The NSW Wine Industry Association (NSW Wine) has announced a 12-month partnership with Placemaking NSW to establish a regular NSW Wine Cellar Door in the Rocks.
After collaborating and piloting the NSW Wine Cellar Door concept through early 2024, NSW Wine said it was clear there was appetite from visitors and locals alike to explore more wines from some of NSW’s 16 distinct wine regions and meet the people behind them.
Situated under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and against the iconic backdrop of Sydney Opera House, the NSW Wine Cellar Door brings a taste of the regions the city and provides an opportunity for our winemakers to spend more time on-the-ground in the largest wine market in Australia. Each bi-monthly cellar door will include six wineries and be curated to shine a light on different regions and varieties.
NSW Wine President Mark Bourne said: “It's fitting that we're bringing NSW wines back to where it all began. The first vines in Australia were planted here in The Rocks precinct in 1788. We are excited about this opportunity to showcase wines from our 16 distinct regions, connecting Sydney's wine lovers directly with the passionate producers shaping NSW wine's future."
Placemaking NSW Chief Executive Anita Mitchell said: “The Rocks Markets is a carefully curated artisanal market with 200 local stall holders presenting original art and design, health and wellbeing, food and drinks, and music and entertainment.
"We are thrilled to partner with NSW Wine and promote NSW wine makers in our harbourside heritage precinct that has a strong food and beverage following. The Rocks attracts over 12 million visitors every year and the pop-up cellar door will be a major draw card for Sydneysiders and locals alike.”
In addition to a bi-monthly cellar door, the partnership with The Rocks Markets will also include a host of other collaborations over the next 12 months from tutored tastings and masterclasses to winemaker dinners.
The new industry and NSW Government partnership is also working on a flagship Sydney Cellar Door weekend during NSW Wine Month in November.
It will see more local NSW wine producers descend on The Rocks. The event will be a celebration of old and new, with iconic wines from Australia’s oldest continuous wine region, the Hunter Valley, to new and emerging producers, new varietals and other hidden gems from across NSW.
The first event under the partnership, Alternative Varieties NSW Wine Cellar Door, will be held on 28-29 September 2024. Learn more here.
The Rocks Markets are located at Dawes Point Park, under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.