When wine goes Vivid in Sydney CBD

Sydney's winter Vivid Festival is best known for its spectacular light shows but there is also a major wine and food element to the celebrations.

The Wine Bar at The International is being billed as "the CBD's ultimate urban cellar door" over the June long weekend.

Presented by Mike Bennie, P&V Wine+Liquor Merchants and The Wine Bar's food & beverage director Alex Kirkwood and award-winning sommelier Jacqueline Turner, the one-day event brings together more than 30 winemakers and importers from across the state.

With more than 100 wines on pour in the heart of Martin Place, Cult & Classic on June 6 is all about discovering the diversity, energy and personality of contemporary NSW wine from across the state without leaving the city.

 
Expect cult producers, emerging labels, established icons, great music, immersive light installations and a festival-like atmosphere.

To keep the party going, Hey Rosey from Orange - an acclaimed regional wine bar awarded one Chef’s Hat in the 2026 Good Food Guide - will join forces with The Wine Bar’s head chef Gabriel Del Conti for a one-day-only menu of snacks and dishes not to be missed.

Carrying through from afternoon into late evening, wine lovers can then enjoy a rooftop afterparty at Panorama Bar, featuring immersive light installations and live DJs.

Wineries confirmed include: Brokenwood, Tyrrells, Vinden, Margan, Mount Pleasant, De Iuliis, M+J Becker, Sabi Wabi, Usher Tinkler, Charteris Wines, Thomas Wines, Colmar Estate, ChaLou, Mortimers, Canobolas, Mount Majura, Nick Spencer and Gilbert Wines. 

For more info see https://www.vividsydney.com/event/food/cult-classic-a-nsw-food-wine-party

Meanwhile, at its new waterfront home in Barangaroo Reserve, Vivid Fire Kitchen takes shape as one of the centrepieces of Vivid Sydney 2026 with an expanded program that brings together more than 45 culinary voices and marks the arrival of two new focal points, The Vivid Fire Pit and the Food for Thought stage.

Running every night of Vivid Sydney from May22  to June 13, 6–11pm and free to enter, Vivid Fire Kitchen is a vibrant, casual dining hub inspired by the great Aussie backyard. It will feature open-fire cooking demonstrations, talks, tastings and live music. 

The one book that everyone interested in Australian wine needs in their library

It has taken two savvy Americans to write the one book that every Australian wine lover needs to have in their library.

In their new book How to Drink Australian, released earlier this month, Janes Lopes and Jonathan Ross - two high-flying and scarily knowledgeable sommeliers - have covered just about every aspect of the wine industry in Australia, making their book a must read for both wine industry folks and wine lovers.

Want the lowdown on what makes Langhorne Creek different to other South Australian wine regions? Or what wines to try from rising cool-climate star Tasmania? The answers are right here.

The pair moved to Australia from the US in 2017 with Jane working at Attica and the Jon for the Rockpool Group.

They quickly realised how little exposure there was to premium Australian wines in the US.

While in Australia, Jane and Jon both passed their master sommelier exams, Jane wrote her first book titled Vignette, and Jon started making wine under his own label: Micro Wines.

Upon returning to the US in 2020, Jane and Jon launched Legend Imports, a company devoted solely to importing Australian wine to the US.

"Jon and I wrote How to Drink Australian to help the world fall in love with Australian wine the way that we had while living over there." Lopes says.

"We've collaborated with Australian wine folks Mike Bennie, Kavita Faiella and Hannah Day to bring the on-the-ground perspective in addition to the 100+ interviews we did with winemakers, viticulturists, journalists, and somms throughout Australia.

"Martin von Wyss is the cartographer who created the 30+ original maps for the book; we have original art by Robin Cowcher and Lily Cummins, as well as gorgeous photography, producer profiles, even a fun fold-out grape table. "

The book has impressive analysis of every significant wine region across the country, detailed original maps, wine recommendations, producer profiles and even a fold-out grape table.

The publicity blurb says How to Drink Australian "is the modern wine book that Australia (and a world of wine drinkers) has been waiting for". And, for once, the PR is right.

The wines from Gundagai? Covered. Timo Mayer? Covered.

There is so much useful information here that I know I will be sneaking a peak at this book on a regular basis. And it would make a super Father's Day gift for any wine drinker.

https://howtodrinkaustralian.com/