The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has extended the management term of independent Manager Nick Weeks until 30 June 2027.
Read full story →The NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) has extended the management term of independent Manager Nick Weeks until 30 June 2027.
The Star Entertainment Group has been advised by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) that the suspension of the licence for The Star Sydney casino will remain in effect. --- The NSW Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris has amended the Casino Control Regulation 2019 at the request of NICC to extend the term of The Star Sydney’s Manager, Nick Weeks, until 30 June 2027. --- The NICC first appointed Weeks to the role of manager in October 2022, when The Star’s casino licence was suspended following the first Bell Report. --- In the role, his primary focus has been to ensure a robust root cause analysis and review of the casino’s culture. --- Since 2022, the NICC has requested the state government extend Weeks’ controls on several occasions. --- Weeks will continue to hold the casino licence for The Star over the next nine-month period, allowing the casino to continue operating gaming facilities while its licence remains suspended. --- NICC Chief Commissioner Philip Crawford said that progress had been made by The Star, but questions remained regarding the casino’s progress against its governance, leadership and culture remediation which are crucial to ensuring The Star can operate under its own casino licence. --- “There is no doubt that The Star has come a long way in addressing the matters which led to the suspension of its casino licence in 2022,” said Crawford. --- “However, recent allegations regarding governance, leadership, and culture at the casino are serious and being treated as such by both the manager and NICC. It is disappointing that despite the progress made by the Sydney Casino, the group company continues to experience problems that effect each of its properties.” --- He continued: “The NICC will be watching carefully to see how The Star and The Star Entertainment Group resolve these issues. Both companies need to demonstrate to the NICC that they have learned from past mistakes and can resolve these cultural issues without the need for the NICC’s intervention. --- “Ultimately it is The Star’s responsibility to demonstrate that it believes in its remediation efforts and that they can do the work to ensure its remediation sticks long-term.” --- The NICC notes that The Star is still awaiting the outcome of the civil proceedings brought against it by AUSTRAC in the Federal Court and that there remains uncertainty about The Star Entertainment Group’s capacity to support The Star’s remediation while it fills critical leadership and governance roles. --- Crawford added: “These are all issues which need to be resolved before the NICC can lift The Star’s licence suspension, which can occur any time if the casino can demonstrate that its remediation efforts have been properly embedded in the business.” --- This decision follows the NICC issuing The Star Sydney with a total of $10m in fines in June this year. --- It also secured an enforceable undertaking requiring the casino operator to invest a further $5m in strengthening the technology underpinning its financial crime risk management systems. --- The fines were related to an investigation by Liquor & Gaming NSW into thousands of breaches around customer gambling times, converting reward points into cash, failure to exclude patrons and systemic failures between July 2023 and September 2025. --- The NICC’s decision surrounding the Sydney casino’s licence comes a day after the Queensland government extended the deferral of The Star Gold Coast’s casino licence suspension until 31 March 2027, following consideration of the latest independent advice from Weeks. --- The casino licence was due to be suspended for 90 days from 30 September 2026. In extending the deferral, the government considered the latest independent report and supplementary advice prepared by Weeks’ and The Star’s progress in addressing outstanding remediation. --- Weeks acknowledged The Star Gold Coast had made significant progress across its key remediation and reform initiatives, while noting that several priority remediation matters remain in progress. --- The six-month deferral allows The Star to continue progressing the outstanding commitments identified in its remediation plan. --- Sienna Martyn is a journalist across Food & Beverage Media titles Australian Hotelier, National Liquor News, The Shout, Bars & Cocktails and Beer & Brewer. Sienna also brings to the role over... More by Sienna Martyn ---
Hollick Estates has appointed experienced Limestone Coast winemaker Sean Murphy as its new Head Winemaker.
Hollick Estates has appointed experienced Limestone Coast winemaker Sean Murphy as its new Head Winemaker, marking a return to the Coonawarra winery for Murphy after previously working with the business in the mid-2000s. --- Murphy brings more than two decades of regional winemaking experience to the position, along with a background in viticulture and extensive knowledge of the vineyards, varieties and growing conditions of the Limestone Coast. --- Raised in the Padthaway wine region, Murphy was introduced to the industry through his family’s vineyard and viticultural businesses before pursuing winemaking professionally. --- “I’m thrilled to be returning to Hollick Estates and taking on the role of Head Winemaker,” Murphy said. --- “Coonawarra is an exceptional wine region, and Hollick has a proud history and a strong connection to its vineyards and the wider community. Having worked here earlier in my career, it feels very special to return with the experience and perspective I have gained over the past two decades. --- “I’m looking forward to working alongside the vineyard and winery teams, building upon Hollick’s established style and exploring the opportunities ahead.” --- Murphy began his winemaking career at Mount Benson in 2003 while studying Wine Science at Charles Sturt University. --- He moved to Coonawarra in 2005 and has since built his career across the Limestone Coast, developing experience in both winemaking and viticulture. --- Hollick Estates Director Cameron Ding said Murphy’s connection with the region made him well suited to the position. --- “Sean’s extensive regional knowledge, hands-on viticultural background and genuine affinity with the Limestone Coast made him a natural fit for the role,” Ding said. --- Murphy will now work with Hollick’s vineyard and winery teams as the business looks to build on its established Coonawarra wine portfolio. --- Andy joined Intermedia as Editor of The Shout in 2015, writing news on a daily basis and also writing features for National Liquor News. Now Managing Editor of both The Shout and Bars and Cocktails. More by Andy Young ---
The ALIA 2026 finalists are in – see which people, products and places are in the running for this year’s awards.
