Alex Retief’s Urban Winery finds a new home in the heart of the inner-city.
When we first caught wind that Sydney’s first true urban winery was setting up shop back in early 2016, it’s safe to say it caused a stir. So much so that our sister company Secret Foodies hosted its very own Secret Cellar experience in the space in May 2017.
Despite its striking industrial fit out and impeccable wine offering, Head Winemaker Alex Retief came across several hurdles in regards to the St Peters space. Not only were they not allowed to serve alcohol after 9pm, but only 60 people were permitted into the venue at once and they were only allowed to have one function per month.
With a new, less restrictive liquor licence in a new location, Alex Retief has at last farewelled these limitations. Situated in the heart of Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter, the new and improved Urban Winery is an open winery, a cellar door, an events space and wine bar. Rubbing shoulders with the likes of Black Star Pastry and Fratelli Fresh, Urban Winery Sydney sits in esteemed company in the foodie sphere.
At the wine bar, guests can pull up a stool or relax in a cosy armchair as they’re guided through a selection of wines, which are all handcrafted on-site. Like in the St Peters location, all grapes are sourced from NSW’s Tumbarumba, Hilltops and Gundagai regions.
What pairs well with wine, you ask? Cheese and charcuterie, naturally. At the new location, after-workers can now easily swing by and sample a range of A. Retief drops, alongside charcuterie and cheese plates from the state’s best producers including Alto Olives, Salumi Australia, Spiess, Pecorra Dairy and Jannei, as well seasonal specials.
Rest assured though, the same industrial look can be found at the new site, with sleek neutral tones contrasted against wooden wine barrels and display racks of the A. Retief label. Wines.
New to the space however are interactive masterclasses. In a two hour experience, patrons are given the opportunity to beat the winemaker at their own craft and create the perfect blend. There’s even the opportunity to bottle and buy a dozen of your own creation, with a personalised label! This blend-your-own masterclass comes in at $150pp.
For more information on the space, you can check out the official website here
Urban Winery Sydney
Building 121, The Entertainment Quarter, 116 Lang Rd, Moore Park, NSW 2021 (100m from Hoyts Cinema)
Cellar Door and Tasting Bar Opening Hours
Monday – Thursday 12pm – 8pm, Friday – Saturday 12pm – 11pm, Sunday – 12pm – 8pm