Bottoms up, MacGill!

Australians know a thing or two about winning, and also about whining to judge the reaction to their rugby World Cup defeat, but it now appears that they are experts on wining as well. Stuart MacGill, the man who has spent the past decade waiting for Shane Warne's shoulder to pop out in order to get a bowl, is to present a series on booze in December on the Australian LifeStyle FOOD TV channel.

Sandwiched between such British staples on the network as Nigella Bites, Escape to River Cottage and Ainslie's Barbeque Bible, Stuart MacGill Uncorked will tell "the story of Australian wine today through a new generation of young winemakers and how they're influencing and shaping the local wine scene. Stuart will also meet local food producers, chefs and wine lovers and soak up that unique ambience that only the enjoyment of wine creates."

Well it beats getting sloshed in a Melbourne bar until the early hours with Freddie and Beefy.

MacGill was given support by Warne in the Aussie press this morning in his quest to gain the spinner's place for Australia's Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts next week. "He deserves his chance and hopefully he grabs it,'' Warne said of his former team-mate who has taken 198 Test wickets. "He is one of those guys that will raise his level in a Test."

In fronting a food and drink series, MacGill is following in the footsteps of other Australia cricketers. Matthew Hayden has written a couple of cookery books, while Andrew Symonds is the pin-up boy for Bacon Busters, a magazine dedicated to his favourite hobby of hunting wild pigs.

Comments

[Stuart George]

I almost met the other (less talented and famous) Stuart when I was visiting Brokenwood Winery in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney. I was told off for making the cellar door bell ring while MacGill was upstairs filming... Perhaps this will be a bonus feature on the inevitable DVD release. He’s mates with Iain Rigg, MD of Brokenwood and my host during my visit.

“Bacon Busters”... Now that is a magazine I would really like to write for.