The finalists for the 2026 Australian Liquor Industry Awards have now been revealed, as we countdown towards the industry’s night of nights. --- Below are all the product awards and finalists, and you can see the finalists in the Retail Awards here and the On-Premise Awards here. --- Congratulations to all the finalists. --- This year’s awards take place at The Fullerton Sydney on Wednesday, 28 October and you can secure your tickets here. --- The 2026 ALIA Product Awards --- Best Non-Alcoholic product --- BEER AWARDS --- Best Full Strength Beer --- Best Light, Mid-Strength and Low Carb Beer --- Best International Beer --- Best Independent Craft Beer --- Best Cider --- Best Australian Brewery --- WINE AWARDS --- Best Red Table Wine --- Best Premium Red Wine --- Best White Table Wine --- Best Premium White Wine --- Best Rosé Wine --- Best Australian Sparkling Wine --- Best Champagne and International Sparkling Wine --- Best Prosecco --- Best Dessert or Fortified Wine --- Best Australian Winery --- SPIRIT & RTD AWARDS --- Best Dark Spirit up to $99.99 --- Best Luxury Dark Spirit over $100 --- Best Light Spirit up to $84.99 --- Best Luxury Light Spirit over $85 --- Best Dark RTD/RTS --- Best Light RTD/RTS & Alcoholic Seltzer --- Best Australian Spirit --- Best Australian Distillery --- The 2026 ALIA retail finalists: --- Best New Product --- Best Liquor Brand --- Best Liquor Retail Manager --- Best Retail Store --- Best Online Liquor Retailer --- Best Retail Group --- Best Off-Premise Distributor or Wholesaler --- Best Off-Premise Supplier --- The 2026 ALIA On-Premise finalists: --- Best New Bar or Renovation --- Best New Pub or Renovation --- Best Sports or Entertainment Venue --- Best Pub Dining --- Best Live Music Venue --- Best Gin Bar --- Best Rum Bar --- Best Tequila or Agave Spirit Bar --- Best Whisk(e)y Bar --- Best Draught Product --- Best On-Premise Spirit/Liqueur --- Best Mixer --- Best Beer List --- Best Wine List --- Best Cocktail List --- Best Bar or Pub Team --- Best Brand Ambassador --- MAJOR AWARDS --- Best Bar --- Best Hotel --- Best Bar Group --- Best Hotel Group --- Best Bartender --- Best Publican --- Best On-Premise Distributor/Wholesaler --- Best On-Premise Supplier --- Secure your tickets for ALIA 2026 here. --- Molly holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism, and with five years spent working in pubs and brewpubs in England, her move into drinks journalism was a natural progression. In June 2023, Molly stepped... More by Molly Nicholas ---
This summer, Campo Viejo, the world’s number one Rioja wine […]
This summer, Campo Viejo, the world’s number one Rioja wine brand, is bringing a fresh taste of Spain down under with the launch of Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz. Inspired by one of Spain’s most iconic cocktails, the new wine-based RTD combines authentic Spanish red wine and natural citrus flavours in a refreshing, ready-to-drink can. --- Crafted for easy enjoyment, Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz delivers a fruity, fizzy and refreshing taste designed for Australia’s favourite summer occasions, from beach days and backyard barbecues to more social nights out with friends. --- As consumers increasingly seek refreshment beyond traditional spirit-based RTDs, Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz offers something genuinely different. --- Available in a convenient 330ml can and four-pack format at 4.5% ABV, the offering makes it easy for shoppers to discover and enjoy a modern take on sangria, while the trusted Campo Viejo name provides reassurance around quality and provenance. --- Australia will be the first market globally to launch Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz, giving local retailers the opportunity to be at the forefront of one of the brand’s most exciting innovations to date. --- Launching nationally from October, Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz will be supported by a major summer marketing campaign across retail, on-premise and consumer channels, driving awareness, visibility and trial throughout the key summer selling season. --- For consumers looking to embrace the spirit of summer, Campo Viejo Sangria Spritz delivers a refreshing taste of Spain that’s ready whenever the moment calls. --- ¡Salud! Please drink responsibly. --- For more information, contact customerservice@vinarchy.com --- 131 492 --- The leading online news service for Australia's beer, wine, spirits and hospitality industries. More by The Shout Team ---
Expect a signature rôtisserie chicken and two happy hours.
