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Two women sitting down, enjoying wine on ICC Sydney’s Event Deck.

​​Brewing up event success: The ultimate beverage experience at ICC Sydney​

02 Dec 2024

ICC Sydney’s Food and Beverage Manager | Sommelier, William Wilson, shares his insights on upcoming beverage trends as we approach the Australian summer. 

Our team at International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney), managed by ASM Global, takes pride in offering attendees from all over the world, the highest quality beverages, and William Wilson, Food and Beverage Manager | Sommelier, is the driving force behind this commitment.  

William is renowned for curating ICC Sydney’s renowned 100% New South Wales (NSW) wine list, which recently won the NSW Sommeliers Wine List Award for Best NSW Wine List by a Caterer or Functions Venue. He also achieved the prestigious Certified Cicerone® designation, earned by passing two exams with scores above 80%, and more recently, William’s role as Chief Steward at the Sydney Royal Beer and Cider Show for over ten years further informs his insights into emerging beer trends. 

Every beverage must earn a place on William’s list. So, how does he decide? We invite you to get inspired by William’s highly anticipated beverage trends to complement any event this season.  

Tip #1: Enjoy the best of what the New South Wales wine region has to offer! 

ICC Sydney’s dedication to featuring a 100% Local NSW Wine List offers valuable global exposure for NSW suppliers, showcasing a range of premium wines including the winners of the Halliday Wine Companion Awards:

  • Winemaker of the Year: Liz Silkman, First Creek and Silkman Wines (Hunter Valley)
  • Dark Horse Winery of the Year: ChaLou Wines (Orange)
  • Number One Winery in Australia: Tyrrell’s Family Winemakers (Hunter Valley – Heathcote)

The ICC Sydney NSW Wine Awards announced in November, once again recognised many fine drops that are already on William’s list including the White Wine of the Show, Silkman Reserve Chardonnay, as well as:

  • Wine of the Show – the Reserve Syrah from ICC Sydney supplier Tamburlaine Organic Wines.
  • ICC Sydney sponsored award for Best Exhibitor at the 2024 – Tamburlaine Organic Wines.

As Sommelier at ICC Sydney, William notes a growing preference for local sparkling wines among attendees; brands like See Saw Organic Prosecco from Orange and Hungerford Hill Dalliance have been extremely popular. Looking ahead, he anticipates that Prosecco will be the standout choice for summer, with light, aromatic white wines such as Fiano and young Semillon also perfect and gaining in popularity. William remarked, “guests are enjoying fresh, bright and zesty fruit flavours, perfectly suited for our warm summer’s evenings.” 

At ICC Sydney, we are committed to supporting beverage suppliers who prioritise sustainable production, ensuring that Australia’s unique vineyards are protected for future generations. William’s choice of wines on the list have sustainability certification including membership of Sustainable Winemaking Australia.    

Tip #2: Cater to all tastes by offering a diverse selection of beers, including classics, craft brews and non-alcoholic options. 

William highlights the impressive global beer selection available to attendees, noting Esker Beer Co.’s Citrus Gose, which won Best Beer or Cider of the Show at the 2024 Beer and Wine Awards. He also praised Four Pines Brewing for earning eight gold medals, including one for their Pacific Ale, which is featured in all ICC Sydney beverage packages, commending that their recipes and quality control were among the finest in the industry. 

Additionally, William has observed the rising trend in non-alcoholic beers with an obvious increase in quality, stating, “At ICC Sydney, we are particularly proud to serve ‘SOBAH,’ a craft beer brand that not only offers a first-class non-alcoholic option but also promotes positive awareness of First Nations culture.” 

 Tip #3: Offer guilt-free indulgence with zero sugar non-alcoholic cocktails! 

This summer, ICC Sydney is embracing the zesty side of life with the zero sugar Manly Spirits Limoncello Spritz now our most popular cocktail. Lower strength, lower carb drinks are in demand along with high-quality alcohol-free options; the Lyre’s Pink London Spritz is another perfect Sydney drink while NON are making some perfectly balanced wine alternatives.  

Wondering what William Wilson is sipping these days? “I really can’t get enough of the light, crisp and refreshing Four Pines Japanese Lager, and at the weekend I’ll head to Marrickville to visit The Village, the wonderful joint taproom of Wildflower & Mountain Culture Beer Co.” 

For the rest of the week, his selections vary – he’s “not afraid to mix it up,” and is always looking for the best beverages to showcase at ICC Sydney, whether they are cocktails, alcohol-free options, beers or wines.  

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