Thirsty for fresh blood? No, we’re not implying you’re a vampire, although when you get a load of the wines that will be available for tasting at this event, you might just start to feel like one. Fresh Blood 2023 is a tour from legendary wine experience creators the Fruitful First, and on Saturday, November 4, it’s landing in Melbourne for the first time ever.
The event, which will be held at Brunswick Street’s most exciting new watering hole Odd Culture Fitzroy, is all about celebrating Australia’s tastiest new lo-fi winemakers (fresh blood) to the scene and a couple of gems that are making waves globally. Fresh Blood started in East London in 2019 and has since gained worldwide popularity for spotlighting progressive Aussie wine culture at the cutting edge.
The Melbourne edition will begin with three hours of tasting different drops, followed by a further hour to relax and enjoy the experience. Upon entering, you’ll be given a take-home Plumm glass and a printed list, so you can take notes as you sip.
Explore the world of winemakers from South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, many of whom will be there on the day to cure your curiosities on all things vino. And yes, newbies are totally welcome, so if you don’t know your grenache from your gamay, you’ll be in good company. Each ticket holder also gets a $10 bottle token and a $10 snack token to redeem on any menu item from 12pm to 3pm, including Odd Culture’s epic sangas made from Baker Bleu bread and an abundance of mortadella, capocollo, ricotta, tomato, basil and pepperoncini.
“I remember seeing these event posters in London back in 2019 featuring young Aussie winemakers and thinking 'how good' – so there was no hesitation when I got the call,” said Odd Culture’s group bars manager, Jordan Blackman. “There's a natural alignment of values and common goals, championing the new wave of up-and-coming talented winemakers and conscientious farming. Just a good group of people, really.”
Feel free to kick on at the end of the event with Odd Culture’s eclectic array of beers, cocktails and other refreshments, and if you love a wine you tasted, you can crack open a bottle or take it home with you.
Tickets are $69 each and can be purchased here. For more details on who’s pouring, check out the website.
