South Australia proudly wears the title of the Festival State, and one glance at the events calendar shows we’ve earned it. From the recent World Gin Day celebrations to Winter Reds this July, and everything in between, fantastic food and drink festivals are a constant. But when it comes to fortified wine, there’s been a noticeable gap. Until recently.
Neat Sips, which is considered Australia’s first and only dedicated fortified wine festival, is returning to McLaren Vale Distillery on 6 and 7 September after a massively successful debut last year. It’s a weekend of tastings, open-fire cooking, live music and family-friendly fun.
Festival Director Velvet Oakes says, “Neat Sips is all about exploration, education and celebration of this diverse and historically significant wine style.”
“The festival is not just important for people working within the wine industry, it’s important for consumers in understanding the versatility of this wine style,” Velvet continues.
The festival shows off the many ways in which you can drink fortified wine, and it’s shifting the perception that the style is only something your grandparents drink. To challenge assumptions, it delves into the world of vermouth, unique limited-edition releases, cocktail creations, and how fortified wines are finding their place in today’s bar scene.
Cocktails and rare fortified releases will be on pour, alongside other wines, beers, and food from Arkhe, who will be running a live fire cooking activation across the weekend. Like last year, the McLaren Vale Distillery oval will host the event, with live music on both days.
You can grab a glass to savour while you relax, take part in guided tastings, or dive into one of the many masterclasses on offer. These will cover topics including vermouth, cocktail culture and rare styles, led by wine and hospitality figures Katie Spain, Mark Reginato, and Festival Patron James Godfrey, among others.
The sessions are a great way to spend quality time over Father’s Day weekend, with the two-day festival offering a relaxed approach to celebrating the occasion. But get in fast, because the 2024 masterclasses sold out, and this year’s sessions are expected to fill fast.
The festival brings together producers from McLaren Vale, Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Langhorne Creek, Riverland, Riverina and Rutherglen. New exhibitors this year include Victorian makers Stanton & Killeen and Maidenii, joining returning favourites to celebrate the bold and diverse world of fortifieds.
The event is family friendly, with kids’ activities onsite. Return bus transport is available from 2KW, The Highway and Warradale Hotel. Or if you’re planning on staying the night, McLaren Vale Motel is offering 15% off accommodation for Neat Sips guests using the code NEATSIPS.
Neat Sips
When: Saturday & Sunday, September 6 – 7, 11am – 5pm daily
Where: McLaren Vale Distillery, McLaren Vale
For more information and tickets, click here.
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