Food personality Matt Preston is returning to the Adelaide Hills as the official ambassador for the 2026 Winter Reds Festival, after a successful debut last year. This year, Matt will be joined at select food events by chef and TV personality Warren Mendes for an unforgettable weekend of food, wine and camaraderie.
Winter Reds is the annual red wine festival held in the Adelaide Hills in late July, running this year from Friday 25 to Sunday 26 July 2026. Matt Preston’s attendance last year brought his infectious enthusiasm for great wine and warming food to numerous events across the region.
“Winter Reds is one of the best food and wine events in the country. I had so much fun at Winter Reds last year, fantastic wines, brilliant people, and that unmistakable Hills charm, that I wanted to come back. I can’t wait to eat, drink, and celebrate everything that makes the Adelaide Hills region so special,” Matt said.
Matt will be out and about on Saturday 25 July, dropping into various events across the Winter Reds program.
Two feature events
Matt’s Winter Reds weekend kicks off at Vinteloper’s home-on-the-hill on the evening of Friday 24 July. Guests will experience benchmark Adelaide Hills red wines, roaming bites and the buzzing vibe of an intimate house-gathering against the backdrop of a Hills winter night. This limited-ticket event will see guests mingle with Matt Preston and Adelaide Hills producers in a warm setting perfect for grazing, sipping and socialising.
On Sunday 26 July, the headline event is an exclusive Winter Reds long lunch named Preston’s Plates at Golding Wines, where Matt will host a memorable shared-table dining experience pairing premium Adelaide Hills red wines with seasonal fare. Over 150 guests will enjoy an atmosphere brimming with warmth, personality and stories, sharing their passion for food, wine and friendship.
Winter Reds in its 16th year
Adelaide Hills Wine Region President Alex Trescowthick said Winter Reds has become a cornerstone event that continues to champion the strength and diversity of the region’s red wines, which go well beyond Pinot Noir for which it is best known.
“Now in its 16th year, Winter Reds is a much-loved annual celebration of Adelaide Hills red wines and the vibrant community behind them. Cool-climate Pinot Noir is still the hero, but there’s also Shiraz, Gamay, Nebbiolo, and more. We invite wine lovers to experience our exceptional cool climate wines and the Hills region at its most atmospheric, when we embrace the chilly weather that signifies our cool climate with warm jackets and cosy open fires,” Mr Trescowthick said.
A rich and diverse festival program
Across the weekend, 34 cellar doors will deliver a dynamic mix of over 40 Winter Reds events highlighting the full breadth of the Adelaide Hills in winter. Visitors can expect high-energy festival-style events and parties with DJs, live bands and vibrant atmosphere, from barn parties and dancefloors to outdoor après-style celebrations. There are fire-driven food experiences and long-table feasts, including open-flame cooking, multi-course dinners and shared winter lunches paired with flagship red varieties, as well as curated dining events and chef collaborations offering elevated food and wine pairings and immersive hosted experiences throughout the weekend.
Those after something more intimate will find cosy masterclasses and guided tastings exploring vertical vintages, wine and chocolate pairings, Italian and Spanish varietals and fireside tastings. Relaxed cellar door visits offer mulled wine (with ponies!), grazing plates, live music and crackling fires in a casual drop-in setting, while after-dark experiences and late-night celebrations extend the festival beyond cellar door hours with live music nights, wine dinners and post-event parties.
Winter Reds is made possible with the support of the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission.
For the full lineup of Winter Reds events, visit adelaidehillswine.com.au/events/winter-reds.
