Overview
Boozy things are great and all — but it's the low- and no-alcohol sips that are in soaring high demand these days. Melbourne's already home to Australia's first permanent booze-free bar and bottle shop, and it also played host to a zero-alcohol pop-up bar by Dan Murphy's earlier this year. Heck, we've even had local rockstars launching their own signature no-alc bevs. And now, we're getting the country's first-ever, major low- and no-booze drinks festival.
Coming at us courtesy of Revel — the same minds behind Pinot Palooza and cheese fest Mould — Picolo is set to make its debut on Saturday, February 11, 2023, transforming Port Melbourne's Timber Yard into a drinks showcase of not-so-boozy proportions.
It's out to spotlight all the hottest new drops making a splash on Australia and New Zealand's 'no-low' drinks scene; from craft beer and vino, to spirits-style creations and alcohol-free cocktails.
Across two sessions (12pm, 5pm), guests will be able to sip their way through goodies from 30 different producers, with big flavours and innovation the main order of the day. Expect pours from familiar names like Lyres, Heaps Normal, Four Pillars, NON, Sobah, Banks Botanicals, Giesen and Better Beer, with plenty more to be announced.
Also on the day's drinks list: a live cocktail competition featuring bartenders from some of Melbourne's best-loved cocktail haunts, including HER, Pearl Diver and more. Competitors will each whip up their own signature cocktail using products showcased on the day, to be judged by beverage experts including 2022 Australian Bartender Nick Tesar (Bar Liberty), Swill Magazine editor Myffy Rigby and drinks writer Mike Bennie.
In between sips, you can enjoy artisan bites from the Mould Cheese Collective stand, DJ tunes, a roller-skating rink (courtesy of booze-free bev company T.I.N.A.), food pop-ups, giveaways and games — including Heaps Normal's 'beersketball' challenge.
Tickets to Picolo will clock in at $35, which gets you all your tastings and a Revel wine glass to keep. And of course, there's no need to rein it in since there'll be absolutely no hangover awaiting you the next morning.
Catch Picolo at The Timber Yard, 351 Plummer Street, Port Melbourne, on February 11, 2023. Tickets are on sale from 9am on November 17 — find them online.