By WENDY HARGREAVES
Melbourne’s own carnival of Italian bubbly is back, popping up on the lawns of the spectacular Abbotsford Convent on Saturday, March 26.
After four years at Northcote Town Hall, the Prosecco Festival is shifting to the old convent, giving fizz fans the chance to try dozens of sparkly whites from Italy and Australia.
Up your wine game and book a VIP session with “Prosecco Queen” Melissa Brauer, who runs a series of 45-minute Prosecco masterclasses with tastings of four different styles paired with antipasto snacks and cheese.
Whatever your reason, make sure you arrive with an appetite, with these tasty Italian treats on sale throughout the day..
Tickets to the Prosecco Festival start at $69 and are can be purchased through Eventbrite.
1. Ganzo’s pizza
Expect some seriously good Neapolitan pizza from the team at Ganzo Ristorante e Pizzeria, Richmond’s hot new Italian diner opened by celebrated Euro-chef Ian Curley (French Saloon and Kirk’s) andLa Svolta’s Valerio Calabro. Ganzo is Tuscan for “cool”, and their pizza will go down a treat with a glass of fizz.
2. Arancini Art
Make sure you say ciao to chef Riccardo Siligato and his wife Josanne Rizzo, creators of Melbourne’s finest arancini. Our favourite is the three-cheese version, but those little rice balls also come stuffed with mushroom, radicchio, eggplant and pumpkin. Perfect finger food with a glass of fizz in hand.three cheese
3. ABRUZZO LAB
Australia’s first bar dedicated to arrosticini has perfected the tender meat skewers, cooking over charcoal barbecues just like the place where they were created, Abruzzo. Lamb, crumbed chicken and swordfish arrosticini will be served with grilled bread at the festival.
4. ZSA’S BAR BISTRO DELI
Northcote’s Zsa’s brings aperitivo hour to the fizz fest with tasty morsels like kingfish crudo with Prosecco glaze, shaved fennel and avruga caviar, or a little prawn cocktail rolls with crunchy lettuce and Prosecco Marie Rose sauce. Make sure you leave room for Zsa’s irresistible tiramisu.
5. OYSTERS GALORE
John the Oyster Bloke will be shucking his famously good Sydney Rock Oysters, grown at Lake Wonboyn on NSW’s beautiful south coast. John’s oysters have won acclaim from chefs around Australia.
Tickets to the Prosecco Festival start at $69 and are can be purchased through Eventbrite.
