Is wine best matched with comedy? Merrick Watts says, yes.
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The comedian is bringing Grapes of Mirth to Pialligo Estate, so it's a chance to see for yourself if wine really is the perfect conduit for comedy?
"Nobody is getting too hectic, nobody is smashing vodka Red Bulls and getting zany," Watts says.
"Wine is pretty mellow. The other thing with comedy that is similar to wine is that you share it. You share a laugh, you share a joke and you share wine.
"It's not as an individual pursuit as with other drinks.
"You don't sit around and have a conversation among four people about a beer that everyone is drinking. But you are more likely to have a conversation about a bottle of wine."
That's one of the things that Watts likes most about Grapes of Mirth - the ability for people to chat in between sets.
While comedy performances at festivals or gala shows come with quite tight time constraints, Watt says that's not the case with Grapes of Mirth.
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"It's a different way of seeing comedy," Merrick says.
"When I'm weaving through the crowds in the breaks, hearing people talking about it or recanting jokes that they have just seen.
"They're sharing a moment together and that's the magic key to what Grapes of Mirth is.
"Honestly, it's not just about being able to going to the bathroom or going to the bar, it's actually about giving time for people to absorb the comedy they've just seen and have a chat."
The event's scheduling also means that not only do comedy lovers get to see Watts - along with Dave Thornton, Nick Cody, Becky Lucas, Tom Ballard and Nikki Britton - in a relaxed setting, but Watts believes audiences get more out of the performers.
Every Grapes of Mirth event across the country is different - "it's not a cookie-cutter idea" - with each comedian hand-picked to create a cohesive line-up that moves quickly through each of the performances.
"People do what's called a power set - it's 15-20 minutes - of really powerful stand-up," Watts says.
"People are quite selective and they'll find the 20 minutes that they know will work for that crowd at that time and they just power punch it.
"But it's not people trying out new material, they're bringing one of their best sets and they'll open it and share it with everyone.
"Canberra audiences, I wouldn't say they are an easy crowd because that wouldn't be giving enough credit to the audience. They're a smart crowd and they like clever jokes and they like comedians."
- Grapes of Mirth is at Pialligo Estate on Sunday, December 1 from 12pm-6pm. Tickets from $60 from grapesofmirth.com.au.