New Zealand’s popular Stoneleigh have pushed for a big presence in Sydney during these next few weeks, taking over an overrun and abandoned hotel in Chippendale to create a Jumanji-like immersive wine experience that sketches the wondrous Stoneleigh vineyards onto the concrete jungle that is inner Sydney. The philosophy of minimal intervention winemaking will be fully showcased at one of the more unique pop ups of the summer, inviting guests to head on into the hotel and lose themselves in the wild, overgrown interior while enjoying some of Stoneleigh’s finest.
Fashioned as The Stoneleigh Hotel, the grand sandstone-versus-nature pop up is designed to tease numerous senses, converting the space with wine bottle chandeliers, neglected furnishings and snaking vines and foilage that work their way into the cracks of the hotel. An overgrown dining table hosts wines and tasting sessions, and various other rooms are dedicated to the many elements of Stoneleigh’s natural surrounds.
The main room is the Wild Valley Ballroom, where anyone who ventures on in can participate in casual talks about the winemaking process of wild fermentation, aimed at highlighting the “Stoneleigh Wild Valley” range, which is a recently launched series of 100% wild fermented wines. For those not in the know, wild fermentation is the process where natural/wild fermentation occurs using the natural micro-flora present in the vineyard and on the skin of the grapes, a process said to give the wine a richer, more textural palate and bigger mouthfeel.
The Sauvignon Blanc Power Room and Pinot Noir Study each continue the journey with pages of wine tasting notes, chaise lounges and vintage ornaments, giving that Instagram account of yours a steady work out while you dive further into the world of Stoneleigh. It’s throughout these various rooms that Stoneleigh will host a number of free wine tasting sessions, and other events ranging from live music to photography glasses.
The free-entry Stoneleigh Hotel is located at 48 Kensington Street, Chippendale from now until Saturday 3rd December. For a full schedule and more information click HERE.
Images supplied.
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