Nikki To --- The Apollo Group has confirmed more details on its second new opening at The Eve Hotel in Redfern. --- Baptiste is taking over the former location of Bar Julius on the ground floor, with the 80-seater set to operate seven days a week from 7am until late once it opens in November. --- “We didn’t want to open a restaurant that read as brand new, but a bistro that felt like it had been on the corner for years,” says owner-operator Jonathan Barthelmess. “The food is simple on purpose, a chicken off the rôtisserie, a baguette, a plate of chips, a glass of wine at four in the afternoon. It’s the kind of place we wanted in the neighbourhood, so we built it.” --- Baptiste will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as drinks and snacks throughout the day. It will host not one, but two happy hours from 4-5pm and another later on at 10-11pm to cater to late-night drop-ins and hotel guests. --- Barthelmess has collaborated with Head Chef Luke Papalia on the menu, who will move across from sibling venue Olympus. The restaurant will have a dedicated oyster station at the bar, with launch dishes including fresh goat’s cheese with chive oil and herbs, onion and olive tart, and a rotating offal dish. --- The rotisserie chicken is set to become a signature dish, which will be served with butcher’s cut steak frites, but the poached marron with pommes allumettes is sure to be equally as popular. There will be classic salad options like Nicoise and Caesar as well as iconic desserts like profiteroles, creme caramel and a rum baba. --- On the beverage front, diners can expect a combination of classic wines as well as drops from newer producers from France and Australia. There will be a daily by-the-glass list curated by Sam Christie plus a cocktail offering put together by Matt Whiley. --- Baptise will launch in November, as will rooftop restaurant Tenjo. Official opening dates for both restaurants will be announced shortly. --- Sponsored by Peerless --- Sponsored by Tomkin --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "8838799", formId: "e54699d2-4fed-4c75-a5cb-6e11059ed6d3" }); ---
The venue will bring "beach-club energy" to central Sydney and has been designed as an escape from the corporate hustle.
Bobby Chans will open in Martin Place this October, bringing Southeast Asian flavours and beach-club energy to central Sydney. --- The 120-seat venue from Tilley and Wills Hotels forms part of the new Cabana Precinct and has been designed as an “escape from the corporate hustle”. --- The menu, led by Executive Chef Brad Sloane, is inspired by cultures spanning Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore. --- Guests can expect a share-style menu with highlights including Skull Island prawn dumplings with crispy miso chilli oil; steamed chicken momos with piro achar and curry leaf; sesame prawn toast bao; babi guling-inspired pork with coconut salad and lime; and Bobby’s king crab fried rice. --- Sloan says they did not want to simply take inspiration from Southeast Asia from afar. --- “We wanted to get on the ground, eat the food, meet the people and learn the techniques behind the dishes. --- “We’ve taken those influences and created something contemporary, approachable, and playful.” --- The drinks list brings tropical flavours and Asian influences into cocktails including the Ube Colada, inspired by Filipino desserts using ube cream liqueur, rum, coconut, lime, and pineapple; the Thai Basil Gimlet; the Szechuan Margarita; and Bangkok Calling with lemongrass and fresh notes. These sit alongside an extensive list of imported soju, sake, and regional beers. --- Tilley and Wills Hotels Chief Executive Officer Nick Wills says they did not want to create just another Southeast Asian restaurant, they wanted to create somewhere that feels like an escape. --- “Bobby Chans is relaxed, fun, and a little bit cheeky. A place where, for a few hours, you forget you’re in the middle of Sydney,” says Wills. --- Bobby Chans joins Cabana Bar at the precinct, creating a new day-to-night destination at 25 Martin Place. --- Photography by Trent van der Jagt. --- Sponsored by Peerless --- Sponsored by Tomkin --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "8838799", formId: "e54699d2-4fed-4c75-a5cb-6e11059ed6d3" }); ---
The recognition comes following the World's Best Wine List Awards 2026, which took place in London last week.
The Grill at The International has been awarded the Best Medium-Sized Wine List in the world. --- The recognition comes following the World’s Best Wine List Awards 2026, which took place in London last week. --- Established in 2014 by The World of Fine Wine, the awards see wine lists across the world judged by an independent and international panel of leading professionals, including a Master Sommelier, a Master of Wine, and highly respected wine writers. --- The Best Medium-Sized Wine List recognises wine lists of 200 to 500 wines. --- The wine program at The International is led by Alex Kirkwood, Jacqueline Turner, and a sommelier team. The Grill’s list is “tightly aligned” with the restaurant’s fire-driven cooking and balances iconic producers and mature vintages with emerging expressions. --- The Wine Bar at The International was also recognised for having the Most Original Wine List and Best Wine Bar List in Australasia. Meanwhile, Shell House was awarded the Best Organic Wine List in Australasia. --- Best New Wine List (since 2025), Australasia: +81 Sushi Kappo and Aizome Bar, Brisbane Most Original Wine List, Australasia: The Wine Bar at The International, Sydney Best Wine Bar List, Australasia: The Wine Bar at The International Best Hotel Wine List, Australasia: Jonah’s Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Sydney Best Organic Wine List, Australasia: Shell House, Sydney Best Champagne and Sparkling Wine List, Australasia: Maison Bâtard, Melbourne Best Dessert and Fortified Wine List, Australasia: Jonah’s Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Sydney Best Sake List, Australasia: +81 Sushi Kappo and Aizome Bar, Brisbane Best Local Wine List, Australasia: Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Best Specialist Wine List, Australasia: Bella Venezia, Mooloolaba Best By-the-Glass Wine List, Australasia: Maison Bâtard, Melbourne Best Half-Bottle Wine List, Australasia: Grill Americano, Melbourne Best Large-Format Wine List, Australasia: Grill Americano, Sydney Best Short Wine List (fewer than 200 wines), Australasia: Chin Chin, Melbourne Best Long Wine List (more than 500 wines), Australasia: Jonah’s Restaurant and Boutique Hotel, Sydney --- Photography by Dexter Kim. --- Sponsored by Peerless --- Sponsored by Tomkin --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "8838799", formId: "e54699d2-4fed-4c75-a5cb-6e11059ed6d3" }); ---
The campaign from Youth Off The Streets turns coffee sales into meaningful community impact.
