King's Vault Pop Up Bar, Darlinghurst

King’s Vault is a Victorian Government initiative where the best wines from the King Valley region in Victoria are featured in a new pop up bar concept. The bar is open for a limited time and can be found at 20 McLachlan Ave, Darlinghurst.


Richard and i enter the room where a massive long table laden with platters of food and glasses of wine awaits. The space is a recreation of King Valley’s cellar doors, Italian-inspired and intimate. Though the evening starts with a table of strangers, by the end of the night we are all friends and trading stories


The food is fantastic with the focus on fresh local produce. A giant platter of prosciutto, grilled eggplant and a salad of fennel, walnut and mandarin is conveniently located directly in front of me. i love prosciutto. Even had a prosciutto party once. And eggplant is my second all-time favourite vegetable (right after potato of course).


Milawa cheeses. The brie was out of this world man! Creamy and smooth it was perfect slathered on the lavosh crispbread and paired with my favourite white of the night- Dal Zotto Arneis 2008


Thick slices of breads, juicy olives and jams


Ocean trout dip


Mmm wine


When it came time to try the reds a platter of mushrooms and spicy grilled sausages arrived and disappeared in a flash


Deep fried sage leaves stuffed with olive tapanade. These babies were so moreish i kept eating my way thru a bowl but luckily more arrived haha


Some of the King Valley wine makers were there to have a chat about their wines- Fred and Joel Pizzini (Pizzini Wines), Arnie Pizzini (Chrismont), Sam Miranda (Sam Miranda King Valley) and Otto and Michael Dal Zotto (Dal Zotto Estate). Best quote of the night “the Pizzini Verduzzo is the wine that wears lipstick” HAHAHA


And then a giant platter of duck arrives with a citrusy sauce. The duck is perfect, meat falling off the bone tender and the zesty sauce is mopped up with bread


The King’s Vault pop up bar is open from 18th – 27th November, between 6.30pm – 11pm. It is a one-off event so hurry before it closes!

Chocolatesuze attended this event thanks to Edwina from Yarn PR