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The Australian Wine Tasting 2023 ‘an absolute hoot’ for wine lovers

Hundreds of wine enthusiasts descend on Sydney’s Town Hall for a night of great drops and good laughs, hosted by funnyman Merrick Watts.

Staff writers

The Australian Wine cellar director John Lehmann and comedian and host Merrick Watts at The Australian Wine Tasting 2023 event held at Sydney's Town Hall. Picture: Jarred Eid

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8:29PMNovember 16, 2023.

Updated 7:18AMNovember 17, 2023

Almost 400 wine enthusiasts descended on Sydney’s Town Hall to sample boutique wines from 24 leading winemakers at The Australian Wine Tasting 2023 on Wednesday night.

Comedian and wine lover Merrick Watts hosted the event with The Australian Wine cellar director John Lehmann, who described the evening as an “absolute hoot”.

“We wanted to put on a show for our winemaking friends as the industry is facing some of its toughest days after Covid and Beijing’s freeze on importing our wines,’’ he said.

“And there’s no better experience as a wine lover than hearing the stories behind the wines from the winemakers themselves.”

More than 140 wines were offered for tasting from almost every wine region in Australia, along with new arrivals from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Argentina.

Wineries taking part included Tahbilk, d’Arenberg, Thorn-Clarke, Margan, Pikes, Dandelion, Bleasdale, Tyrrell’s, Taylors, Zonte’s Footstep, Corryton Burge, Heirloom, Hungerford Hill, Mountadam, Byron and Harold, Moss Brothers, Lake Breeze, Miles From Nowhere, Red Heads, Howard Vineyards, Allegiance, Russell & Suitor, Reschke and Loom.