Each week we bring you a hand-picked selection of wine and drinks news from Australia and around the world.
Pop the Bubbles: The Prosecco Festival Returns
Melbourne’s celebration of all things bubbles is back, with the 9th annual Prosecco Festival returning to Abbotsford Convent this Saturday.
Guests at the adults-only event have the chance to meet growers, winemakers and importers, and taste some of the finest Prosecco available in Australia today. With more than 50 different Proseccos to explore, there’s a style to suit every palate.
The festival brings together a sparkling line-up of both Italian and Australian producers, alongside Prosecco and Spritz Bar, Van Di Vino. Wines by the glass, award-winning craft beer, non-alcoholic sparkling wine, Italian and other food favourites, and a curated soundtrack willadd to the mood.
From Italy, guests can look forward to tasting bubbles from Babo, Bandini, Belussi, Calneggia Family Vineyards, Cipriani Bellini and Tivo Spritz. Australian wineries include Dal Zotto Wines, Edenvale, Austins Wines, Box Grove Vineyard, Brown Brothers, Cloak and Dagger, De Bortoli Wines, Innocent Bystander, Santa & D’Sas, Tar & Roses, Taylor Ferguson and Vino Intrepido.
More information here.
Women In Wine Lunch
While women play a critical role across viticulture, winemaking and hospitality, they remain underrepresented in leadership and global recognition.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Atelier by Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is hosting a Women in Wine Lunch to celebrate progress while continuing the conversation around opportunity, mentorship and representation within the industry.
The event on Friday, March 6, includes a 3-course lunch with each dish paired with a wine from one of Australia’s leading female winemakers.
During the event, there’ll be a panel discussion among industry leaders Inge Fransen, CEO of Vranken-Pommery Australia; Louella Mathews, President Sommeliers Australia; and Amelia Birch, founder of Famelia, a Newtown wine bar dedicated exclusively to wines made by women.
The discussion will be moderated by drinks communicator, sommelier and wine consultant, Samantha Payne. Bookings here.
Wine Market at Chiswick
Sydney restaurant Chiswick is marking International Women’s Day with a Wine Market on Saturday, March 7, from 2pm to 7pm on its garden lawns.
Created by the restaurant’s female talent, the market will spotlight some of Australia’s most exciting women in wine, alongside leading female winemakers from around the world. It builds on the success of Chiswick’s inaugural Spring Wine Fair, with this edition placing women at the forefront.
Guests will be able to connect with many of the makers and their brand representatives, taste wines, and discover new favourites in a relaxed garden-party setting. There’ll be live acoustic music and jazz performances, a St‑Germain Spritz Bar, and seasonal bites by sous chef Naomi Xavier.
Tickets are $10 (including a tasting glass), with $5 from each entry going towards Two Good Co, a social enterprise supporting women with lived experience of domestic violence, homelessness and complex trauma. Wines and food will be available to purchase on the day.
New Winemaker For Zema Estate
The appointment of Lewis White as winemaker marks the next chapter in Zema Estate’s 44-year history while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to regional knowledge, continuity, and hands-on family involvement.
Since releasing its first vintage in 1982, Zema Estate has worked with just four winemakers – Tom Simons, Greg Clayfield, Joe Cory, and now Lewis White – all of whom have lived and worked locally. Lewis was previously head winemaker at Rymill Coonawarra.
A highly regarded cool-climate winemaker, he holds a Bachelor of Wine Science from Charles Sturt University and has worked across Coonawarra, Tasmania, McLaren Vale, the Hunter Valley, the Adelaide Hills, and in Sussex, UK.
Victorian Wines Head To Bordeaux
Some of Victoria’s top drops are headed to the world’s largest wine museum. The Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, France, welcomes more than 400,000 visitors every year.
Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, Danny Pearson, says seven Victorian wineries will be featured, strengthening the State’s international reputation.
The wineries on show are from Hume, Barwon, Grampians and Yarra Valley regions, showcasing the diversity and vibrancy of the State’s wine industry. They include Wines, Pizzini Wines, Rathbone Wines (Mount Langi Ghiran and Yering Station), Fowles Wines, Stanton & Killeen, De Bortoli, and Yeringberg.
