WELCOME
Join us over the Heart of Wollombi weekend, May 2nd & 3rd, to experience SIP Wollombi Village. This is a chance to step inside, say hello and explore a brand new space in the heart of the village.
Discover a curated range of wines, gins, beers and more from boutique Hunter Valley producers, all brought together in one place.
Two of our producers will be on site across the weekend, offering tastings and sharing their craft - Sydney Brewery and Phoenix Distilling Co.. Drop in, take your time, and see what SIP is all about.
Grand Opening Weekend
Beer Tastings
Gin Masterclass
Craft Beer Tasting
11am - 2pm, Saturday May 2nd
No Booking required
Sydney Brewery began in Surry Hills in 2005 and expanded into the Hunter Valley in 2014, establishing a brewery in Lovedale. Today, they produce an award-winning range of craft beers and ciders, brewed using filtered Hunter Valley water - giving their brewers a clean base for styles from crisp lagers to full-bodied ales.
At SIP Wollombi Village, Sydney Brewery will host a guided tasting showcasing a selection of their core and seasonal beers. The session offers a relaxed introduction to their range, with insight into brewing styles and flavour profiles. It’s a chance to experience local craft beer with one of the region’s established producers.
Gin Masterclass
4pm - 5pm, Saturday May 2nd
Phoenix Distilling Co. will provide a immersive, sensory-driven gin masterclass
designed specifically for SIP and its patrons.
This isn't just a tasting; it’s a "behind-the-curtain" look at the alchemy of craft spirits. Phoenix will bring the distillery to SIP, transforming its space into a laboratory of flavour.
The Experience Overview
Phoenix will take SIP patrons through a multi-sensory journey that guides them from the raw earthiness of botanicals to the refined elegance of a finished gin. The goal is to demystify the distillation process while celebrating the craft that goes into every bottle.
1. The Sensory Library
Before the first drop of spirit appears, Phoenix will engage the patrons’ most powerful sense: smell.
• Individual Botanical Exploration: Phoenix will provide a curated selection of individual botanicals (juniper, coriander seed, orris root, liquorice root, rose petal).
• The Blend: Patrons will smell the "Distiller’s Blend" to understand how individual aromas harmonise.
• The "Why": Phoenix will lead an interactive discussion on why these specific botanicals were chosen, how they complement one another, and the role they play in the final flavour profile.
2. Live Bench-Top Distillation
At the heart of the class is a live 2L bench-top distillation. This setup allows patrons to see the process in real-time without the intimidating scale of a full industrial distillery.
• Process Education: Phoenix will explain the science of heat, evaporation, and condensation.
• The "Hearts": As the still begins to run, SIP patrons will be invited to take a small sample of the high-proof "hearts." This provides a rare opportunity to taste the gin at its most concentrated and purest form.
3. The Final Pour & Mixology
Once the distillation is complete, Phoenix will transition from science to the art of the perfect serve.
• The Cut: Phoenix will dilute the spirit to approximately 40% ABV, explaining how water "opens up" the aromas of the botanicals.
• Premium Pairing: Phoenix will provide a range of high-quality mixers. Patrons will be guided on how to select a mixer that enhances, rather than masks,the specific botanical profile of the gin they just watched being made.
