Discover a different way to buy your wine

Just about every wine store in the world offers a similar format: a section for chardonnay, another section for shiraz, a different section for imports. 

New Melbourne store Drop Shop, which opens its doors today, is doing things differently. 

Drop Shop is challenging decades of liquor retail convention with a simple idea: most people don’t buy wines by grape variety or region - they buy by occasion and budget.

Founded by Pinot Palooza creator and Wine Victoria chair Dan Sims, drinks retail specialist Courtney Keegan and Common State founder Luke McKinnon, the new concept aims to replace overwhelming choice with a tightly curated range organised into three intuitive categories:

Choose from: 

* Weekday from $15 to $25
* Party from $25 to $40
* Fancy from $40+

“We want to create a new category,” says McKinnon, ex Dan Murphy's and Blackheart and Sparrows. 

"We've gone for an occasion-based liquor format that strips out the clutter and speaks directly to the individual who’s tired of choosing between a warehouse and a wine lecture.

”With this guiding logic, the offer is deliberately simple. Wines are presented in three distinct categories with Victorian and rising producers front and centre."

The same equation applies across wine, beer, RTDs, spirits, as well as non-alcoholic options. 

The 60sqm store is designed by We Are Humble and inspired by Japanese konbini culture. 

Drop Shop is described as a convenience store for drinks that’s designed like Aesop, run like 7-Eleven, and organised to take the guesswork out of buying booze. 

“Most retailers would probably describe themselves as highly curated,” Sims says. "But the average bottle shop stocks more than 1000 wines. At Drop Shop, we literally only have room for 150, so everything has to really earn its spot on the shelf. Think of each category as its own shortlist. The idea isn’t to limit choice - it’s to make choosing easier."

Drop Shop is at 70 Lygon Street (corner of St Phillip Street), Brunswick East, 3057. Opening hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday: 11am-10pm, Sunday: 11am-8pm.

See www.dropshopdrinks.com

Gippsland to welcome a new gourmet festival

Gippsland is to welcome a new spring gourmet festival.

Eat Drink Play Gippsland will make its debut in South Gippsland on Saturday, October 18.

The event promises to bring together the Victorian region’s best food, wine, beer, distillers, restauranteurs and producers together for afull day of celebration that will rolls into an evening festival of open-air music featuring acts including the Melbourne Ska Orchestra and Emma Donovan.

The event in Leongatha’s Railway Precinct is being guided by Dan Sims, the brains behind Pinot Palooza and Mould, as well as The Hills Are Alive Group, run by lifelong locals Aidan and Rhett McLaren.

Guests can expect bites from local favourites like Trulli, Hogget Kitchen, and Messmates, plus pours from winemakers including Fleet, The Wine Farm, Dirty Three, Patrick Sullivan, Xavier Wine and Lightfoot Wines.

Gurneys Cider, Loch Distillery, and Sailors Grave Brewing will also feature, alongside dairy delights from Gippsland Jersey, Prom Country Cheese, and Loch Cheese Merchant.

Day session tickets are $35, running from 11am to 5pm.

Night session tickets are $49 per person and run from 6pm to 10pm.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the inaugural Eat Drink Play Gippsland festival come to life” says South Gippsland Shire Council Mayor John Schelling.

“This event is a celebration of our region’s talented producers, makers and creatives, and a really great opportunity to showcase everything we have to offer. 

“From world-class wine and food, music and culture, it’s a chance for locals and visitors alike to experience Gippsland’s offerings and hospitality in one unforgettable weekend. South Gippsland Shire Council is proud to support an event that shines a spotlight on our region and brings our community together in such a vibrant celebration at the terrific Leongatha Railway precinct.”

More info at eatdrinkplaygippsland.com.au

Sims stands down, but will bounce back

You might not know the name Dan Sims.

But if you've attended a Pinot Palooza or Mould - A Cheese Festival event then you'll have enjoyed his work.

Sims, whose latest business iteration was as part of REVEL Global, has been hailed as man who "re-invented wine events in Australia".

The livewire marketer helped make wine and food events fun again - and sold a whole lot of wine and cheese along the way.

Sims announced this week via LinkedIm that he is "stepping away from all things REVEL Global, Pinot Palooza and Mould"

His post said:

"At a briefing in Melbourne the other week I said 'Since that first crazy idea of Pinot Palooza back in 2012 and then MOULD in 2017 (and all the others!), we’ve come together and celebrated the best of our collective industries. 

"We’ve come together in collaboration, not competition and made it not just our mantra but a code. A true belief.

"Together, the festivals of both Pinot Palooza and MOULD have grown and grown with tens of thousands of people joining across the country and overseas.

"And as a result, they’ve grown above and beyond any one brand or producer and certainly, beyond any one person.

"To have been a part of this, to witness this, and to lead it has been the greatest privilege of my professional career.”

Sims has handed the reins to Jessica Audas.

"She’s fully taken on the REVEL ethos of ‘giving a shit’ and cares deeply for all who take part; producer, supplier and punter alike," Sims said.

"She's gonna nail it.

"I’m so bloody proud of her, the team, and the empowered culture we’ve built as a result and I trust all will support her with the care and respect she deserves."

Sims paid tribute to Justin Dry and the Vinomofo team, who backed the return of the festivals post-Covid.

"They truly saw our potential, backed us and allowed us the space - and critical support - to keep us going as we reimagined festivals post-Covid."

Sims says he will take "an extended break to rest, recoup and focus on my health".

But fear not, he has some ideas in the pipeline. And the former sommelier, writer and show judge will continue in his role as chair of Wine Victoria.  

And I notice there is a website  https://www.dansims.com.au/ coming soon.