Australian cafe operators are invited to join a community initiative that is setting out to turn coffee sales into meaningful community impact. --- The Cup of Kindness initiative from Youth Off The Streets and supported by Smith St Coffee Roasters will launch on Thursday 1 October, which coincides with International Coffee Day. --- The campaign comes as demand for Youth Off The Streets’ services continues to rise, with the initiative providing cafes the opportunity to support young people experiencing homelessness, family violence, and financial hardship. --- Participating venues can choose to get involved for a single day, several days, or throughout the entire month, by donating $1 for every coffee sold during their chosen period. --- Smith St Coffee Roasters Co-Founder Ross Di Biasi says cafes are often at the centre of their local communities. --- “Cup of Kindness is a simple way for venues to rally their customers behind a cause, make a genuine difference, and show that even small acts of kindness can have a meaningful impact,” says Di Biasi. --- To make it easier for cafés to come on board, Smith St Coffee Roasters will donate the campaign’s first $1,000 and offer up to 3kg of complimentary coffee beans to participating venues, including cafés that are not currently Smith St customers. --- Cafes and businesses can visit here to find out more. Registration for the campaign is free. --- Photography provided by Ketut Subiyanto / Pexels. --- Sponsored by Peerless --- Sponsored by Tomkin --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Fusce ac ornare lectus. Sed bibendum lobortis... --- hbspt.forms.create({ region: "na1", portalId: "8838799", formId: "e54699d2-4fed-4c75-a5cb-6e11059ed6d3" }); ---
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Sept. 28, 2026By Cody Profaca --- Melbourne venue Society has been crowned Australia’s Wine List of the Year for 2026, with Head Sommeliers Loïc Avril and Yuki Hirose MS and Sommelier Lee Sangyeop receiving the Judy Hirst Award. --- The Lucas Group venue built on strong performances over recent years to claim four major titles, including Australia’s Best Capital City Dining Wine List, Best List of Wines by the Glass, and Best Wine List Victoria. --- Society, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2026, was also a finalist for Australia’s Best Listing of Victorian Wines, Australia’s Best Listing of New Zealand Wines, and Australia’s Best Listing of Cellared and Museum Wines, which Society won in 2025. --- Chair of Judges Toni Paterson MW said the winner of the 33rd Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards stood out for its impressive range and versatile offering. --- “This ranks among Australia’s and the world’s great wine lists, exceptional in its vintage depth and curation and broad in both local and international scope,” she said. --- “There are close to 90 wines by the glass, ranging from well-priced Australian favourites like MMAD Vineyard chenin through premium local chardonnay from By Farr and Tolpuddle to icon reds including Mount Mary pinot, The Armagh and Grange poured from magnums. Rarities from further afield, including the likes of Benjamin Leroux 1er Cru Meursault or Domaine de la Pousse d’Or Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses, are available as a taste, half-pour or glass.” --- The 33rd annual Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards unveiled 47 venue awards and eight Hall of Fame inductions at the 2026 awards ceremony, held at NSW Parliament House on Monday night. --- Notably, this included Amanda Yallop of Fink Group becoming the third individual in 33 years to be inducted into the Individual Winners - Hall of Fame, joining David Lawler, who was inducted in 2018, and Franck Moreau MS, who was inducted in 2014. --- Amanda Yallop was inducted into the Hall of Fame at NSW Parliament on Monday night --- The other 2026 Hall of Fame inductees were 2025 Australia’s Wine List of the Year winner Circl, Society, Agnes, Fico, Settlers Tavern, Woodcut and Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Induction is based on winning Australia’s Wine List of the Year once or a category award three times while maintaining a glass rating. --- Among the standout category awards performers was Gibney, which held on to its 2025 titles for Best Wine List WA and Australia’s Best Listing of Western Australian Wines, while also adding Australia’s Best Digestif List. --- Sydney’s Altitude Restaurant at the Shangri-La also took home three titles, however it was Shell House Dining Room & Terrace that was named Best Wine List NSW for the first time. 2KW Bar + Restaurant was the only other first-time winner of a Best Wine List of State title, while Gibney was the only venue to defend its 2025 best-of-state title. --- Rob Hirst OAM said the quality of entries was the highest in the competition’s 33 years. --- “The quality of wine lists across the country has never been better,” he said. “These awards are about the recognition and celebration of the outstanding commitment, work and investment of the sommeliers, owners, beverage directors, venue managers and entrepreneurs who make Australia’s hospitality industry one of the best in the world. We congratulate all award winners and glass-rated venues for their achievements this year.” --- The 2026 awards also set a new record for entries, following record entry numbers in 2024 and 2025. --- Georgia Lennon, CEO of the Drinks Association, said: "After 33 years, Australia's Wine List of the Year Awards have become one of the most respected measures of quality in Australian hospitality. This