With one of the greatest song contests in the world looming, Collingwood’s Into The Vines Wine Tasting Series is putting on a wine party on Thursday, May 9th from 6pm to kick off Eurovision with equal pomp and ceremony.

Held at Into Coffee, on Robert St, Collingwood, the event will fuse fine drops with a fun twist, showcasing over 24 international wines on tasting and available for sale.

In addition ‘Really Nice Poke’ – a Melbourne Poke Tattooist will offer wine-themed tattoos , and there will be a Masterclass held by the acclaimed wine educator Jay Bessel of City Wine Room/Glass Half Full Consulting featuring small bites from All Are Welcome and the Georgian inspired Gray and Gray.

Into The Vines ‘United By Wine’ will bring together Melbourne Wine Lovers by introducing you to drops from some of the most specialised wine importers in Melbourne, showcasing wines from lesser known wine regions in Europe.

Each of the importers have been carefully chosen by the Tracado team who host the event, and come recommended by sommeliers and winemakers who have worked with them directly.

They include:
- Small Story – representing Germany and Austria
- Romwine – Romania and Moldova
- Vinous Wines- Georgia
- Dejavu – Greece
-Felixir – Slovenia

Because production is so limited, many of these wines are usually only available ‘on premise’ – being fine restaurants and wine bars, or specialised boutique bottle shops, so the event will also offer a unique opportunity to purchase them directly.

The masterclass will be facilitated by wine expert Jay Bessel, who is highly regarded and sought after for curating wine lists in many of Melbourne’s finest dining establishments, and training their staff. To complement there will be small bites curated by Boris Portnoy of Gray and Gray and All Are Welcome, whose connection to place is close (he has his QVANASHENI project - where he grows Mtsvane grapes in Patara Chailuri, Georgia).

On arrival, guests are given a tasting card, a glass and an introduction to all of the importers, and then they are invited to move through the room discovering and purchasing the wines. On theme- there will be a voting station where they can give their ‘12 points’ to their favourite ‘country’s wine’.

In addition to the above Melbourne Hand Poke Tattoo Artist Kathleen Begley from ‘Really Nice Poke’ has designed five unique ‘flashes’, all ‘wine themed’, and will be conducting sittings for small to medium sized applications over the evening.

This event is 18 years and over only - ID required.