Discover a wine show with a major point of difference

PULP is a wine show/tasting with a difference. 

The Yarra Valley-created event is billed as "The People's Wine Show", where wine lovers become wine judges. 

You can help choose 'Bougiest Bubbles' and 'Most Chillable Red'. 

So if that sounds like your bag put Saturday, February 15, at the Music Market, Collingwood Yards in Melbourne in your diary. 

The highlights will include "small-batch creations, unique blends, alternative tasting experiences, and bold collaborations that define the next generation of wine".

It might be an event that rewards popularity rather than traditional excellence. 

But that is a welcome change from the overloaded calendar of events where judges are supposed to choose the best of, say, 150 shirazes.

Participants at PULP get to sip, swirl, and savour dozens of wines created by the young and hip among Yarra Valley producers.

That might well mean a stinky, cloudy, "natural" offering is a winner in one of the six categories.

So be it. 

PULP tasters can sample dozens of wines, vote for their favourites, meet the makers, take home a wine cup and enjoy canapés while tasting.

Get Tickets Here

Individual tickets cost $59 with dual tickets $110 and tickets for a group of six $295. The evens runs from 3.30-6pm. 

PULP is organised by Wine Yarra Valley, the peak industry body representing the Yarra Valley Wine Growers Association. 

A most unusual wine tasting with a Eurovision theme

Calling all adventurous wine lovers in Melbourne.

Fancy combining the spirit of Eurovision with a tasting of wines from the likes of Slovenia, Moldova, Greece and Georgia?

With small bites and a hip tattooist thrown into the mix?

Put the night of Thursday, May 9, into your diaries for Collingwood’s Into The Vines Wine Tasting Series kicking off Eurovision fever at Into Coffee from 6pm.

There will be the chance to sample up to 24 international wines that are not the usual suspects, along with Really Nice Poke - a Melbourne poke tattooist offering wine-themed tattoos, a masterclass hosted by wine educator Jay Bessel, and small bites curated by chef Boris Portnoy.

So maybe not for Nannas who like a quiet Moscato.

The showcasing of wines from lesser-known European wine regions will put a spotlight on rare varieties and bring a little funk to the tasting table.

Because production is limited, many of these wines are usually only available ‘on-premise’ - fine restaurants and wine bars, or specialised boutique bottle shops - but this event will also offer a rare opportunity to purchase them directly.

Among the importers being showcased will be Small Story: Germany and Austria; Romwine: Romania and Moldova; Vinous Wines: Georgia; DejaVu: Greece and Felixir: Slovenia.

Guests can choose from two experiences at booking: the tasting experience which allows them to try over 24 wines during the evening ($20) or a masterclass and tasting experience ($45)– where they can try the 24 wines in the tasting at their leisure, and also participate in an interactive "edutainment".

On arrival, guests will be given a tasting card, a glass and an introduction to all of the importers, and then they are invited to move through the room discovering and purchasing the wines.

On theme, there will be a voting station where they can give their 12 points to their favourite country’s wine.

I'm told tickets are selling fast. Check out:

https://events.humanitix.com/into-the-vines-eurovision-united-by-wine

A beery special way to celebrate Father's Day

Calling Melbourne beer lovers, or anyone looking for the opportunity to treat someone special on Father's Day on September 4.

Collingwood craft brewery Molly Rose will be hosting a German-themed Father’s Day event with pretzels, steins of beer and (hopefully) good company.

With free entry to the family- and dog-friendly event, bookings are recommended.

And for those who can’t make it to Collingwood on Father’s Day, Molly Rose has a new Cornerstone cooler bag pack that comes with eight of Molly Rose’s favourite brews.

The cooler bag pack can be purchased here.

Molly Rose head brewer and owner Nic Sandery and his team will be serving up a selection of German goodies including traditional bratwursts with sauerkraut and pickles, salty hand-made pretzels and steins of Molly Rose’s German Helles Lager #3.