What's hot at the 'Fo | August 23
Welcome to WHAT'S HOT 🔥 in August.
We're talking about what’s happening behind the scenes at the 'Fo and the things we're getting excited about.
A couple of HUGE new events for you, new product drops, what we're vibing, what we're out there buying, early access to big sales - and some other interesting bits we think you won't want to miss.
A heads up on the things you should know about so you can get in early.
MELBOURNE, MARK YOUR CALENDARS
1pm - 5pm, Sat 19th Aug 2023 @ St Kilda Town Hall.
We've always been about bringing people together in celebration of wine (and it's been a hot minute due to *ahem* that whole global thing) so we're bringing the best of Vinomofo to Melbourne, LIVE and in-person.
Featuring:
Our top 100+ wines on tasting.
Meet and greets with our fave producers.
Black Market wines revealed.
Masterclasses with the best in the biz.
Artisan cheese tastings + eats.
Giveaways all arvo.
Live music.
And much, much more.
Early bird tickets have SOLD OUT and the rest are rapidly being spoken for - trust us when we say it'll be special.
And the best part? Tickets are only $30 for loyal mofos - make sure to select "Mofo Discount" when purchasing your ticket.
NOT A MELBOURNE MOFO?
Don't worry - we've got plans to come to you too.
Make sure you get the exclusive heads-up by signing up for first access pre-sale, and we'll let you know when we're planning to come to town.
THIRSTY FOR SOME MORE DETAILS?
No worries - we'll be pouring some of the best from Penfolds, Pirramimma, Reschke, Alkoomi, Pertaringa, Jacquart, Blue Pyrenees, Kilikanoon, Rosenvale, Jim Brand, St Johns Brook, Taltarni Estate, Vintage Longbottom, Lindsay Wine Estate, Penna Lane, Haselgrove, Parous, Galli Estate, Wills Domain, Terra Verde, Twin Valleys & much, much more.
Plus an iconic & cult pinot tasting from Pinot Palooza, including wines from ADA, Unkel, Fighting Gully Road, Empire of Dirt, Bannockburn, Noisy Ritual, Between Five Bells, Rowsley Fault, Oakdene, Fleet, Lightfoot, ARC & more.
Something different? There'll be beers by Brick Lane, and a selection of sake on tasting, curated by Sake Matsuri.
And for when you've worked up an appetite, there's an epic cheese tasting from the best-of-the-best of MOULD Cheese Festival (including Milawa, Boat Shed and Long Paddock), plus food by NAMA and City Larder.
We're seriously stoked to bringing this lineup to Melbs, and looking forward to raising a glass with mofos IRL. It's been too long!
BLACK MARKET REVEALED
They're the deals that give you exceptional value, only made possible if we don’t reveal the maker’s brand. UNTIL NOW!
Thursday 10th August - Friday 11th August we're unwrapping some of our all time Black Market bestsellers - we're talking genuine-article wines from iconic producers that you know and love, but haven't seen at this price before.
They're at such a discount that we've only got permission to reveal them for two hours at a time. These prestige makers don't want the secret about dangerous value mofos are getting being shared around 🤐
We'll be unwrapping bottles throughout the day - each for a limited two hour window - before they'll be covered up again (and maybe for good).
Make sure your alarms are set!
Want to know more about the Black Market? Check out our explainer in the meantime.
WHAT WE'RE LOVING
We're all about the juicy, fun reds we've been bringing in recently - a better-than-half-price Black Market Adelaide Hills sangiovese was turning heads (and keeping glasses topped up) this month - sadly all gone for now.
Our newly-landed French imports have also seen us being romanced by the Rhône, especially Cave de Cairanne’s Grenache Blend - Decanter called this “dangerously drinkable”, our team went with “simply fantastic.”
And not forgetting the seriously impressive Domaine des Bosquets Le Plateau Gigondas 2019; a deep, rich, ripe, red awarded 97pts by Robert Parker
Our huge Unicorn Sale in July also saw some stellar wines not lasting very long at the tasting bench, including an aged Black Market Yarra Valley chardy (“absolutely brilliant”) - and down to the last few cases at that.
THE BEST OF HALLIDAY
We were thrilled to see mofo-fave producer Kate Goodman from Penley Estate named Winemaker of the Year at the Halliday Wine Awards 2024.
We've stocked Penley Estate for as long as we can remember, and to see Kate winning such a well-deserved accolade saw us raise a glass (or two) of the cracking Black Bull Cab Sav in her honour.
You'll also find some of the Best of Halliday-rated wines and wineries up on site at the moment, including our Five-Red-Star red line-up sourced only from Halliday 5-star rated wineries, dangerous value at $13.25 a bottle.
And a little birdy in the buying team told us there will be more award winners landing soon, so keep those eyes peeled 👀
Shop our latest Halliday picks here.
BUYERS IN BAROSSA
Our buyers have been back and busy in the Barossa Valley this month, stocking up on mofo faves and hunting for what should be next on your radar (and on your wine rack) too. So make sure you're signed up to receive notifications for when they arrive.
Plus, the team are also going to be running masterclasses on all things good in a glass for those lucky enough to be attending Vinomofo Live in Melbourne. Come say hello if you're there!
MOULD X PINOT PALOOZA COMES TO PERTH
Melbourne aren't the only ones getting the events fun this month either - because the team at REVEL are bringing a huge double header of MOULD: A Cheese Festival x PINOT PALOOZA to Perth, AUG 25-27.
Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne have had chance to experience the best of all that’s soft, semi, hard and stinky in their own sold out MOULD events this year, and now it's the turn of the west coast.
And the best part? It's the crossover you've always dreamed of; an extra-special cheese and wine co-main event, as they're bringing PINOT PALOOZA along for the good times.
THE HOTTEST VINOFILES
And as always, we've not stopped adventuring in the world of wine and food either. Here's the top picks direct from our Vinofiles this month.
Don't sweat on storage
Here’s the key need-to-knows when it comes to keeping your collection in peak condition, for when you’re ready to break out a bottle and pour a glass (and including our already-aged recommendations, if you're feeling impatient).
Que shiraz syrah?
It's a question that we get asked a lot - what's the big difference between shiraz and syrah?
If you're curious to learn the big red answer, we've got the explainer for you.
Coonawarra's charms
Who can resist? It’s comparatively tiny compared to other regions, but Coonawarra and its wines have a big rep on the world stage (and in our hearts).
Here's why we love it so, featuring our current fave selections too.
So you've made it to the end eh? Don't worry - there's plenty more of what we're enjoying to dive into on our Vinofiles, if you're thirsty for more.