Natural wines get their day in the sun

Enjoy "natural" wines? 

Fancy a trip to the Byron Bay hinterland? 

The Luna Wine Store’s Full Moon Wine Festival returns in Eltham, just a short drive from Byron Bay. 

Mark Saturday, May 6, in your diary for an event to be hosted by sommeliers Russ Berry (Luna Wine Store), James Audas and Tom Sheer (Luna Wine Store, Bar Heather, Lo-fi Wines) at the funky Eltham Hotel.

‘Full Moon is our fun way of bringing the community together to enjoy the company of some of the country’s most exciting producers," says Berry. 

"We want to create an environment where people can engage, learn and ask questions, as well as tasting a few wines, and having a dance." 

The Full Moon Wine Festival proclaims it is "about truth, authenticity and frank wine talking", but also "showcasing really good wine and building the community".

Tickets cost $75 for a three-hour tasting session from 2-5pm. 

The event will feature 30 "natural" winemakers under the auspices of  Luna Wine Store, Byron Bay’s only natural wine store, which focuses entirely on independent organic, biodynamic and natural wine producers.

Winemakers will be visiting from Tasmania, Margaret River, the Adelaide Hills, Gippsland, Barossa and Mount Gambier. 

Once the tasting ends, guests can continue partying until late with Luna’s ‘Baller Bar’ serving some rare wines from around the world by the glass.

There will be live music and DJ’s playing into the night, and food from the Eltham Hotel and  Ciao, Mate by chef Matt Stone. 

There will also be buses from Byron Bay and Bangalow. 

Location: Eltham Hotel. 441 Eltham Road Eltham, NSW 2480. www.lunawinestore.com 

For tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/full-moon-wine-festival-by-luna-wine-store-tickets-569084024637

 

Byron Bay to host "natural wine" celebration

Byron Bay, how appropriate, is to host a celebration of "natural" wine. 

Luna Wine Store will feature over 20 makers and distributors of natural wine at Full Moon - the New South Wales hipster town's first natural wine fair - on May 14 at Secret Garden. 

All the producers and importers attending produce biodynamic or organically farmed wines with minimal intervention. 

The blurb says "their wines are pure, kind to the planet, free of chemical inputs or alterations". Far be it from me to disagree.

Tickets cost $65 per head (natural wines are rarely cheap) for  two-hour tasting session (12-2pm or 3-5pm),  which includes a branded wine glass on entry, and the opportunity to sample wine with all 20 producers. 

Full Moon will donate all profits to the Koori Mail 'Rebuild Fund' for flood victims. 

Koori Mail is Australia's national Aboriginal newspaper and is 100% indigenous owned. 

 The wine line-up includes Manon Wines, Chateau Acid, Latta and Commune of Buttons

The bar will be serving drinks all day from 12pm-10pm, and from 5.30pm everyone can get can their boogie on with local DJ talent In The Flowers and DJ Charlie Chux. Pizzas will also be on offer.

 "Full Moon is committed to empowering all wine drinkers through real, informed choice," says Russ Berry from Luna Wine store. 

"It is about truth, authenticity and frank wine talking, but most of all it’s about showcasing really good wine and building the community. 

"Long before opening the doors at Luna Wine Store, I’ve wanted to create an environment in Byron that allows people to connect with the wines they love to drink."

Tickets are on sale now via www.lunawinestore.com