Wine Month in Sydney is your all-access pass to hundreds of wines from around the world, and even more from our own (cellar)doorstep.
As the sun sets on beer month, and October turns into November, Sydney will be awash with a lot of very good wine all in the name of Wine Month. There’s a huge roster of events; ‘wine island’ to gourmet banquets, urban wine walks, a vino tour de France, pop-ups, and golden happy hours.
While there will be incredible bottles form all around the world making their way to our city, and your glass, there will also be strong home-ground representation, too. Drops from the lush vineyards of the Hunter Valley, famed for its crisp sémillon, to the cool climate wines of the Southern Highlands will be uncorked.
Matthew Jessop, from NSW Wine said of the month-long (responsible) bacchanalia, “NSW Wine Month is the perfect opportunity to remind Sydneysiders of just how many truly great wines they have at their fingertips.”
Here are the very best ten Sydney Wine Month events happening this November.
1. Sydney Cellar Door, The Rocks
Sydney Cellar Door is a brilliant chance to buy from local businesses, support the bars and restaurants championing these wines, meet the winemakers, and drink a lot of very good wine. “Destination NSW is proud to be partnering with the NSW Wine Industry Association on the launch of the inaugural NSW Wine Month. NSW is not only the birthplace of the Australian wine industry, it’s also home to 16 unique wine regions, each offering something special,” said Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox. Held across two days and featuring 40 premium local wineries.
Where: First Fleet Park and the MCA lawn at The Rocks
When: Saturday 9 November, 12pm-7pm | Sunday 10 November, 12pm-5pm
Tickets: Skip the queue and pre-purchase your Sydney Cellar Festival.
2. Wine Island, Watsons Bay
Sydney’s tropical wine festival returns for three days of sun-sipping and cheese-biting, with Wine Island taking over Gap Bluff in NSW National Park. Kicking off on Friday, November 29 and running through Sunday, December 1, Wine Island ’24 moves from its traditional home at Clark Island towards a sun-soaked patch of Watsons Bay. The new location, sandwiched between the majestic palm trees of Gap Bluff, will be scattered with pop-ups from some of Australia’s most underrated cellar doors including Thomas Wines, Irvine Wines, DAS Juice and Kies Family Wines.
Where: Gap Bluff, Watsons Bay NSW 2030
When: November 29 – December 1
Tickets: From $89
3. Le Grape Escape, Paddington
Famous French festival throwers, So-Frenchy-So-Chic are partnering with Australia’s leading French wine importers to throw “the Tour de France of wines” to give punters the chance to taste more than 110 wines from France’s most famous regions: including Alsace, Chablis, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire Valley, Provence and Rhône. There will also be a delicious menu curated by some of the best French-inspired artisans and eateries in Sydney, including cheese and charcuterie, oysters, lobster rolls, foie gras baguette, a trio of macarons, and chocolate eclairs.
Where: Paddington Town Hall 249 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
When: Friday November 22, 5:30PM to 9:30pm | Saturday November 23, 11am – 8pm
Tickets: from $46.85
4. Urban Wine Walk, Chippendale & Redfern
For one day, the streets and laneways of Chippendale and Redfern are opening up for a self-guided cellar door experience in honour of Sydney wine month. A bit of your own choose your own adventure, you buy one ticket for eight different bars and then make your way around, sampling beautiful wines from each. Before making your way to the bar you’ve specified on your ticket, you collect your wristbands, tasting glasses and vouchers. Your ticket gets you three wine tastings per winemaker, food tickets to spend at your chosen venue and more.
Where and what wines: Bart Jr Ft. Mallaluka (ACT) | The Lord Gladstone Ft. Konpira Maru (VIC) | Moya’s Juniper Lounge Ft. Yayoi Wines (VIC) | New Britannia Hotel Ft. Mercer Wines (NSW) | Sneaky Possum Ft. Mino & Co (NSW) | The Redfern Ft. Bendooley Estate (NSW)
The Rose Hotel Ft. Vino Intrepido (VIC) | Woolpack Hotel Ft. Thomas Wines (NSW)
When: Saturday November 23rd, 12-4pm.
