Hand-picked: Pair’d Festival

Western Australia’s newest homegrown event, Pair’d Festival, is a must-attend for all wine and food lovers. Whether you’re a casual sipper or a seasoned connoisseur, Pair’d offers 28 diverse events across the region, featuring special wine tastings, garden parties, nature-inspired dining, sunset gatherings, Michelin chef dinners, and bottomless brunches, to name just a few. 

Need a hand sorting through the bunch? Read on for our favourites ripe for the picking. 

Experience Castle Rock Bay like never before when the South West icon is transformed into the ultimate beach club. By day, enjoy beachside beats from Café Del Mar DJ Ken Fan, gourmet eats, four-course seaside dining and luxe lounging under the sun.  

Then watch the sunset to DJ sets from global rockstar legend turned cheese-and-winemaker Alex James (bassist from Blur) with your favourite local drop and delectable beach club bites.  

The weekend’s wine list, curated by sommelier, Cyndal Petty, features a selection of the South West’s finest vintages alongside an incredible line-up of dishes crafted by Aaron Carr (Yarri), Ben Jacob (Lagoon), and Ben Ing (Alberta’s) and Dave Pynt (Burnt Ends, Singapore).

Will you be choosing luxurious day beds or cosy seaside bistro seating? 

Meet the region’s makers changing the wine game at New Wave Gathering. Known for pushing the limits when it comes to incredible wine, enjoy exclusive new season releases and tastings from your host Skigh Wine, alongside Wines of Merritt, Churchview Estate, Corymbia, Windance Estate, Marq Wines, LS Merchants, South by South West, Dream Bird, Altair Estate, Snake + Herring, Jingalup Wines, Mr Barval Fine Wines and Amato Vino.

Chef Andy Hearnden (AKA Andy Cooks) will lead the culinary fray, with tasting notes by wine writer Nick Ryan and beats by DJ and Chef Brian Cole, Grant Smillie and Ben Shewry. 

An indulgent four-course lunchtime feast beneath towering karri and marri trees at Tanah Marah. Nature’s Table is a celebration of our region and its culinary glory. The afternoon’s menu will hero foods locally foraged beforehand by Ex-noma alumni David Zilber and Ben Ing, and Fervor’s Paul Iskov as Wadandi-Pibulmun Cultural Custodian, Zac Webb welcome guests and share stories throughout the event. Hosted by food and drink journalist, Max Veenhuyzen, and paired with local wines, prepare for an unforgettable evening under the stars. 

A selection of the region’s most renowned wineries will assemble for the first time at Howard Park Wines for one spectacular event. Presented by Singapore Airlines, the Grand Tasting is a rare opportunity to taste an exquisite selection of best sellers, rare museum specials and award-winning wine with unlimited bites by culinary talents Brian Cole, Silvia Colloca, and Blaze Young. 

Wineries include Howard Park, Cape Mentelle, Clairault Streicker, Cullen, Deep Woods Estate, Evans & Tate, Fraser Gallop Estate, Juniper Estate, Leeuwin Estate, McHenry Hohnen, Moss Wood, Stella Bella, Thompson Estate, Vasse Felix, Voyager Estate and Xanadu.   

For those who want to delve deeper into the wines, there’s an opportunity to add on taster wine masterclasses. Held in the cellar door and Wine Chapel, these masterclasses will take you on a sensory journey of discovery, joined by the winemakers themselves.  

SkinSea is an unforgettable wine and seafood safari awaits at Bungalow Neighbourhood Social. Traverse through a curated selection of skin contact wines from the Blind Corner, Black Cocky Wines, Si Vintners, Vallee du Venom and Yeah Wine. When it’s time for a bite, head over to the seafood station and choose from an array of coastal creations like lobster rolls, prawn cocktails, fresh oysters and seafood skewers. DJs will be spinning vinyl throughout the afternoon and into the evening so stay on for an afternoon of skinsy drops and delectable bites.

Can you tell the age of a wine, from taste alone? Or determine if it’s New World or Old? Put your palate to the test, for a night of wine games at the South West Wine Shop Quiz Night. Recently crowned Gourmet Traveller’s Wine Bar of the Year and hosted by SWWS own Cyndal Petty and Hayley Ward, check your knowledge with eight blind wines and tricky quiz play with the winner taking home a magnum. 

Bid farewell to Pair’d with a good old fashion street party! Margaret River’s main street will be closed from roundabout to roundabout to make room for live music, performers, children’s activities, pop-up bars, dining, and so much more. There’ll be something for all ages and it’s free to attend – stay tuned for the full music and entertainment lineup.