Melbourne Italian Wine and Food Festival
The Melbourne Italian Wine & Food Festival is back in 2018 for it’s third consecutive year! Melbourne’s top Italian chefs are turning out in force to make it a day to remember, with much-loved locals Joe Vargetto (Mister Bianco + Massi Restaurant), Francesco Rota (Trattoria Emilia), James Kummrow (Fatto), Dusty Treweek (Bottega), Jesse MacFadden (Massi Restaurant), Johnny di Francesco (400 Gradi) and Luca Ciano leading the charge.
Festival-goers can feast on pizza, pasta, panini and Italian snacks at pop-up restaurants from Melbourne favourites Bottega, Saluministi, SICILY by Mister Bianco + Massi, La Svolta Pizzeria e Trattoria, Figo Pizza and 400 Gradi plus there’ll be cooking demonstrations with chefs and providores on the Main Stage including a demonstration by self-taught cookbook author and television presenter, Silvia Colloca. Attendees can shop like an Italian in the festival marketplace.
It will be brimming with salumi, cheese, pasta, bread, olive oil, pastries, truffles, gelato and much more. Those craving all things Italian can taste their way through Floridia Cheese, Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano, Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma, Pane e Pizzico, Melbourne Arancini, 48h Gnocchi Bar, Abruzzo Lab, Il Panzerotto, Truffle Traders, Luca Ciano Sauces, Maccora Vinocotto, Kyneton Olive Oil, Zero Gradi Gelato, Classica International, Cannoleria by That’s Amore, Monini Olive Oil, Eat Cannoli and flip through Italian recipe tomes curated by Books for Cooks. Espresso di Manfredi are serving up coffee made to order, and Mutti are running a Bruschetta Station - both are FREE all day!
For the first time in Melbourne Cow and the Moon are serving up their awardwinning artisan gelato, and the Tipo 00 Pasta Making Showcase is not to be missed. Festival guests can sample over 200 Italian and Aussie-Italian wines region by delicious region, discover their favourite new Prosecco, Barolo, Amarone or Chianti. Plus they can meet winemakers and importers, learn all about the grape varieties, the regions, and best of all, how good they taste.
Some may decide to delve deeper with an Italian Wine Masterclass curated by the festival’s team, or relax and soak up the atmosphere with a glass from one of the wine bars in the trattoria-style wine gardens. There’s even a kids play area to keep the bambino amused. For something stronger, there’s Moretti Beer on tap, authentic Italian cocktails from the Aperitivi bar, serving up spritzes. Kids enter free and there’s pizza acrobatics by 400 Gradi and live music all day. Proudly presented by Mutti, the festival is all about celebrating wine, food and culture together in inimitable Italian style. La Dolce Vita indeed!
2018 Italian Wine + Food Festival - Melbourne
Sunday 27th May
10.00am - 6.30pm
Royal Exhibition Building - Carlton Gardens
Returning:
Wine Zone - with over 200 Italian wines organised by the region
Wine masterclasses
Pop-up restaurants - by Melbourne’s favourites including Bottega, Mister Bianco, Massi Restaurant, Saluministi, La Svolta Pizzeria, Figo and 400 Gradi
Main stage - cooking demonstrations by leading chefs and producers
Italian market - shop like an Italian
Wine gardens - in multiple areas
VIP lounge - with sommelier service
Negroni bar - Italian aperitivi and cocktails
Entertainment
Pizza acrobatics
Kids enter free - this is a great family friendly event
New in 2018:
Wine bars
A Kids zone - with yard games and fooz ball tables
Tickets from $25