Prosecco: refreshing, versatile, bubbly. It's a winning combo. Melburnians will once again be able to indulge their love of the sparkling wine when the Prosecco Festival takes over the Abbotsford Convent on Saturday, February 28.
Returning for its ninth year, the event will feature more than 50 international and homegrown bubbles from coveted brands. These included Aussie superstars; Dal Zotto Wines, Brown Brothers, De Bortoli, Tar & Roses, and Innocent Bystander, plus Italian heavyhitters like Babo, Bellusi and Cipriani Bellini — along with loads more.
If you're sober curious or the allocated deso driver, Edenvale is one of the official partners and will have you sorted with a range of alcohol-free vinos and cocktails. Plus, all the growers, makers and importers will be on-site to chat about their wine.
Also, if you want to get particuarly festive, you're in luck. Hydrodol will be on the ground all day, providing recovery 'wallets' that will be stacked with their suite of 'pre-drink' vitamin and rehydration products.
But it's not all about the bubbles. To line your stomach there will be sweet and savoury treats from local vendors like Abruzzo Lab (one of our fave street food eats around Melbourne), Taste of Puglia and Arancini Art. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be available.
You can even book in for a VIP masterclass with Melissa Brauer (aka the Prosecco Queen and founder of the event), which will teach you everything there is to know about the effervescent tipple. You'll get to taste four different styles of prosecco paired with antipasto snacks and cheese. VIP spots will be limited, so make a booking asap.
The day will be divided into two four-hour time slots, one from 11am to 3pm and one from 4.30pm to 8.30pm, with one VIP session available per time slot. Tickets start at $73.88 through the Eventbrite website.