Effervescence

Overview

If you don't break out the bubbly when you first hear about south-east Queensland's newest festival, then you will when you get there. All things sparkling and alcoholic are in the spotlight at Effervescence, after all. Indeed, the event's name both nods to its favourite type of beverage and describes the sensation champers-swilling attendees are bound to experience.

And yes, we really do mean champagne, as in the fizzy wines specifically from France's Champagne region. In fact, it was a trip to the area that gave champagne enthusiast and educator Amanda Reboul the idea to start the festival.

Fellow sparkling lovers have two options to get their drink on at Spicers Hidden Vale: walk the Champagne Trail, or hunker down for the weekend-long VIP package. The former offers an at-your-own-pace wander between themed tasting stations, complete with bread, cheese and charcuterie, plus games of boules and other activities. The latter serves up all that, as well as expert masterclasses, lunches, a degustation dinner and a cocktail evening — but only if you have a spare couple of grand to really treat yo'self and then some.