“The name of the festival relates to the quality of products on show, not their price tag,” he says. “Craft beers, small batch spirits and boutique wines are often very affordable and compete with mainstream products in terms of price point. This is all about showing consumers that there’s so much great stuff on offer in Australia from local and international producers alike. There will obviously be some standout and very expensive products on show but equally, Top Shelf is about showcasing brands that fit into a range of price points. So whatever your budget, there will be plenty of great products available to sample and buy.”
As well as spirits and wine, Top Shelf Boutique is spotlighting craft beer. In doing so, they’re underlining that the new wave of craft beer makers uphold masterful brewing techniques, placing the beer on a similar plane of integrity to drinks that have historically been considered fancier.
“The Craft Beer movement is really gaining momentum in Australia and attracting fans from all over the social spectrum,” says Wootton. “Local brewers are really innovating with flavours and techniques and taking beer to new territory. We have more than 20 beer and cider makers exhibiting at the show and when you see this amount of passion and innovation, it’s easy to see why brewers deserve as much respect as wine makers and master blenders.”
At its core, the festival is designed so people have a chance to learn about a diverse range of drinks, and thus open themselves up to new things they might enjoy. “It’s all about sampling new products, broadening taste-bud experiences and hopefully igniting passion about great quality drinks,” Wootton says. “Understanding more about the range of products on offer means that you can confidently choose products that you really enjoy drinking – both from a taste perspective and sometimes from a social awareness point of view too. We hope that as a result of learning more about products, the Australian public will continue to follow the current trend of drinking quality over quantity.”
Along with the booze exhibitors and tastings there’s a range of interesting activities, including gin making, brewing instruction and guest speakers. “A major part of the show is the presentation program,” says Wootton, “with more than 40 free talks, tutored tastings and presentations across the two days, taking in beers, wine, spirits and cocktails, as well as sessions for people who work in or are interested in working in the hospitality sector. You can learn everything from how to make cocktails at home to how to launch our own brewery.
“The opportunity to choose your own botanicals and distil your own gin and the barrel making display in the outside area will both be really cool,” he adds. “We’ve got some of NYC’s best bartenders as guest speakers, along with an ice carving display and an opportunity to experience the ‘World’s Smallest Bar’, where you exit through a fridge.”
At the end of the day, having a drink is about enjoying yourself. But to enhance your enjoyment, a bit of extra background knowledge is always useful. “I think knowledge always heightens the enjoyment of a product, whether it’s the production method or the story behind the brand,” Wootton says. “Learning how to truly appreciate products, opening up your palate range and understanding a bit more about what you’re drinking means that you can be more adventurous and confident with your choices.”
BY AUGUSTUS WELBY
