You Don't Want to Miss This Sydney Solstice Wine Tasting at Aria

This week marks the launch of Aria After Dark, a series of events celebrating the finest winemakers and local produce in NSW. The unique series is part of the Sydney Solstice festival, which is taking over the city from June 8–20 in celebration of the vibrant arts, culture, food, and entertainment scene in the city.

The Sydney Solstice Wine Tasting Event at Aria

It’s only fitting that a celebration of all things local is held at Aria, where renowned head chef, Matt Moran, has long been a champion of seasonal, local produce. Moran has a firm farm-to-table philosophy that is apparent at both of his award-winning Sydney restaurants, Aria and Chiswick, where produce is often sourced from the garden at Chiswick or the Moran family farm in the Central Tablelands.

The man behind Aria’s world-class wine list is the head sommelier and now general manager, Alex Kirkwood. Kirkwood focuses on international players and local winemakers, helping to showcase smaller producers and ‘cult heroes’ that may be largely unfamiliar yet worthy of the spotlight.

For the Sydney Solstice, Aria will be holding events over four nights, with each night hosted by an NSW winemaker at the top of their game. The wines will be complemented by snacks that highlight some of the state’s most exciting produce, created by Aria’s Executive Chef, Joel Bickford.

Guests will be treated to two glasses of wine, tasting and snacks, including warm olives, whipped buffalo curd, dark rye with a tomato caramel, and smoked eel with beetroot and charcoal. There will also be a delicious bespoke menu available for purchase with tantalising dishes including hot smoked Hamachi, wagyu intercostal skewers, abalone toast, a charcuterie selection and pistachio éclair.