It\u2019s that time of year again. Loosen your belts, block out your lunch hours, call your friends \u2013 Tasting Australia kicks off again on May 8.<\/p>\n
The program for 2026<\/a> includes more than 150 events. The team is taking over The Ghan, chartering planes and flying to the regions, and hitting the road for some very bougie road trips.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s line-up also includes the Club Series<\/a> hosted by Katie Spain and inspired by her ongoing Broadsheet column, Welcome to the Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are plenty of vendors coming to Town Square<\/a>, and simply ducking into the central hub is a gorgeous amuse-bouche for the festival, but for the full experience you have to get yourself to an event.<\/p>\n Lots of the big-hitters are already sold out, but these 10 events still have spots available. Get in quick!<\/p>\n Aperitivo Hour \u2013 Corner 75<\/p>\n Hot Listed <\/a>Sydney diner Corner 75<\/a> is coming to town for a takeover of Town Square\u2019s Drinks Academy.<\/a> Dan Puskas and Alice Tremayne will be serving two snacks and two drinks, which will give you just a taste of what Sydney loves about the homely Hungarian spot.<\/p>\n Saturday May 9, 6pm<\/p>\n $65<\/p>\n Masterclass \u2013 Cocktail Time Machine Presented by Never Never<\/p>\n The Never Never team is inviting you to drink in class. Throughout the two-hour Drinks Academy masterclass<\/a>, Sean Baxter and Cody Banks will serve five mini cocktails, which draw inspiration from nostalgic drinks from across the world. There will also be cocktail snacks. (We\u2019re hoping for one of Never Never\u2019s signature \u201cshellies\u201d.)<\/p>\n Thursday May 14, 8pm<\/p>\n $90<\/p>\n Perfect Pair \u2013 Patch Kitchen<\/p>\n Festival drink curators Meira Harel and Banjo Harris Plane are taking the guesswork out of pairings. At the festival\u2019s Perfect Pair<\/a> events, one of the two will be on-site to help you pair a dish from Stirling\u2019s Patch Kitchen<\/a> with the perfect drop. Choose between a reginette pasta served with 10-hour slow-cooked beef ragu, or fiore with roasted tomato passata, smoky eggplant and soft herbs \u2013 and wash it all down with a glass of wine.<\/p>\n Friday May 15, 11.30am<\/p>\n $42<\/p>\n Lunch at Good Neighbour \u2013 Jessie Spiby x It\u2019s Olio<\/p>\n Jessie Spiby first came to public attention as a Masterchef contestant. In 2018 she opened her much-loved Bowden cafe My Grandma Ben<\/a>. For this Friday lunch<\/a> she\u2019s taking over Good Neighbour in partnership with It\u2019s Olio. Your ticket gets you a bread course, a main course, a shared side dish and a glass of Seppeltsfield (or a non-alcoholic drink). Start with sourdough with whipped garlic and herb butter, and zingy pickles. Then it\u2019s a main of panko-crumbed Coorong mullet with tangy green slaw, and a side of crispy potatoes and colourful carrots with confit garlic curry butter.<\/p>\n Friday May 15, midday\u20131pm<\/p>\n $65<\/p>\n Tasting Table \u2013 Jauma at Fino Vino<\/p>\n Jauma has a gorgeous cellar door in Lenswood<\/a>, but if you want to taste the range a little closer to home, you can head to Fino Vino<\/a>. At the tasting<\/a>, James Erskine will be pouring six wines including the 2022 chenin blanc, the 2023 Disco Special red blend and the 2024 cider.<\/p>\n Friday May 15, 3pm\u20134pm<\/p>\n $80<\/p>\n Tasting Australia Club Series \u2013 Greek Club<\/p>\n Almost all of Tasting Australia\u2019s Club Series events have sold out, but there are still a few tickets remaining for the Greek Club<\/a>. At Evia Greek Club, chef Ozge Kalvo<\/a> of Hot Listed Sydney Greek restaurant Olympus<\/a> will cook alongside fellow Sydneysider Jason Roberts, and local chef and Masterchef alum Callum Hann<\/a>. Your ticket scores you four courses and a welcome drink. Expect soothing and warming avgolemono, taramasalata, Barossa feta with fermented chilli and honey, lamb on the spit and sweet loukoumades and a baklava ice-cream sandwich to finish. Plus, a live band will be providing atmosphere all night.<\/p>\n Saturday May 16<\/p>\n $110<\/p>\n Big Grape Energy!<\/p>\n Big Grape Energy<\/a> isn\u2019t a masterclass or a tasting \u2013 it\u2019s a party. The night is hosted by Chayse Bertoncello, the sommelier and maitre d\u2019 of O My<\/a>. The night begins with a shot of wine and a welcome drink. You can expect two snacks and plenty of tastings throughout the evening, as well as tunes from Longplay Bistro<\/a>\u2019s Henry Holland.<\/p>\n Saturday May 16<\/p>\n $95<\/p>\n Tasting Australia by Road \u2013 Fleurieu Peninsula<\/p>\n Sometimes the only thing standing between us and a day of indulgence in the regions is the hunt for a designated driver. The Tasting Australia by Road program solves that problem. The daylong event<\/a> is led by Kuti Shack<\/a>\u2019s Brendan Roach and winemaker Charlotte Hardy. The day includes a visit to Macloran Farm, where you\u2019ll take in the views and pause for a cocktail and a snack alongside the cows. Then there\u2019s a walk down Goolwa Beach to lunch at Kuti Shack. A post-meal tipple takes you to The Joinery in Port Elliot.<\/p>\n Sunday May 17<\/p>\n $450<\/p>\n Waiters\u2019 Race<\/p>\n On your marks, get set\u2026 walk briskly. Inspired by waiters\u2019 races in Paris, waiters from some of the state\u2019s best venues will line up to scurry a course from Town Square, across the road, around the Three Rivers Fountain and return to Town Square while keeping their order upright on the tray. Anyone can spectate for free<\/a> and, if you work in hospitality, you can even register as a competitor.<\/p>\n Sunday May 17, 3.30pm<\/p>\n Free<\/p>\n Closing Night Party With Punk Royale<\/p>\n This is the sort of Sunday night party<\/a> which\u2019ll have you contemplating chucking a sickie on Monday. Visiting Scandinavian collective Punk Royale is closing out the festival with a party at Good Neighbour in Town Square. Your ticket gets you a bite from six food stations, each with paired drinks.<\/p>\n Sunday May 17<\/p>\n $185<\/p>\n Tasting Australia runs from May 8 to 17. The full program is available online<\/a>.<\/p>\n