Tickets: $82
5. Chiswick x Margan’s Pop-up Cellar Door, Woollahra
Chiswick is doing their bit for Wine Month by hosting a night of Margan Family Wines on the restaurant’s beautiful lawn. Winemaker Ollie Margan is bringing a taste of the vineyard to Woollahra with his range of Margan wines, and pairing them with farm to table bites from Chiswick’s kitchen garden and Margan’s own kitchen.
Where: 65 Ocean Street, Woollahra, NSW 2025
When: Thursday November 14th, 4:00 pm 7:00 pm
Tickets: TBA
6. Top 100 Wineries Tasting, Hyde Park Ballroom
The spectacular Hyde Park Ballroom at Doltone House is hosting an exclusive showcase of the award-winning wines and wineries featured in the Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wines and Wineries 2024.
For the uninitiated, The Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 list is a celebration of the best Australian wines and producers of right now, Doltone House is a spectacular building in the CBD. At this luxe union between the two, you’ll be treated to gourmet food and unlimited tastings from wineries featured in the Top 100 Wines and Wineries list.
Where: Hyde Park Ballroom, Doltone House, 3/181 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Wednesday, November 6th, 6:30pm – 9pm
Tickets: General Admission is $141.90
7. How to Read a Wine List, Pyrmont
Be led through eight beautiful Australian and international wines by experts who will teach you the art of decoding a wine list, and getting it right. You’ll taste 12 wines during the evening, and learn how and what to order, predict the taste of your choice, and how to match your wines with all types of dishes.
Your ticket includes a tasting booklet, with information about the wines tasted on the night, and a varietal guide outlining both the primary flavours and aromas and the classic food matches across a range of wines. They’ll also be serving a selection of cheeses with your wine throughout the night.
Where: ‘The Vineyard‘ Tasting Room, Sydney Wine Centre119 Harris St Pyrmont, 2009
When: Thursday, November 7, 8:00 PM to 9:59 PM
Tickets: $125.00
8. Lane Cove Food and Wine Festival, Lane Cove
Lane Cove Council and Mudgee Wine Region have planned a beautiful day of food and wine by the river. Dozens of food stalls, nearly twenty of the Mudgee region’s wineries and local produce providers will head to Lane Cove for the event. There will also be live music, free face painting and games for the kids, and dogs are welcome too (on leash).
Where: Burns Bay Reserve, Kooyong Road, Riverview, 2066
When: Sunday November 3rd
Tickets: Free entry but wine-tasting tickets will be available to purchase online.
9. The Blue Door Long Lunch, Surry Hills
Blue Door’s Chef Dylan Cashman and Sommelier Angelica Nohra are putting on two family style, long-table meals and tastings. They’ve invited three talented Hunter Valley Winemakers, Andrew Margan, PJ Charteris and Damo from Hart & Hunter, to showcase their favourite drops. The meals will include whole fish, beef, pork, salads, and vegetables – all locally sourced – for a very casual but delicious affair.
Where: 8/38 Waterloo St, Surry Hills NSW 2010
When: Sundays November 17th & 24th | 12:30 arrival with a glass of bubbles. Sit down at 1pm.
Tickets: $220 per person, the food and drinks will keep on coming! (RSA rules apply so no one gets too cheeky).
10: Savour Suitability Taronga, Mosman
Taronga is hosting an evening of exquisite dining, delicious wine and an overnight stay at their luxurious Wildlife Retreat. Lucky guests will be invited to savour a curated selection of sustainable wines paired with a delicious three-course tasting menu at Me-Gal hosted by award-winning Sommelier Louella Matthews. The experience was created to emphasise the importance of sustainable practices in winemaking and cuisine. It includes a sunset conservation talk and after-hours zoo experience.
Where: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088
When: Wednesday November 20th
Tickets: Various costs
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