Perth food and drink festivals have been popping up everywhere as spring blossoms, and this weekend will see more treats for the tastebuds at UnWined Subiaco.
Nestled in Market Square Park - between the train station and Subiaco Oval - the two-day event will feature offerings from more than 60 WA brands. As well as a strong selection of wines, beers and spirits, there will be live music, cooking demonstrations and street eats from prime Perth food trucks.
Obviously enough, the weekend will involve an absolute wealth of wineries. Unsurprisingly, many of these hail from around Margaret River, including Flying Fish Cove, Howling Wolves and House of Cards. Having visited the area for the first time recently, I’m enthusiastic about trying some more of the Sauvignon Blanc Semillon it’s well known for. That said, I do want to venture further afield, and will be seeking Denmark’s Silverstream Wines to rate their Riesling. To see how the grapes go closer to home, I’ll be swinging by Sitella (Swan Valley) as well.
Despite the dedication outlined above, you could barely fill a bottle with what I “know” about wine. I was therefore happy to hear that UnWined will provide plenty of opportunities to chat with staff from the various companies. Whether you’re an expert who wants to discuss the finer points of soil moisture and sun exposure, or you’re just after a recommendation to upgrade your dinner, the conversation should hopefully flow as freely as the drinks.
If you’re not a wine lover, you should still be able to grab a glass of something good. Gage Roads Brewing continue to do great work, and their acclaimed Little Dove remains among the best of the (many) beers I’ve tried since arriving in Australia. Alternatively, does it get more refreshing than a crisp G&T on a warm weekend? Probably best to head to Bloom for a definitive answer to that vital question.
Whatever your choice of tipple, the food truck options sound like ideal drinking partners. If I’m going to keep enjoying examples of boozy brilliance throughout a full day, I’ll need some help from my good mates bread, meat and cheese. Accordingly, I’m planning to try out TapasMan, witness the woodfired stylings of Two Queens, and see if Nenem’s Turkish Gozleme can match the superlative standard available in Freo.
All told, Subiaco seems to have attracted a very promising line up. A standard ticket ($25 advance; $30 on the gate) will get you a souvenir glass, free wine tastings and access to food and wine sessions. Other options include the indulgent “Club” pass, which comes with more complimentary goodies and access to a terrace lounge.
UnWined Subiaco will run on Saturday October 29 and Sunday October 30, from 11.30am – 5.30pm both days. You can buy wine by the glass, and order your favourites to take home. A wine locker is available to store purchases during the day, and you can order wine to be delivered after the event.
More information, including FAQs, timings and a full list of exhibitors, is available here. Images from last year’s UnWined courtesy of CMS Events.
