Image credit: McLaren Vale Distillery
From the 24th to 25th of August, McLaren Vale will host a new festival called Neat Sips at the McLaren Vale Distillery, dedicated to celebrating fortified wines and set to prove they’re making a comeback.
Over two days, this event will ignite, or reignite, attendees love for fortified wines, from unveiling rare finds stored away in private cellars, to creating exciting new cocktails creations.
According to Neat Sips, “South Australia has a long and proud history of fortified production dating back to the 19th century and covering all corners of our great state. However, when table wines became the cool new thing in the mid-1900s, fortifieds lost their lustre and were pushed aside like forlorn lovers.”
At the new festival, guests can expect both classic flavours and new tastes, “rare drops long hidden in private cellars” and “flavourful new cocktails”. So “shake up your sipping” and help “revive a South Aussie icon”.
The festival will host opportunities to drink, eat and shop. The event will be held at the McLaren Vale Distillery, just a 45-minute drive away from Adelaide. The location collaborates with wine makers, including fortified wine makers, using their casks to age their range of whiskies.
The beautiful spot is perched atop a hill overlooking acres of breathtaking vineyards and will undoubtedly make for an enchanting and picturesque weekend.
If you can’t make it to the McLaren Vale Distillery on the weekend of the Neat Sips festival, you can still enjoy the stunning location Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. There, you can visit their small tasting room to try their range of cocktails, wines and beer, or book guided experiences or a private function.
Mark your calendars for the 24th and 25th of August McLaren Vale to celebrate all things fortified wines!
Neat Sips fortified festival
Where: McLaren Vale Distillery, 725 Chapel Hill Road, Blewitt Springs
When: Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th of August, 11:00am – 6:00pm
Cost: $38-$75
Instagram: @neatsipsfortifiedfestival
For more information on Neap Sips, click here.
