch.
Looking for the ultimate winter red? Look no further than the serious, svelte and seamless wines of Wayfinder.
With four single-varietal and 100% hand-picked reds to choose from, these truly are the wines to see you through the shorter days and colder temperatures ahead. Get in touch to hear more about the Wayfinder Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Wayfinder began its journey with the opportunity to become caretakers of an old vineyard in the heart of the Margaret River region. The first step was to convert the land to Australian Certified Organic (ACO), a goal that was achieved in 2022. Today, the estate is a certified Bee Friendly Farm and is one of only four local vineyards in the EcoVineyards Program. The property is also home to a large-scale native revegetation project, a market garden, animal husbandry and a newly planted orchard.
To learn more about these expressive, sustainably-produced wines from Margaret River and to taste through the range, simply get in touch.
As the brisk winds of autumn give way to the first chill of winter, there's a palpable shift in the air, particularly in the hospitality trade as many seek the warming comfort of their favourite restaurant, bistro, or pub. The start of winter makes us yearn for a hearty meal paired with a glass of red wine.
With this shift in weather, our minds naturally shift to the structured yet finely balanced red wines of Wayfinder. Get in touch to learn more about this elegant and refined range from the Margaret River Region…..
Our hand-picked portfolio consists of small family-owned producers showcasing premium biodynamic, organic, and responsibly produced wines from Australia & around the world. We have built our portfolio from years of industry experience, sourcing hard-to-find, limited edition sustainable wines that we simply love to drink 🍷
If you haven't already heard... Small Story Merchants is in Sydney!
We are delighted to share that our first Sydney-based customer is . The Union is an iconic family-owned pub offering live music and a cracking bistro complete with an eclectic wine list. Currently, they are pouring the 2023 Small Wonder Landscape Pinot Noir (TAS), the 2021 Wayfinder Cabernet Sauvignon (WA) and the 2022 Eschenhof-Holzer Ried Altweingarten Grüner Veltliner (Austria).
Are you a Sydney-based bar, restaurant or hotel? Get in touch to hear more about the Small Story Merchants portfolio.
will be pouring some spectacular wines this Saturday at the Elsternwick Wine Market at .
Dan will be showcasing a new selection of European beauties. Think Gruner Veltliner, Blaufrankisch and of course Pinot Noir. One of the producers on show will be .
Birgit Braunstein is a multi-generational winery specialising in biodynamic wines from the Leithaberg DAC region of Austria, 40km southeast of Vienna by Neusiedlersee Lake.
Stop by to taste these elegant, mineral-driven Austrian wines plus a few other gems from the portfolio.
Saturday 25th May
2-5pm, pop in anytime, no bookings required.
Join us this Thursday, the 23rd of May, at for 5 courses of delicious food, paired with wines from & .
Small Wonder is a Certified Organic vineyard and winery in the Tamar Valley of Tasmania. The region's cool climate is ideal for crafting Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling with naturally higher acidity and a unique expression of fruit and texture.
Across the country, located in the Margaret River Region of Western Australia lies Wayfinder. The Certifed Organic vineyard is perfectly positioned to produce elegant single varietal wines with a particular focus on Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec.
Bookings for this epicurean evening are essential so head to our link in bio to get tickets.
It is International Pinot Gris Day, or should we say Grauburgunder...
Grauburgunder is the German name for the grape variety. It differs from its French and Italian counterparts in that it is usually more mineral-driven and has higher acidity.
When we think of Grauburgunder, naturally, we think of .salwey. Weingut Salwey in Oberrotweil is proud of its history as a classic family-run estate. Yet that tradition only tells part of the story. Konrad is the third generation of Salwey to run the winery, which focuses on Pinot varieties traditional to the Kaiserstuhl region.
If you haven't already be sure to taste the Salwey Eichberg Grauburgunder GG 2019. It has flesh and depth and offers grateful, lush drinking. Get in touch to taste.
Throwback to last Thursday’s epic event at Into Coffee. Collingwood’s Into The Vines put on an amazing wine party to kick off the greatest song contest in the world, Eurovision! We were thrilled to be one of five excellent exhibitors and there was even a wine-themed tattooist. What an evening. Thanks for having us .co, & .co.
