Join the Club at Market Wine Store
They say there is a club for everyone. Deb Caruso raises a glass to what’s on offer at Market Wine Store.
Whether you are a wine aficionado or amateur, if you’re looking for a no-wank wine club, Market Wine Store is here to satisfy your needs with specially-tailored experiences designed to heighten your understanding and enjoyment of viticulture.
In addition to weekly in-store tastings, the Wine clubs are personally hosted by one of the team and paired with exquisite food from Market Bistro with generally 6-8 wines featured at each event.
Start with My First Wine Club which offers the perfect introduction to the world of wine in a fun, relaxed environment over a series of dinners designed to demystify the wine world and let members discover wine while they dine.
“We want to encourage people to explore the world of wine in a fun and relaxed environment,” Market Wine Store owner Tony Kelly said.
“My First Wine Club has no pressure or expectations of pre-existing knowledge. We’re about great food and discovering great wine in a relaxed environment.”
Perfect for vino virgins, the events look at wine production, styles, regions and so much more.
“Understanding more about the wine and how to taste it as you consume it deepens the appreciation of what goes into delivering cracking wines,” Tony said. “What we don’t do is tell you what to like or how it should taste, that’s
your job.”
From Shiraz 101 to Chardonnay 101, these events explore the wine type with eight different wines matched with a three-course meal prepared by Market Bistro Head Chef Harry Lilai.
With a baseline wine knowledge established and your thirst whetted for more adventures of the wine kind, step up your journey into wine wonderland with the Single Bottle Club.
I suspect the challenge to find one bottle of each fine, rare, hard-to-find and expensive bottles readily accepted by Market Wine Store Manager Peter Marchant whose diverse career includes being the state chairman and member of the national executive for Sommeliers Australia for five years.
He has consulted to many of Queensland’s leading restaurants, judged in multiple wine shows and in 2014 was selected as a scholar for the Len Evans Tutorial, billed as the world’s more exclusive wine school.
Tony said it was great to have someone who is so respected and connected to the industry.
“Through his extensive contacts, Pete loves to source special bottles for customers, curate special events and share stories about the people and places that he has hand-picked to grace the shelves at Market Wine Store,” he said.
“Not only is he committed to featuring the best products at the best price, but also to ensure that there is a focus on mostly Australian and New Zealand wines plus a significant presence of Champagne; craft beers and spirits.
“For the Single Bottle Club, Peter finds older and rarer ‘unicorn’ wines and fun verticals and horizontals and paired with four courses and special guests,” he said.
The Single Bottle Club has explored grower Champagnes, which are those grown and made by the same person; celebrated five decades of Yarra Yering Red No. 1 going back to 1977 and including the 2019 vintage which James Halliday named as Wine of the Year; and has hosted special guests.
One such guest was Michael Hill Smith, who was the first Australian to pass the rigorous Master of Wine examination, and has been awarded an Order of Australia for his contribution to the Australian Wine Industry.
He is also the co-founder of Shaw + Smith in the Adelaide Hills and Tolpuddle Vineyards in Tasmania, and guided guests through four Tolpuddle Chardonnays and four Pinot Noirs from 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.
“To have someone of Michael’s calibre and with the knowledge and passion that he has for winemaking was a rare experience and a treat for wine lovers,” Tony said.
The third club just sounds like a heap of fun! The Market Lunch Club has rotating guests sharing new releases and fun and exclusive wines designed to deepen people’s appreciation and understanding of wine that’s as impressive on the palate as on the plate.
Whatever your passion or preference, Market Wine Store’s clubs offer a fun and fantastical journey into fine flavours.
I’ll drink to that! Find out more www.marketwinestore.com.au
