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The iconic Wine & Cheese Fest is finally coming to Sydney this April

Credit: Getty Images/Lisovskaya

Taylah Darnell Taylah Darnell
Melbourne’s cult-favourite foodie fiesta is debuting in Sydney, bringing over 50 artisan exhibitors with it.

Some things in life simply belong together. Strawberries and chocolate; SpongeBob and Patrick; pay day and retail therapy. But the Wine & Cheese Fest may just be dedicated to the best pairing of them all – and it’s coming to Sydney for the first time ever this April.

The festival

Wine & Cheese Fest, Sydney
Melbourne’s iconic Wine & Cheese Fest is officially heading to Sydney.

Founded in 2014, the Wine & Cheese Fest was created to celebrate one of the world’s most iconic duos. It has since evolved into one of the country’s leading food and wine experiences, championing artisan producers from across both Australia and New Zealand.

The only catch? It has only ever called the Victorian capital home – until now, that is. Hot on the heels of its 13th edition in Melbourne, the Wine & Cheese Fest is officially making its debut in Sydney, marking the first-ever iteration in NSW.

Carriageworks in Sydney, NSW
Carriageworks will host Sydney’s inaugural Wine & Cheese Fest. (Credit: Jacquie Manning)

Set to take over one of Sydney’s hottest precincts, the foodie affair will unfold within the industrial-chic surrounds of Carriageworks. Over the day, two sessions will run back-to-back: lunchtime until mid-afternoon and mid-afternoon until evening. Regardless of which time slot you choose, it’s just as suited to a leisurely day out as it is to a post-lunch rendezvous that rolls into sunset drinks.

The program

With over 50 exhibitors set to attend, guests will have direct access to some of the country’s top boutique wineries and artisan cheese makers from NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Rowlee Wines
Rowlee Wines out of Orange in NSW is one of 50 exhibitors. (Credit: Destination NSW)

This year’s line-up brings together both award-winning favourites and emerging icons, with names like Long Paddock Cheese, Rowlee Wines, Moorebank Vineyard, Second Mouse Cheese Co and Pokolbin Estate, one of the Hunter Valley’s standout cellar doors.

Beyond the parmesan and pinot, a curated selection of cideries, distilleries and gourmet food vendors will also be in attendance. Guests can expect the likes of Heathcote Gin, Finders Distillery, Ester Spirits, Cannoleria, The Bratwurst Truck, White Feather and The Gnocchi Way.

Cheese & Wine Fest, Sydney
Taste your way through some of Australia’s top artisan cheeses.

But it’s not just the unlimited tastings worth getting excited about. An epic program of live DJs, roving entertainment and exclusive masterclasses will round out the experience – from panel talks led by expert sommeliers to cheese-making demos and tips on creating the perfect pairing.

Throughout the day, guests will also have the chance to meet the makers behind the labels and shop their products on the spot – supporting them directly. Think it can’t get any better? Think again. A few extra perks will sweeten the deal, like your very own take-home wine glass and tote bag.

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The extras

Carriageworks Farmers Market in Sydney, NSW
Spend the morning browsing Carriageworks Farmers Market. (Credit: Jacquie Manning)

Since you’re already here, you may as well make a day of it! Those booked in for the evening session should head in early for the Carriageworks Farmers Market. Held every Saturday from 8am–1pm, it’s the perfect addition for foodies chasing something a little more local.

Grab a coffee and take your time wandering the stalls, where you can purchase everything from just-baked croissants and artisanal chocolate to seasonal produce and small-batch condiments.

BrewDog in Eveleigh, Sydney NSW
Pop into BrewDog for a beer after your session. (Credit: Destination NSW)

If you’re heading along for the afternoon session, pop across the tracks to BrewDog afterwards, considered one of Sydney’s best pubs. Set within a former locomotive workshop, the buzzy venue serves a rotating line-up of craft beers alongside farm-to-table pub fare.

The details

The inaugural Sydney Wine & Cheese Fest takes place on 11 April at Carriageworks in Eveleigh. Two sessions are available, each running for 3.5 hours, giving you the option to choose between a daytime outing or an evening experience. The first session runs from 12pm–3:30pm, while the second kicks off at 4pm through to 7:30pm.

Wine & Cheese
Wine and cheese lovers won’t want to miss the one-day festival. (Credit: Getty Images/Lisovskaya)

Tickets are priced at $59 per person and include unlimited tastings, access to masterclasses and live entertainment, plus a wine glass and tote bag to take home.

Carriageworks is a wheelchair accessible venue, with ramps, lifts and accessible bathrooms. There is limited street parking available, so using public transport is highly recommended. Redfern Station is just a short 10-minute walk from the precinct, making it an easy and convenient option.

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Taylah Darnell
Taylah Darnell is Australian Traveller's Writer & Producer. She has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of books or attempting to write her own. This life-long love of words inspired her to study a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Creative Writing at the University of Technology Sydney, where she completed two editorial internships. She began her full-time career in publishing at Ocean Media before scoring her dream job with Australian Traveller. Now as Writer & Producer, Taylah passionately works across both digital platforms and print titles. When she's not wielding a red pen over magazine proofs, you can find Taylah among the aisles of a second-hand bookshop, following a good nature trail or cheering on her EPL team at 3am. While she's keen to check out places like Scotland and North America, her favourite place to explore will always be her homeland.
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This surprising regional town is making its mark on the culinary world

(Image: Visit Griffith)

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    With more than 60 nationalities calling it home and a century of Italian influence shaping its paddocks and plates, Griffith is a regional Australian town with serious culinary cred.

