Free wine Ute Boot Sale II something to think about

A free event in the East End this weekend is more than just tasting sessions, organisers say. It’s really something to chew over.

Lucien Alperstein, Jay Marinis and Jon Zagler have organised an event where natural winemakers can sell living wine out of the back of utes in the CBD on Sept 5. Picture: Brad Fleet

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It’s a wine event but not as you know it.

When Ute Boot Sale II hits Adelaide’s East End Sunday, the focus will be on community, social enterprise and conversation, rather than over-consumption.

There won’t be an entrance fee or tastings. Instead, punters will pay by the glass and winemakers will be on hand to chat and sell bottles at wholesale prices.

They’ll all serve natural wine, though organiser and Son of Dot wine distributor Jay Manaris prefers the term “living” wine (made using organic or biodynamic fruit with no additions — just grapes).

A psychologist by trade, Jay is a champion of the minimal intervention ethos.

“My psychology background makes me think about how as a society, we engage with alcohol,” he says. “I believe it’s mostly wrong. We don’t treat it in a ceremonious nature, we treat it as a binge culture.”

Through events such as the Ute Boot Sale, he hopes to encourage more thoughtful eating, drinking and conversation.

The event will open with a welcome to country by Kaurna and Narungga man Jack Buckskin, who is on a mission to teach the traditional Adelaide Plains Kaurna language.

Guest speakers will include urban sustainability officer Ruby Wake, winemakers Anton Von Klopper, James Erskine, Alex Shulkin, and Lucien Alperstein, who recently finished his Masters in indigenous yeast and fermentation.

The event, on the corner of North and East terraces will feature Travis Tausend Wines, Commune of Buttons, Limus, Scintilla, Lucy Margaux Wines, Shobbrook Wines, Manon Wine, Basket Range Wine, Borachio Wine, The Other Right, Jauma and Comme ci Comme ça.

Ute Boot II, SUNDAY from noon until late, entry is free

Originally published as Free wine Ute Boot Sale II something to think about