Anna Thomas is clearly passionate about wine. In How To Drink Wine Like A Wanker, Thomas takes the audience on her journey from corporate high-flyer to wine buff over the course of 12 months.

Thomas weaves in her story of self-discovery, personal tragedy and the struggles of being a woman in male-dominated corporate environment with a tasting flight of six different wines, from whites to reds. The wine, at an additional cost to the ticket price on arrival, is optional; however, it does help develop a greater understanding for Anna’s story. When she compares herself to a merlot, the audience has a chance to taste the complexities of this overlooked blend. When she finds her place in the world, we’re given the opportunity celebrate with an outstanding pinot.

At times, How To Drink Wine Like A Wanker feels like you have been bailed up at the bar by a stranger who wants to offload, which is fine. While engaging, the story is not overly compelling and some of the audience lost interest along the way, with the intimate setup of a horseshoe around the bar making it tricky to engage with each patron. However, Thomas has an important story to share and it is well worth a listen.

All in all, How To Drink Wine Like A Wanker is a brief autobiography with wine as an explanatory prop. Thomas herself is likeable and, for the most part, entertaining. If you want to learn the difference between a Roussanne and a Riesling, this is not the show for you. Instead, in How To Drink Wine Like A Wanker, Anna Thomas tells her own story; the wine is an added bonus.

How To Drink Wine Like A Wanker runs in the front bar of Treasury 1860 until 21 March 2021. You can purchase your tickets here.

Rating: 3 stars

By Leila Hallak-Low