Behind the Glass & Behind the Plate series
Every dish and every glass of wine has a story long before it reaches your table.
Our Behind the Glass and Behind the Plate series take you beyond the restaurant, introducing the growers, winemakers, producers and craftspeople whose passion shapes the experience we create at Toast & Oak.
From walking through vineyards in Central Otago and exploring the soils that define a wine, to visiting local producers and learning how exceptional ingredients are grown, harvested and cared for, these conversations offer a deeper understanding of the people and places behind what we serve.
We believe that knowing the story changes the way you experience the food and wine. It builds a connection to the land, the seasons and the individuals whose dedication makes every ingredient and every bottle possible.
This is our way of celebrating the people behind the produce, sharing their knowledge, and inviting you to experience the journey behind every plate and every glass.
Behind The Glass
Felton Road Winery // EP. 10
Every bottle tells the story of a vineyard. But behind every vineyard are the people.
For this edition of Behind the Glass, we visited Felton Road and spoke with James, their Technical Manager, about a philosophy that runs far deeper than winemaking.
It’s a belief that if you care for your people, they’ll care for the land, the vines and, ultimately, the wine. From thoughtful systems to a culture built on respect, every decision is made to help their team do their best work and enjoy doing it.
Because great wine isn’t only shaped by soil, climate or time. It’s shaped by the people who dedicate themselves to it every single day. Sometimes, that’s the most important ingredient in the glass.
Behind The Glass
Behind every great wine is work you can see and work you can’t.
For this edition of Behind the Glass, we visited Wild Irishman and sat down with Brian, whose journey has included working alongside Alan Brady, one of the pioneers of Central Otago winemaking.
We spoke about the importance of the vineyard, where every decision, from pruning to nurturing the vines, lays the foundation for what’s to come. Then there’s the barrel, where the quiet magic happens out of sight, transforming great fruit into great wine.
The barrel may hold the mystery, but the vineyard holds the promise. It’s a beautiful reminder that every bottle begins long before it’s poured.Wild Irishman // EP. 09
Behind The Glass
This week on Behind the Glass, we visit Folding Hill with Nikki & Matthew.
A truly family-run vineyard in Bendigo, where home and winery are one and the same. Every bottle is the result of countless hands-on decisions, because almost everything is done by the family themselves.
Matthew shares how his experience through the Central Otago Burgundy Exchange gave him the confidence to take a deeper role in both the vineyard and winery, helping shape the next chapter of Folding Hill.
It’s a story of hard work, humility, and a genuine connection to place. The kind of wine story we love sharing.Folding Hill Wines // EP. 08
Behind The Glass
There’s something unmistakable about Bendigo in the glass.
In this episode of *Behind the Glass*, Donald from Moko Hills takes us beneath the surface, exploring the soils, rugged landscape and unique conditions that shape every bottle. It's a conversation about place, patience, and why understanding the vineyard is just as important as understanding the wine.
The more you learn about the land, the more the wine starts to make sense. Every vintage tells the story of where it came from, long before it reaches the glass.
These are the conversations that remind us wine is never just about what’s in the bottle. It’s about the people, the place, and everything that happens long before the cork is pulled.
Moko Hills Vineyard // EP. 07
Behind The Glass
Coal Pit Vineyard & Winery // EP. 06
Behind the Glass with Anika from Coal Pit.
One of the best parts of this series is hearing directly from the people behind the wines we pour.
The small decisions. The vintage shifts. The patience it takes to let a wine become what it’s meant to be.
Anika speaks about winemaking with the kind of calm confidence that comes from understanding both the vineyard and the wine itself by knowing when to guide it, and when to simply let it speak.
Because great wine isn’t just made. It’s grown, guided, questioned and cared for the entire way through.
Behind The Glass
There’s something special about hearing a winemaker speak about their craft in the place it all begins.
We were lucky enough to visit Valli during harvest, right in the middle of the energy, movement, and intensity that shapes every bottle long before it reaches the table.
Walking the winery with Jen Parr, hearing her talk about site, seasonality and the decisions made in real time, was a reminder of just how much care sits behind great wine.
It’s one thing to pour a wine you love. It’s another to stand where it’s made and hear the story directly from the person shaping it.
Proud to serve Valli Wines at Toast & Oak, and even prouder to share the stories behind the glass.Valli Wines // EP. 05
Behind The Glass
Lowburn Estate Pyramid Valley Wines // EP. 04
Behind the glass with Nick Paulin.
We’re expanding our Behind the Plate series into the world of wine with Behind the Glass, sharing the stories, people and craft behind every pour.
Vineyard gardner Nick Paulin takes us into the rows to talk about one of the most important foundations of great wine, soil health.
Healthy soil means stronger vines, balanced growth, and fruit that truly reflects the land it comes from. From nurturing biodiversity to building resilience season after season, it all starts beneath our feet.
Because exceptional wine is grown from the ground up. 
Behind The plate
Black Lab Coffee // EP. 03
Behind the Plate, there's always a story.
This time, it's coffee.
In this episode, we sat down with Pol from Black Lab Coffee, the person behind every cup we serve. From sourcing exceptional beans to roasting, dialing in the perfect extraction and constantly refining the process, there's far more that goes into great coffee than most people ever see.
It's easy to think of coffee as the final touch to a meal, but when it's done well, it deserves just as much attention as everything that came before it. Every decision, from origin to roast profile to the way it's brewed, has an impact on what ends up in your cup.
We don't just pour Black Lab Coffee because it's local. We choose it because we believe in the care, craftsmanship and consistency behind it.
Behind The plate
Remarkable Fungi // EP. 02
Behind the Plate, there's always more than what you see.
Some of the most memorable ingredients begin long before they reach the kitchen.
In this episode, we visit Remarkable Fungi to learn about the care, precision and patience that goes into growing exceptional mushrooms. Every step is intentional, creating an ingredient with incredible flavour, texture and character before our chefs even begin working with it.
It's a reminder that great cooking starts with great produce. When an ingredient is grown with this much care, the job in the kitchen isn't to transform it, it's to honour it.
The kind of ingredient that doesn't need much... just respect.
Behind The plate
Gibbston Microgreens // EP. 01
Welcome to Behind the Plate 🌱
Where we show you what goes into it, before it ever hits the pass.
Behind the plate, there’s a story.
Forest Farm.
Chris at Gibbston Microgreens.
A small piece of a much bigger ecosystem we’re proud to be part of.
This is what supporting local really looks like 👌🏼
Good people. Done properly.