Chardy Party

Sun's out, charge your Chardy glass this October Long Weekend! We're celebrating all things Chardonnay with Chardy Party, bringing 30+ winemakers and 100+ wines to the heart of the CBD for one big afternoon in the spring sunshine. Australian Chardonnay is having its moment in the sun, and it's earned, not hyped. Few grapes respond quite so vividly to place and the hand of the winemaker as Chardonnay. We are leading the world, nipping at the heels of the French, with wines of finesse and power. Chardy Party celebrates the full spectrum, along with a special one-day-only menu from The Wine Bar featuring Chardonnay-loving snacks, guest pop-up bars from Do You Even Chablis? and Ruinart Champagne, and music from Sydney's best DJs Adi Toohey and Veda. Roam freely, meet the winemakers behind the bottles and hear the stories of the vineyards, places and people shaping contemporary Chardonnay. Among the makers pouring will be Michael Downer of Murdoch Hill, with his single-vineyard Rocket Chardonnay a calling card for high-altitude Lenswood; Bruce Dukes of Domaine Naturaliste, recently named Ray Jordan's 2026 WA Winemaker of the Year, with Floris, Purus and Artus bottlings offering three distinct expressions of Margaret River Chardonnay; and Tasmania's Ricky Evans of Two Tonne Tasmania and Woodlawn, known for small-batch, site-driven wines exploring the vineyards and sub-regions of the Tamar Valley. SNACKS THAT LOVE CHARDONNAY From oysters and lobster to fried chicken and caviar, some of the best things to snack on happen to love a glass of Chardy, too. For the day, Wine Bar Head Chef Gabriel Del Conti, together with Group Executive Chef Danny Corbett, have created a signature pop-up menu built for pairing. Think Sydney Rock Oysters with buttermilk, finger lime and green apple; Potato Rösti with whipped crème fraîche and trout roe; Butter-Poached Lobster Rolls with lemon aioli; and Buttermilk Fried Chicken with tarragon mayonnaise and pickles, with the option to add caviar.