year's record entry field shows how much that recognition means to venues. The Drinks Association is proud to support an initiative that continues to raise the standard of what an exceptional beverage list can be." --- The full 2026 results can be viewed below. --- NATIONAL WINNER --- STATE/TERRITORY WINNERS --- TYPE OF TRADE AWARD WINNERS --- CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS --- NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS --- INDIVIDUAL WINNERS - HALL OF FAME 2026 --- STATE AWARD WINNERS – HALL OF FAME – 2026 --- WINES OF STATE AWARD WINNERS - HALL OF FAME 2026 --- TYPE OF TRADE AWARD WINNERS – HALL OF FAME – 2026 --- OTHER CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS – HALL OF FAME – 2026 --- Share the content --- Sept. 28, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 22, 2026 --- Sept. 21, 2026 --- Sept. 21, 2026 --- Sept. 21, 2026 --- Sept. 21, 2026 --- Sept. 18, 2026 ---
Sept. 28, 2026By Cody Profaca --- The Australian drinks trade has a busy spring ahead, with a packed calendar of trade tastings, educational sessions, awards, festivals and industry campaigns. --- Here are 19 of the most important and exciting opportunities in the Australian drinks calendar, specifically tailored to industry professionals. --- The Australian grape and wine industry has until Monday 9 October to provide feedback on the proposed mandatory Winegrape Purchases Code of Conduct. --- The mandatory code was developed in response to Dr Craig Emerson’s review of regulatory options for the wine and grape sector originally published in July 2025. --- This is the final stage of development of the mandatory code of conduct, which has three primary aims for the Australian wine sector: --- The Code is expected to take effect from 1 January 2027. Submissions should be directed to the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. --- It joins a number of other recent independent reviews open to the Australia wine sector, including the review of Wine Australia Regulations 2018 which closed 25 September. --- Learn more and have your say here. --- The Drinks Association’s Pride in Drinks Trivia Night is heading to Carlton Brewhouse in Melbourne in late October, building upon its successful Sydney event in June. --- Attendees can expect an evening of canapés, trivia, prizes, and beverages supplied from Drinks Association member companies, all hosted by a fabulous drag queen host. --- An optional tour of the famous brewery site will run from 4pm, with spaces strictly limited. Information on how to register will be provided following trivia ticket purchase. --- The Drinks Association’s regular trivia nights are a fantastic opportunity for the Australian drinks trade to network and come together in a show of camaraderie in a fun and relaxed setting. --- The ticket price of $45 for members, or $50 for non-members, includes drinks and canapes for the evening, and the chance to win a number of prizes. Attendees can go as a table of 10 ($450 for members) or can be matched up on the night. --- To reserve your ticket or table, visit here. --- Cider Australia will unveil the award winners of its 15th annual Australian Cider Awards at a gala event on 15 October. --- The 2026 Australian Cider Awards is Australia’s largest and most prestigious cider competition, and included several updates, such as a reduction in the minimum stock of a product at the time of entry and a new trophy for the Best Cider or Perry from a New Entrant. --- Judging will be held at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne with a panel comprising seven full judges and four associates. --- Also included in the ticket is free entry to Cider Australia’s Japanese Cider Masterclass with Lee Reeve. --- Learn more or book your ticket here. --- Wine Communicators of Australia has joined forces with the Wine Industry Suppliers Association to host a free webinar on the importance of storytelling for wineries. --- This webinar will feature panel insights from journalist Katie Spain, Hydra Consulting director Darren Oemcke, owner of Garden & Field Melissa Raymond, and founder of The Wine Road Antony Milford and will focus on five key aspects of storytelling, including: --- Register your attendance here. --- Australia’s oldest brewery hotel, The Lord Nelson, is celebrating 40 years of brewing with a number of consumer-facing activations over the October long weekend. --- At the center is a limited-edition anniversary English ale set to be unveiled at 11am on Saturday 3 October following a special naming competition. --- The hotel will also be shouting every 40th beer poured free of charge over the three days, marked by the ringing of a bell. --- The hotel has been brewing since 1986, when a group of thirsty sailors famously drank it out of beer. After finding out another delivery wouldn’t arrive for several days, the pub decided to brew its own, and has continued to do so for the past 40 years at its dedicated on-site microbrewery --- The venue itself was established in 1841 and became The Lord Nelson Hotel in 1842, positioning it as Australia’s oldest continually licensed hotel operating in its original form. --- Read more about the 40 year milestone --- The Grampians Wine Festival is returning this October, bringing together regional wineries, producers and hospitality venues for a month of tastings, dinners, masterclasses and other events. --- Festivities kick off on 1 October at Ararat Town Hall, with more than 10 individually ticketed events occurring over the following month. --- The program includes a Seppelt dinner in its historic Great