Vivid Sydney will put NSW wine in the spotlight from 22 May to 13 June 2026, showcasing the quality and diversity of vineyards across the state.
NSW is the birthplace of Australian wine, with the country’s first vines planted at Circular Quay in 1788. Almost 240 years later, Vivid Food will bring wine-pairing dinners and tasting experiences to the streets surrounding Australia’s first vineyard.
Events will include:
- Long Table Dinner at The Strand Arcade (above): NSW Icons of Land & Sea will see each dish paired with top drops from leading NSW vineyards
- An Evening at Parliament House, Dining with History will showcase NSW’s finest regional produce and native ingredients from Parliament House’s own rooftop garden, paired with wines from Hunter Valley vineyard Tyrrell’s Wines
- Oysters in the House will celebrate the Sydney rock oyster and NSW semillon at Shell House
- Regional Dinner Series will see acclaimed regional chefs collaborate with Sydney restaurants and chefs across 12 events to hero their region’s ingredients, winemakers, brewers and more
- Cult & Classic | A NSW Food & Wine Party will connect more than 30 winemakers and distributors from across the state with hundreds of wine lovers. More than 100 wines will be on pour at The Wine Bar at The International
- Vivid Fire Kitchen – No Taste Like Home, held on Mondays and Tuesdays, will celebrate NSW wine and produce, regions and culinary talent. Leading sommeliers will go head-to-head in interactive tasting during Battle of the Somms on 25 May and 1 June
- The Thursday Night Winemaker Series at the Food For Thought Stage will include Freeman Vineyards (Hilltops), Mada Wines (Hilltops, Tumbarumba), Vinden Wines (Hunter Valley), Meredith Wine (Hunter Valley, Hilltops), ChaLou Wines (Orange), Harkham Wines (Hunter Valley); Ravensworth Wines (Murrumbateman) and Jilly Wines (Central Ranges)
- The Harbour Bar wine list at Vivid Fire Kitchen will feature 34 wines available to purchase from eight NSW wine regions, including the Hunter Valley, Canberra District, Mudgee, Orange, Hilltops and Tumbarumba.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy identifies wine tourism as a key strength for the state, with 1.9 million international and domestic overnight visitors engaging in wine experiences in NSW during 2025.
“The NSW Government will elevate appreciation of our state’s outstanding wines to even greater heights at Vivid Sydney.
“Events during Vivid Food will reinforce NSW as Australia’s top destination for wine lovers, while providing winemakers with a fantastic brand-building opportunity.
“Festival attendees will have the chance to taste wines that they will remember, recommend and buy again later, driving visibility and growth for the state’s wine industry.”
Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said: “This year is the first time Vivid Sydney has presented a dedicated beverage event, with Cult & Classic | A NSW Food & Wine Party marking a significant moment in how we celebrate the NSW wine industry at the festival.
“From wine pairings across the Vivid Food dining experiences to free Food for Thought stage sessions led by the wine industry, Vivid Sydney is designed to spark accessibility, discovery and conversation, inviting new audiences to experience the diversity that NSW wine offers.
“NSW is home to some of the best wines in the country and Vivid Sydney is proud to showcase the depth, quality and diversity produced across the state. With growing interest in drinking local, audiences are keen to understand the stories behind what’s in their glass and this is an opportunity to taste wines from our unique regions and meet the award‑winning winemakers who produce them.”
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW.
View the full Vivid Food program here.
Tyrrell’s Wines triumphs in Top Wineries of Australia 2026
One of Australia’s leading authorities in wine, The Real Review, has revealed its Top Wineries of Australia 2026 ranking, with the Hunter Valley’s Tyrrell’s Wines named in the top five.
The Real Review Principal Wine Writer Huon Hooke said: “NSW secured a notable entry, with the much-admired Tyrrell’s placing at number five, a reminder of the Hunter Valley’s continued relevance among the country’s leading producers.”
NSW wines accounted for 15.2 per cent of the Top Wineries of Australia 2026 ranking, with the Hunter Valley proving to be the state’s most consistent performing region, contributing 5.8 per cent of the list.
Tyrrell’s Wines led the state at number five, followed by Brokenwood (number 17) and Lake’s Folly (number 26). Clonakilla proved itself to be one to watch, jumping 110 places to number 28.
Aaron Mercer from Mercer Wines in the Hunter Valley won the title of Rising Star of the Year, an acknowledgement of his pioneering work in alternative varieties and sustainable viticulture and a nod to the innovation and movement happening in the region.