If you’ve stopped by the cellar door recently—or caught a certain blonde-wigged rockstar packing cans on your Instagram feed—you’ve likely already run into Matthew Mero. Having joined the team last month as an all-rounder across the winery, brewery, and cellar door, Matthew has quickly proven himself to be a keeper.
While you might catch him pouring pints behind the bar on occasion (or channeling his inner Wayne’s World on our social media), Matthew’s primary mission is hitting the road as our newest Sales Rep & Delivery Driver.
From navigating the delivery van through regional Victoria to connecting with stockists, Matthew is officially the newest ambassador for both The Shiraz Republic and Cornella Brewery.
Working as an extra set of hands on the canning line alongside Cornella Brewery founder, Spencer Page and head brewer, Daniel Thaine, Matthew is the guy bringing our cold beers and estate wines straight to pub taps and bottle shop shelves. Whether he's dropping off a fresh batch of cans or introducing a venue to our latest wine vintage, he’s making sure our farm-to-glass line-up is never out of reach.
What makes Matthew such a great fit for representing our products is that he actually knows them inside and out. Spending his first few weeks getting his hands dirty around the cellar, helping on the canning line (costume and all!), and working the bar means he understands the hard work and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle and can.
Outside of work, Matthew fits right into our live-music loving ethos. When he’s not behind the wheel of the delivery van, you'll find him building custom guitar cabinets from scratch (MWN Cabinetry) or laying down the rhythm on drums for his band, Vague Rituals.
1. You started with us last month as a bit of an all-rounder. What’s been the best part of jumping into the Shiraz Republic & Cornella Brewery world? "Honestly, it’s the variety and the team atmosphere. One day I’m helping out around the brewery or learning the ropes in the winery, and the next I’m driving out to meet local venue owners. Getting to see the whole process from production to pouring a customer a drink behind the cellar door bar has been awesome."
2. We have to ask: how was stepping onto the canning line dressed as Garth for our recent Reel? "Party on! It was hilarious. I quickly realized that joining this team means you have to be ready for anything—including rockin' out in a flannel shirt while packing beer. It was a great initiation into the culture here."
3. Outside of work, you build custom guitar cabinets and play drums in Vague Rituals. Does that hands-on, creative mindset carry over to your work here? "Definitely. Whether you're building a speaker box, dialing in a drum tone, or understanding how a great beer or wine comes together, it’s all about attention to detail and craft. Plus, working at a venue that loves live music as much as Shiraz Republic does feels like the perfect fit."
4. You’re now hitting the road as our sales rep and delivery driver. What do you enjoy most about being out representing the brand? "I love meeting the people who stock us. Whether it's a bustling pub, an independent bottle shop, or a local restaurant, everyone is genuinely excited when the delivery van pulls up. It’s easy to represent products when you actually believe in how good the wine and beer are."
5. At the end of a long day out on the road delivering, what’s your go-to drink to take home for the weekend? "If I’ve been driving in the sun all afternoon, I’m pulling a cold Rancho straight out of the fridge. But if I’m sitting down for dinner, a glass of the Touriga is hard to beat."
Next time you see the Shiraz Republic delivery van pulling up, or see Matthew behind the cellar door bar on a weekend, make sure to say g'day and welcome him to the team!
Are you a venue looking to stock Shiraz Republic wines or Cornella Brewery beers? You’ll likely be hearing from Matthew soon, but you can also reach out directly via our cellar door or hit him up: matthew @ shirazrepublic.com.au to get him on your delivery route!