Western Drives on 17 October, around the time the historic estate is expected to change hands from TWE to the team behind Stonier. --- Other highlights include a museum Shiraz tasting at Clayfield Wines on 16 October, a three-vintage Seppelt St Peter’s Shiraz tasting on 8 October, a Grenache Showdown on 24 October, The Nebbiolo Journey at Mountainside Wines on 25 October, and the inaugural OktoberBEST community festival at Best’s Wines to end the festival on 25 October. --- Marc Sleeman, CEO of Grampians Wimmera Mallee Tourism, said: “The Grampians has more than 160 years of winemaking history, and Grampians Wine Festival is an opportunity to celebrate the region, its wines and the extraordinary people producing them. It’s a great reason to explore the region, spend time at the cellar doors and discover the range of wines being produced in our own backyard.” --- The full event line up and tickets can be found here. --- Pure Wine Co. will bring more than 200 premium wines together for its inaugural Pursuit of Purity portfolio tasting in Sydney on 27 October. --- Created for members of the Australian wine trade and media, the invitation-only event will feature leading Australian producers alongside internationally renowned estates from Pure Wine Co’s portfolio. --- Held at Ovolo Woolloomooloo, Pursuit of Purity will give attendees an opportunity to explore new vintages, emerging regions and developments shaping the premium wine category. --- The program will include a curated tasting of more than 200 wines, producer-led masterclasses and direct conversations with Australian and international winemakers. Rare museum releases and limited-production wines not commonly available for tasting will also be presented. --- Pure Wine Co Executive Chair and CEO Joanna Chronis said: “Pursuit of Purity is about celebrating wines that truly express where they come from and the people who make them. Our producers are united by a commitment to authenticity, quality and craftsmanship. This event gives the Australian trade a rare opportunity to experience these wines in one place while meeting the people and stories behind every bottle.” --- Attendees are expected from the retail, hospitality, independent merchant and media sectors and aims to become one of Australia's premier annual wine trade events. --- Trade and media professionals interested in attending can RSVP here. --- Australian-founded tequila distillery Tromba is bringing back its annual Paloma Month this October. --- The annual activation will see the distillery partner with venues globally in support of its Agave Rewilding Project, the environmental conservation initiative it launched in mid-2023 to protect agave biodiversity in the Jalisco region. --- Every case of Tromba sold supports the project, which to date has planted more than 5,500 endangered agaves of different species across two sanctuaries, along with 10,000 native trees to restore soil depleted by agave monoculture. Plantings include indigenous species other than the common Blue Weber Agave, such as Agave Desmettiana, Agave Funqiana, Agave Vilmoriana, Agave Cubreata, and more. --- Venues with a focus on sustainability are invited to join the program, with supporting assets including flyers and posters, custom menus, and additional marketing support available from Tromba. --- The program is also not limited to the Paloma Month in October, with Tromba sales contributing to the Agave Rewilding Project throughout the year. --- Tequila Tromba is imported in Australia by Altus Brands and remains one of the first Australian-founded tequila brands, started in 2010 by Australians Nick Reid and James Sherry, alongside Canadian Eric Brass. --- The Drinks Association will host its final Network Breakfast for 2026 on 15 October, focusing on the implications of AI and agent technology for suppliers. --- Guest speaker Caroline O’Brien, General Manager Data & AI at Coles Group, will discuss the practical applications, risks and governance considerations emerging as retailers increasingly deploy AI, with the session offering insights to help drinks suppliers navigate the changing retail environment. --- The presentation will draw on O’Brien’s experience across research, enterprise AI, and retail, looking at how the challenge of leading AI has evolved, from making the technology work, to scaling it, to trusting it, to, increasingly, deciding where we are prepared to let it act. --- Given the event is expected to run at capacity, we recommend securing your spot early to avoid missing out. --- Click here for more info and tickets. --- Redman Wines is celebrating the return of Rouge Homme to the Redman family with a once-in-a-lifetime dinner and tasting at the Coonawarra winery. --- At the centre of the event is the launch of the 2024 Rouge Homme Shiraz/Cabernet, marking the first Rouge Homme released by the Redman family since 1965. --- Guests will also be presented with the opportunity to taste Rouge Homme museum wines from the 1950s to the 1990s, and will be given first access to purchase wines from the limited back vintage collection. Highlights include the 1993 Rouge Homme Richards Red Block, winner of the 1994 Jimmy Watson Trophy along with the iconic 1959 Rouge Homme Claret, which helped put Coonawarra on the Australian wine map following a series of Australian wine show trophy wins. --- The event will be hosted by co-owner and fourth-generation winemaker Dan Redman. --- Tickets cost $175 and can be purchased here. --- Food & Hospitality Queensland is returning to Brisbane, bringing together foodservice, hospitality, retail and convenience operators