Have you tasted the Brut Eulalie from Champagne Edouard Duval?
The perfect aperitif, it is composed of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay and aged in Burgundian oak demi-muids lending the wine hints of hazelnut and fresh meringue, bolstered by tart citrus and red currant fruit with a floral flourish.
Get in touch to taste.
Grab a glass of Malbec and celebrate its International Day today! Malbec is a variety that gets around. It's a blender in Bordeaux, a hero in Argentina (with 75% of global plantings), critical to Cahors, a support act in the Loire, and a straight-up wine in many new-world regions.
It's also a curious cultivar.... it's origins are often debated, and it goes by no less than 56 synonyms 😲
We love Malbec for its plump, dark fruit flavours, smoky finish and unique mix of feminine and masculine characteristics.
We love Wayfinder wines. Single vineyard, single variety, and a single focus towards precision and concentration. Their small range is crafted from the famous gravel loams of Margaret River. The team picks the eyes out of the best blocks each vintage and then puts the separate parcels through their paces for selection in rigorous blending trials.
The image on their label is getting a fantastic response from the punters. Inspired by a native explorative vine, described as "Inherently curious, she chooses her own path, working with and adapting to the environment around her. In summer, her flowers are replaced with delicate featherlike seedheads, their futures interwoven with the vagaries of nature".
Let us know if you'd like to try something from Wayfinder 😀
The days are getting cooler and we're getting requests for intriguing reds. The Kolfolk 2019 'Querschnitt' Rotburger is one such wine, and it's organic to boot!
Kolfolk roughly translates as "unconventional thinker", an apt phrase to describe winemaker Stefan Wellanschitz, who took a 19th-century estate and threw tradition to the wind. Despite being born into the conventional side of the old-world industry, Stefan takes a more natural, low-tech approach to winemaking that showcases the soils and unique character of his region.
This wine represents killer value. A blend of Rotburger, a touch of Sankt Laurent, Blaufränkisch, Blauburger and Syrah, it is light and savoury with dark, wildberry fruit, tart hibiscus, iron-like minerality, and vivid energy.
We're proud to represent your wines in Melbourne and Sydney Stefan 👏
Thanks for the shout out! Happy Easter guys 😁
It’s the perfect night for a crisp fresh Saint Julien Rose from our friends at
Get in quick for tonight as spaces are limited. Book via the link in our bio
Small Story Merchants is now in Sydney!
Meet Wayne Coomer, our man in the ground in New South Wales' big smoke.
Wayne is the consummate wine sales professional and has represented some of the most distinguished wine brands from across Australia and internationally. Wayne's love of travel has taken him to many of the most prestigious wine regions across the globe, lending him authenticity to represent European and Aussie brands. His signature dish at home is risotto and the go-to wines for pairing are either a cheeky Dry Riesling or a fabulous Chianti Classico.
“I’m so excited to be joining Small Story Merchants to share with Sydney and NSW the exciting range of family-owned wineries who all care for the planet and make their wines in a sustainable way”. Cheers, Wayne
Easter is almost upon us, and whether you adhere to the practice of seafood on Good Friday or not, it seems to have become somewhat of an Aussie tradition, even if just for an excuse to eat oysters and lobster!
We have so many wines in our portfolio that pair perfectly with the fruits of the sea, just to mention a few..... Edouard Duval Champagne, Pichler Krutzler Riesling, Salwey Pinot Gris, Schneider Pinot blanc and so many more.
If you'd like to rustle up some crisp bubbles and elegant whites, send us a DM today 🍾🥂😄
The principles of biodynamic farming date back to the early 20th century, courtesy of Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner. Predating the organic movement by a few decades, the biodynamic movement is deeply rooted in the idea of creating a self-sustaining system. Using only natural materials, soils, and compost to tend the vineyard, this holistic approach seeks to create a rich, fertile environment in which the vines can grow. Biodynamic growers observe the rhythms and cycles of the earth, sun, moon, stars, and planets and seek to understand the subtle ways that the wider cosmos influences the ecosystem.
We are proud to say our portfolio is filled with producers choosing a more sustainable way to grow grapes and make wine. While most are certified organic, the following are fully certified biodynamic…
weilerschlipf
Get in touch to taste.