    It might feel surprising to learn that Griffith is one of Australia’s leading food destinations. In-the-know Italians have understood this for generations, drawn to the Riverina region’s fertile soils that reminded them of the terrain they’d left behind more than a century ago. These days, Griffith supplies much of the nation’s pantry: 95 per cent of Australia’s prunes come from the region, it’s the country’s largest citrus-growing area, and it’s a leading producer of almonds and walnuts. Even the pickles in every McDonald’s burger nationwide are produced in Griffith. This is not just a farming town; the Griffith food scene is leading the way.

    Here, culinary confidence is rooted in migration. Italian families began arriving from 1913, with a second wave settling after the Second World War. Today, Griffith has the highest proportion of Italian ancestry of any Local Government Area in Australia. Add to that more than 60 nationalities represented across the community and you have a town where food is driven not by trends, but by tradition. Griffith’s motto, ‘Taste our culture’, isn’t marketing spin; it’s the reality.

    Where the vines tell a story

    A hand pouring wine into a glass, with a table filled with food.
    Uncover the stories behind every glass. (Image: Destination NSW)

    The Riverina has long been dubbed the food bowl of Australia, but it’s also a wine region that remains largely under the radar. What sets Griffith apart is that every one of its wineries is family-owned, many spanning generations.

    Calabria Family Wines is one of the region’s standard-bearers. The Calabria story began in 1945 when Francesco Calabria planted his first vines; today, the family continues to shape the region’s identity while also stewarding the historic McWilliam’s Wines brand. McWilliam’s was the first winery to plant vines in the area, and its barrel-shaped cellar door – complete with a soaring stained-glass window – remains one of the most distinctive in regional NSW.

    Yarran Wines, run by the Brewer family, showcases estate-grown fruit across Mediterranean varietals that thrive in the warm climate. Expect bold reds and textured whites that reflect both heritage and innovation.

    Set inside the old ambulance station, Harvest HQ is owned and operated by the Riverina Winemakers Association and pours a rotating selection of local wines under one roof. It also features spirits from The Aisling Distillery, reinforcing the region’s collaborative approach to craft.

    At the table

    A flat lay of a steak.
    Dine where tradition meets a bold new generation. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    If the vineyards tell one story, the dining rooms tell another. Griffith’s restaurants are where tradition and next-gen confidence meet.

    Zecca Handmade Italian occupies the former Rural Bank building, an imposing Art Deco landmark from the late 1930s. ‘Zecca’ means money print, and the name is a nod to the Zecca di Venezia in Venice. Here, find the Riverina’s only producer of dried artisan pasta and traditional Italian recipes. Importantly, the growers and producers supplying the kitchen are listed on the menu as a transparent expression of the region’s farm-to-table ethos.

    Established in 1977 and still run by the Vico family, La Scala puts authentic Italian cuisine on centre stage. Expect handmade pasta, traditional wood-fired pizzas, slow-cooked sauces and dishes that follow recipes guarded like family heirlooms. For something more contemporary, Bull & Bell in Gem Hotel is a shrine to the Euro-style steakhouse that works closely with local farmers and artisans to showcase Riverina produce.

    And then there are the institutions. Bertoldo’s Pasticceria, now in its third generation, draws locals daily for cannoli, biscotti, crostoli and house-made gelato, alongside classic sausage rolls and potato pies. La Piccola Grosseria feels like stepping into an Italian alimentari, its shelves lined with continental goods that wouldn’t feel out of place in Puglia.

    Meanwhile, Limone celebrates local and seasonal produce across breakfast and lunch menus, enriched by the produce and stories of Piccolo Family Farm. Find pastries and sourdough baked daily, and pop into the onsite retail pantry for products from regional producers – including the Piccolo family’s own wine range, Caro Piccolo.

    From the source

    A plated Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod dish.
    Taste world-renowned Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod, straight from its source. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    Behind every menu is a producer. Aquna Sustainable Murray Cod is perhaps Griffith’s most high-profile export; the brand’s Murray cod and Aquna Gold Murray Cod Caviar have achieved global recognition. In October 2024, Aquna presented its products to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the NSW Premier’s Community BBQ in Parramatta. Impressed by the producer’s sustainable farming practices, the King requested the cod be sent to Buckingham Palace – not bad for a fish farm in regional NSW.

    Mandolé Orchard champions almonds grown on a family-run farm, transforming them into almond milk and value-added products. At Morella Grove, olives are pressed into premium olive oil and pantry staples that speak to Griffith’s Mediterranean heart. These producers are not peripheral; they are central to the town’s culinary ecosystem. Learn about local sustainable farming practices during a farm tour.

    Mark your calendar

    A woman walking past a food mural, something you can spot during A Taste of Italy Griffith.
    Plan your visit around A Taste of Italy Griffith. (Image: Visit Griffith)

    For a town that helps stock Australia’s supermarkets, Griffith has remained curiously absent from the national dining conversation. That’s beginning to change. If you’ve been searching for a regional food destination with substance, heritage and a clear sense of identity, you’ll find it here in the Riverina, right under your nose.

    Time your visit to the Riverina region to coincide with A Taste of Italy Griffith, held every August. This week-long celebration of Italian heritage and culture offers a wide range of Italian-inspired events and experiences to enjoy. Expect long-table lunches, wine tasting experiences, cooking classes and a Makers in the Piazza market. The headline event is a ticketed long lunch – Festa delle Salsicce (Salami Festival) – where winners of the best salami are announced.

    Start planning your foodie getaway at visitgriffith.com.au.