for two days of education, product discovery and technology showcases. --- Of particular interest to the drinks trade is Thirsty Group’s new Australian-made liqueurs and Tapamix’s beverage dispensing system for syrups, cold brew, wine and spirits. --- The trade-only event will also cover AI, automation, operational efficiency and emerging hospitality technology, with more than 40 education sessions across the show floor. --- Learn more or book your spot here. --- Melbourne Royal and Plumm will mark a decade of partnership with a commemorative Jimmy Watson dinner. --- Hosted by Wine Victoria chair Dan Sims and Plumm ambassador Matt Dunne, the dinner will bring together Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy-winning reds from 2016 to 2025, including recent winners from Meadowbank Wines, Four Winds Vineyard, Lowestoft and Hentley Farm. --- The event will provide a retrospective look at a decade of Australia’s most prominent young red wine award winners. --- Kirrily Waldhorn, Melbourne Royal Senior Manager of Food & Beverage Awards, said: "It’s an extraordinary opportunity to taste these exceptional wines side-by-side and celebrate the winemakers, wines and enduring legacy that have made ‘The Jimmy’ one of Australia’s most coveted wine awards.” --- Melbourne Royal’s 2026 Wine Awards Trophy Presentation will follow on 13 November at Melbourne Showgrounds. --- Purchase your ticket or learn more here. --- Beverly Rooftop and Campari is running a Negroni Month activation raising money for Beverly’s longstanding charity partner, the Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre. --- $1 for every drink sold will be donated to the charity, which supports women and children impacted by domestic and family violence and homelessness. --- Bar Manager Rico Deang has developed three limited-edition negroni serves for the occasion: the barrel-aged The Hour, a perfect negroni serve called The Balance and The Fire, an Oaxacan negroni. --- Each serve will also come with a tarot-inspired card designed as both a coaster and takeaway keepsake. --- Tickets are now on sale for the Drinks Association’s 2027 International Women's Day Lunch – one of the drinks industry’s most anticipated annual events. --- Once again returning to The Ballroom at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, and supported by the Drinks Association's Embrace Difference Council, the event marks an opportunity to celebrate the women leading the Australian drinks trade while continuing to work towards gender equity together. --- The 2027 Lunch will feature a keynote speech by Alisa Camplin-Warner OAM will, who became Australia’s first female Winter Olympic Gold Medallist, winning gold in Freestyle Aerial Skiing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games six weeks after breaking both ankles, then returning from two knee reconstructions to win bronze in Turin. --- Australian drinks businesses and individuals wishing to attend are encouraged to purchase their ticket now at the following prices, starting from $3,840 per table of 12 and $320 for an individual seat. --- Learn more or purchase your ticket here. --- Sapporo is challenging Australia’s bartenders to prove they’ve mastered the art of the Sapporo Pour. --- From now up until entries are drawn on 11 March 2027, Sapporo and Australian owner Coopers Brewery will be searching for the ultimate Sapporo served using the iconic Japanese two-part-pour tap. --- Bartenders at Sapporo tap venues are invited to film and upload their best pour, using the two-part-pour tap, from the initial pull through to the final push, and put their technique to the test. --- Every bartender that films and uploads a video of them successfully pouring a cold, clear and creamy Sapporo can go into the running to win a once-in-a-lifetime Tokyo trip for you and a friend including flights, five nights’ accommodation, $1,000 spending money per person, and beer vouchers for Sapporo’s bars in Tokyo. --- The Sapporo Pour competition comes as more Australians are reaching for Sapporo, with sales rising more than 11 per cent in the past year alone. --- Entries are open now here, with the winner to be drawn on 11 March 2027. --- To request a back of bar promo kit, or to range Sapporo on tap, call 1300 555 --- 166 (SA/NT 08 8440 1800) or email promotions@coopers.com.au. --- Perentie Brewing Co. will host its Oktober Fest celebration at its Eagleby brewery site, transforming the South East Queensland $6 million destination brewery into a Bavarian-style beer hall. --- The event will feature Perentie’s locally brewed beers, which honour traditional German lager brewing process using authentic German yeast and hops, alongside German-inspired food, live music and games, providing another consumer activation for the independent brewery. --- Tickets can be purchased here. --- Following a successful 2025 debut, Oliver’s Taranga and Mastermind Consulting have announced the return of Feiano Festa for a second year. --- The campaign will again run through spring and summer, reinforcing key messaging and introducing new consumers to the varietal, with Fiano Day itself falling on 16 October. --- The open-invitation has minimum barriers involved and builds upon strong momentum in 2025, with the campaign having an approximate reach of 2.7 million, 24.5,000 social media interactions, 350 non-social media mentions, and a 58 per cent increase in Google searches for Fiano wine. --- The 2026 campaign is looking to build on this, and has already seen a significant uptick in winery interest and planned participation. --- Read more about the benefits