Wine Experience
When it comes to sourcing a terrific bottle of vino, many oenophiles tab Wine Experience at Rosalie Village as one of Brisbane’s best repositories of juice. After years accumulating wine knowledge and countless bottles of top-notch vino for his shelves, Wine Experience’s owner Michael Nolan is finally acting on a long-held dream – constructing an intimate on-site wine bar within the store’s premises. Inspired by the cosy, character-filled wine bars commonly found across continental Europe, Michael is currently putting the finishing touches on his own ten-seater locale, with the build currently on track for completion in mid-September. Although Wine Experience’s entire collection is in arm’s reach, Michael is keen to keep the bar’s selection finely curated and easy to navigate. A chalkboard will list a handful of eclectic, new-age and hard-to-find wines categorised by weight (think light, fresh and mineral-heavy drops through to wines with a fuller body) that will be available by the glass, half-glass or as part of a wine flight. This selection will change often and will also include covetable Coravin varieties for discerning sippers. While not a fully equipped wine-diner, Wine Experience’s bar will serve a small selection of morsels to snack on including high-quality charcuterie, cheese, rillettes and parfaits. Great care is being taken to fashion a space that won’t impact the established retail area, therefore Wine Experience’s bar will be kept largely separate from the main store. A second entrance is being added to the street-facing facade, giving guests quick access to the understated interior space that boasts a moody palette of burnt wood, steel and bronze. Michael is keen to utilise the space for a variety of specialty events, including meet-the-maker sessions and the odd wine tasting. Stay tuned to The Weekend Edition for a closer look come September.

Honour Ave Cellars
Speaking of intimate wine bars, Graceville is set to score a snug sipping spot of its own when Honour Ave Cellars opens later in August. The brainchild of chef Chris Siktars (known to many as the operator of popular fine-dining pop-up Black Ox), Honour Ave Cellars aims to make guests feel like they’re walking into their own private wine cellar. The space is cosy to say the least – a 28-sqm space will house 2800 bottles and room to seat eight guests. Chris has cast a wide net for his vino selection, bringing together a list of old and new-world wines wines from 100 different makers from Australia and aboard – many of which are near impossible to find anywhere else in Brisbane. Lesser-known wines from sustainable producers are a focus, so expect an array of interesting small-batch, minimal-intervention and wild-fermented wines (many available to take away), in addition to gourmet cheeses and charcuterie for snacking. As for the aesthetic, Honour Ave Cellars is keeping it minimal with midnight-blue walls and a timber bar running down the centre – a perfect stage for letting the wine shine. Keep an eye out for a closer look when Honour Ave Cellars opens!

Wildfire & Pour
Fire and wine make a pretty spectacular pair, so it’s not surprising that Jerome Dalton and his Dalton Catering team are hosting their second instalment of Wildfire & Pour on Saturday September 5 at The Black Brisbane. Guests will be welcomed with champagne and bites by the fire on arrival, followed by a seated three-course feast cooked over the open fire. The banquet will be expertly matched with new-release wines from Jericho Family Wines. Tickets are $99 per person – head to our Event Guide for details.

Montague Markets
If you’ve cruised down the Milton Reach stretch of Montague Road lately, you’ll have noticed a brand-new development rising high above street level. Property development group Pradella is quickly approaching the completion date of its multi-faceted project Montague Markets – a riverside shopping, dining, office and residential precinct set to open in September. The team behind the development has just revealed the first wave of retail tenants that will call Montague Markets home, featuring a mix of dining, grooming and retail brands set to make the area a go-to for precinct residents and West End locals alike. Headlining the announcement is a full-line 3400-sqm Woolworths, which will be joined by new outlets from popular northern-Chinese eatery Fat Dumpling, fast-growing sushi chain Wara Sushi, luxury homewares brand Ollie & Lloyd, chic salon Tigerlamb and a barbershop by the Bou’s For Men crew. We’ll keep you posted on more Montague Markets announcements as they come.

Betty’s Burgers Steak Sanga
Beloved burger joint Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. has just announced its latest limited-edition restaurant special – the Steak Sanga. Betty’s latest creation, which took six months to perfect, features a long buttery bun filled with premium Australian wagyu steak, cheese, oak lettuce, onion, pickles and a special onion-relish-meets-sriracha-mayo sauce. If you’d prefer to dine at home, Betty’s has released an exclusive app-only offer called ‘Steak Night’ for pick up – two Steak Sangas, a serve of Betty’s new thrice-cooked thick fries and a bottle of Saltram 1859 shiraz for $55. The Steak Sanga is available from this Thursday August 6, for a limited time.

Brisbane City Markets – Cathedral Square
Speaking of Thursdays, Brisbane City Markets is back on in Cathedral Square. From a new time of 8:00 am to 2:00 pm each Thursday, the lush square is filled with street eats to sate your workday cravings, as well as fresh produce, handmade goods and decadent desserts. Expect to see the likes of Brat Haus, Carlos Tacos, OMG Donuts, Rustic Pastel Cupcakes, Morning coffee and more. Head to our Event Guide for full details.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].