The wine list at Rebel Rebel has always had a strong local focus, with owner and executive chef Sean McConnell keen to support local producers both on the plate and in the glass.
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Looking to step it up a notch, the restaurant is embarking on a series of wine weeks, where local wines will "take over" both the wine list and the bottle shop.
"We wanted to do something a little more to support the local wine industry after such a horrendous year last year," McConnell said. "We were getting a little bit bored of the wine dinner format, you know the one-off exclusive event, four courses with matching wines kind of thing.
"It's not a model that really ties in with Rebel Rebel and so our restaurant manager Thomas Rainbaud came up with the idea of basically allowing a local producer to take over our wine list and bottle shop for a week.
"Instead of one dinner, there'll be a week where you can come in and order what you want off the menu and the staff will guide you through some amazing wines."
First up, until March 28, is Hamish Young's Mada Wines.
"It's a busy time for me with harvest but the great thing is this idea gives me the flexibility to come and go as much as I can and hopefully there'll be nights where I can come in and be the one to talk people through the wines," Young says. "I've been a fan of Sean for a while and the quality of food he turns out is quite incredible, he loves finding really good produce and he doesn't overcomplicate things but there [are] still so many components in a dish."
Young loves how venues are trying to think outside the box when it comes to the presentation of wine, that it's not just about a wine list.
"It's great to see some places offering little bottle shops, or takeaway options, where you can discover a wine from the wine list and then be able to take home a bottle," he says. "It just helps us get wine out to more people."
McConnell says he's approached several local winemakers. Bryan Martin is likely to jump on board and McConnell says they'll confirm other lists as soon as they can. Keep an eye on social media.
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