to wine sales --- Cape Mentelle’s 44th International Cabernet Tasting will return to Sydney for the first time in 15 years this October. --- Originally established in 1982 by Cape Mentelle founder David Hohnen to help finesse each vintage, the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting stands as one of Australia’s longest-running international wine benchmark tastings, and has expanded to invite wine lovers to join the Cape Mentelle team to taste and benchmark Cabernet from across the world alongside home-grown examples from the same vintage. --- The ticket price includes a blind tasting across three brackets of local and global cabernet with commentary from key Australian wine media before all is revealed at the end. The tasting is then followed by a Champagne palate cleanser, before guests sit down for a long lunch paired with the wines from the tasting. --- While the exact 2026 lineup remains shrouded in secrecy until the final reveal, guests can anticipate an exceptional showcase of benchmark cabernet sauvignon. --- David Moulton, Cape Mentelle Chief of Winemaking & Viticulture, said:“Each year, the tasting reveals the ever-evolving landscape of cabernet sauvignon, as seen through the lens of some of the world’s best winemakers. Not only do we see how our own Cabernet is looking against an array of other Australian releases, but we get to see how Margaret River Cabernet continues to define itself against regions from around the world. I can’t wait to see what the tasting unveils.” --- Tickets are extremely limited and can be purchased here. --- The Newcastle Beer Festival will return under new owner Schwartz Family Company – Australia’s largest privately owned hotel group and owner of Sydney Brewing. --- Exhibitors are being invited to apply to attend with the proviso that only independent breweries will be accepted as exhibitors. --- Director Dr Jerry Schwartz acquired the festival in January following a festival shopping spree which started with the purchase of Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular, better known as GABS, in December 2025. --- The company’s festival portfolio also includes Canberra Craft Beer & Cider Festival, Hunter Valley Wine & Beer Festival, and Gold Coast Beer & Cider Festival. --- Event Director Jenny Farrell said: “When the original owners approached us saying they would no longer continue staging the event, we thought that with our massive investment in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley through our hotels, the Sydney Brewery Hunter Valley and other interests, we thought the Festival was a good opportunity to bring GABS back into the spotlight.” --- She said the 11th annual edition of Newcastle Beer Fest builds upon similar Schwartz Family Company events in Canberra and Hunter Valley. --- “With the backing of GABS, we hope to attract an even greater reach for the Newcastle Beer Fest,” she said. --- More information and tickets here. --- Share the content --- Sept. 28, 2026 --- Sept. 28, 2026 --- Sept. 25, 2026 --- Sept. 25, 2026 --- Sept. 25, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 ---
Sept. 28, 2026By Cody Profaca --- Australia’s oldest brewery hotel, The Lord Nelson, is marking 40 years of brewing with a limited-edition English ale and three days of celebrations over the October long weekend. --- Located in The Rocks, Sydney, the hotel has been brewing since 1986, when a group of thirsty sailors famously drank it out of beer. After finding out another delivery wouldn’t arrive for several days, the pub decided to brew its own, and has continued to do so for the past 40 years at its dedicated on-site microbrewery. --- The 40th anniversary of brewing coincides with the venue’s 185th anniversary, marking its establishment in 1841 originally as the private residence of highway robber and convict-turned-publican William Wells, before becoming The Lord Nelson Hotel in 1842. This positions it as Australia’s oldest continually licensed hotel operating in its original form. --- The Lord Nelson Brewery is best known for its unfiltered and unpasteurised English-style ales made using only malt, hops, yeast and water. --- To celebrate, The Lord Nelson is hosting three days of celebrations from Saturday 3 October to Monday 5 October, kicking off a year of festivities that will run through to October 2027. --- At the centre of the weekend is a limited-edition English ale brewed especially for the anniversary, set to be unveiled at 11am on Saturday 3 October following a special naming competition. --- The hotel will also be shouting every 40th beer poured free of charge over the long weekend, marked by the ringing of a bell. --- Separate to this, the venue will officially launch its new Coin Bearers Club. Guests can secure one of the 200 available commemorative coins by purchasing a case of Three Sheets and Old Admiral from The Lord, or by attending Sydney Beer Week’s 5 Ingredients of Ale event. --- The coins will unlock a range of benefits for club members throughout the anniversary year, including 25 per cent off food on the holder’s birthday for groups of up to eight, 10 per cent off an accommodation booking, and a complimentary side or dessert when ordering The Lord’s Shared Roast. --- Each Coin Bearer will earn a permanent place in the pub’s story, with their name and individual coin number added to an honour roll displayed inside The Lord. --- Share the content --- Sept. 28, 2026 --- Sept. 25, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 24, 2026 --- Sept. 22, 2026 --- Sept. 21, 2026 --- Sept. 18, 2026 --- Sept. 17, 2026 --- Sept. 17, 2026 ---