As I entered the venue for “Unwined Perth” at Supreme Court Gardens I was welcomed by enthusiastic ticket checkers with charming offers of free wine glasses (to take home) and encouragement to enjoy my time.
As the double entendre name of the event suggests, an ambience of casual decadence hits you as you stroll into the spacious venue.
“Cheer Up Sleepy Jean” by The Monkees is being sung in dulcet alto to acoustic guitar as a whirling dervish, glittered butterfly performance artist shimmies past, bursting with joy.
All vendor stands are clearly marked. Wooden barrels for tables with two bar stools are scattered randomly to accommodate rests between free wine, beer and cocktail tasting. Ornate fire pits are glowing ready for the oncoming chill of the Autumn in Perth. There are plenty of lavatories and shaded seating areas with free blankets to sit upon. Four food trucks have reasonably priced delicacies – the Pepperoni Pizza and prawn spring rolls were top notch.
For those with Premium Plumm tickets, a 90-minute-long table feast awaited with free beverages and tapas. For those that required guided tastings, “Barrell Sessions” provided standing only gatherings for $12 per person.
As I meandered amongst the revellers and tasted what was on offer, I managed to speak to a few vendors. Karen from “Cape Grace” shared that Friday night’s attendees were more interested in just having a drink whereas the Saturday afternoon clientele seemed more interested in discussing the finer nuances of wine. “Yeah Wine” is 4 years’ old and delights with in-your-face labels and merchandise such as caps and t-shirts (yes, I have a limited edition cap). Tom says the company has “… a lot of love to give…” with grapes sourced from Swan Valley to the Porongurup regions.
As I settled into the afternoon, acoustic guitar and vocal from, “Brooks” started getting the punters onto the grassed dance floor and it was only 1.30 pm. Jana and Matt said it was “…hot…” and that after playing at Unwined in Subiaco and in the city previously, it was “…good to be back…” and “…always a great event”.
By 2.00 pm the venue was packed with event staff making the rounds collecting rubbish and ensuring everyone’s comfort and safety. At this point, I noted that more seating could have been provided and that the delightful butterfly dancer was the only roaming performer I had seen.
After 30 years in the business, Director of CMS Events, Richard certainly knows what he’s doing – casual decadence at its finest.
To learn more about upcoming Unwined Events, please visit https://www.unwinedeventswa.com.au/.
