THE SPECIAL : OFF MENU, ONE OFFS, ARTIST CURATIONS.
Words: Stan Dupp
The wait is almost over. HERE NOW is taking place at Macquarie Place Park this Sunday afternoon, and because we’re excited as all hell, we spoke to the festival’s booze curator, Mike Bennie, to hear about all the drink providers that’ll be quenching your thirst this weekend.
Black Snake:
“From Narrabri in North West NSW, Black Snake Distillery is a revelation, producing agave spirits through the lens of traditional Mezcal production of Mexico. These remarkable spirits reflect a new distilling culture in Australia while supporting sustainable sourcing and farming of the source agave plants. Brilliant.”
Frankly, This Wine Was Made By Bob:
“Some of the best humans in the Australian wine community, farming a completely unique vineyard in the blue mountains, staring adversity in the face, and yet producing some of the most soulful and pure wines found in NSW.”
Benson & The Mooch:
“These are fabulous humans making wines of great energy, vivacity, drinkability and difference, from their Coal Coast base.”
Sabi Wabi:
“Peta Kotz is part of a younger generation coterie reshaping the Hunter Valley through the lense of distinct and diverse wines and wine styles.”
Heaps Normal:
“How good is drinking beer without the booze?!”
Meredith:
“Mem Hemmings is behind this eponymous wine project which is quickly becoming one of my favourite things to get stuck into. Really thoughtful wine making and a beautiful human in tow. And how good is wine in cans?!”
Lily Fields Distillery:
“From Sydney's Inner West, a scientist and a creative (wife and husband) spent a LOT of time testing, re-testing, fine tuning and hand crafting this very special and very delicious gin. Precision but flair is on hand! The detail that has gone into the gin is quite staggering. It's a treatise to precision and creativity, resulting in a distinguished, individual gin.”
Ghiddy:
“Made in Marrickville, Ghiddy is a revelation in the non-alcoholic drinks space. Individual, creative, delicious 'non wines' have emerged from a couple of very dedicated wine heads with an aim to create complex drops sans the booze. And they've nailed it.”
HERE NOW
Macquarie Place Park (outside Mary’s Underground)
Sunday, June 11th
3PM - 9PM