Happy International Riesling Day!
Today we are focusing on two incredible Rieslings from our portfolio...
2021 PICHLER-KRUTZLER Loiben Riesling: In the Wachau region of Austria lies the Loibner basin where these grapes are grown on river sediment consisting of mostly gravel. Cool air from a side valley streams into the basin at night. This unique terroir results in a pure and vigorous wine containing high but ripe acidity.
2021 BATTENFELD-SPANIER Mölsheim Riesling: Hailing from the cool and stony vineyards around Mölsheim, Germany, this wine boasts notes of restrained fruit with hints of flint and cool herbs. Detailed yet also broad, it displays impressive elegance despite its elevated acidity and minerality.
As always we are happy to drop in with some samples, simply get in touch.
Bella BORGOLUCE! We love our Italian Prosecco people for their environmental ethos as much as their wines.
The di Collato family holds firm to their motto, "We Cultivate Respect for the Land". Aside from applying both organic and biodynamic principles in their production, they have recently been awarded the Italian Equalitas Certification, which requires a rigorous adherence to its standards throughout the entire supply chain.
If you'd like to know more about their Lampo, Superiore and Rosé styles, send us a message. We'd love to hear from you 🍾🥂
Exciting Announcement Alert!
Small Wonder has just been listed as one of the national finalists in the Vineyard of the Year Awards 🍇🏆
There are only four finalists from Tasmania so they're a strong chance to snag one of the individual awards judged and announced this June. No matter what happens, we are so proud to represent this small but amazing brand out of the Tamar Valley. Their organically grown, hand-harvested fruit and location in the cool climes of the north deliver wines of incredible elegance and restraint. Our pick at the moment is the Small Wonder "Landscape" Riesling; this beauty displays pristine aromatics and a sense of volume but is still quite vibrant with razor-sharp focus. A core of juicy citrus fruit (lime pith) leads with intensity and pace.
WAYFINDER wines represent what can be achieved when you make small steps towards a large dream of successful sustainability, striving to work with nature to make the best from nature.
With the benefit of a mature vineyard planted on Forest Grove gravelly soils, this new Margaret River brand is able to produce wines with great drive and concentration. Relatively early hand-picking preserves fragile aromatics and ensures a wine style that is elegant and refined.
Their single varietal range is comprised of Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon, and we're ready to show these delicious drops to you anytime!
PINOT PROFESSIONALS...
Dating back to the 18th Century is the wonderful .salwey. Salwey are specialists of all varieties branching from the "Pinot" genealogy - Weissburgunder (Pinot blanc), Grauburgunder (Pinot Gris) and Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir). Konrad Salwey, pictured in the images, is the new generation in winemaking for this prestigious family-owned brand out of Baden, Germany, and is crafting wines of great elegance and distinction.
Also pictured is one of Salwey's vineyard sites which was planted on an abandoned volcano stone quarry - how's that for interesting Terrior!??
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Another episode of #whatisdandrinking… this time we are at the warehouse unpacking a new shipment of wines. Fresh off the boat, we have the 2021 Pichler-Krutzler Loiben Riesling. Watch to find out more about this incredible wine and as always get in touch to taste. 🍷
Another episode of #whatsdandrinking at our friends @fredasbistro 🍷 #clearconsciencewines
Huge thanks to @whitekatbeverageco for joining us at Small Wonder in the Tamar Valley. It was a pleasure showing you around the place! For those who don’t already know, Small Wonder is one of our certified organic producers based in Northern Tasmania, known for their cool climate wines with naturally high acidity and a distinct focus on the expression of fruit and texture. Get in touch to taste.
Join us for another instalment of ‘What is Dan Drinking?’ Today, we are at @hazel_melbourne drinking the exceptional 2022 Wayfinder Cabernet Franc from the Margaret River region of Western Australia. Watch to learn more and get in touch if you’d like to taste.
Join us for ‘What’s Dan Drinking?’ Today Dan is drinking a 2020 Steintal Buntsandstein Spätburgunder from the Franken region of Germany. Watch to hear all about this fantastic wine and get in touch to taste. 🍷🇩🇪
@Wayfinder Wines
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