Royal Exhibition Building & Carlton Gardens

Get up close and personal with the world’s sexiest grape variety at this year’s Pinot Palooza festival, an event dedicated to – you guessed it – pinot noir. This year, the annual festival's hosting an exciting line-up of pinot producers from Australia and New Zealand. There'll be multiple sessions staggered across the weekend to cater for the overwhelming demand (we Melburnians sure adore our pinot) – with rivers of vino, music, chats and snacks galore.  Pinot Palooza founder and newly appointed Chair of Wine Victoria, Dan Sims says: “Since the very beginning, Pinot Palooza has been all about rewriting the rules of stuffy wine tastings and encouraging punters to just discover and explore wines they love – plus, it helps that we know how to throw a really good party. " Talk about a juicy vibe! Highlights of the lineup include last year's People's Choice winner Meadowbank (Tas), Oakdene (Geelong), Fleet (Gippsland), Murdoch Hill (SA) and Vinteloper (SA), plus so much more. Whether you're all about organic, biodynamic, vegan or low-intervention, there's a wine just for you.  Anticipate a buzzing hive of pop-up bars, food stalls and interactive activities designed to put your note-taking skills and taste buds to the test. Tickets cost $55 a head (ten buckaroos cheaper than last year!) and include all wine tastings, a fancy REVEL-branded wine glass and Pinot Palozza tote bag to gather all your treasures from the day.  For more details, check out the website. Pinot Palooza will

The Big Design Market returns to Melbourne with a special festive edition, so that you can get all your Christmas shopping done in the one spot. From November 29 to December 1, the Royal Exhibition Building is set to be transformed into a shopper's haven for three big days. You'll be able to peruse 250 stallholders from Australia and New Zealand, selling things like ethically made ceramics, jewellery, homewares, clothing, lifestyle products, stationery, limited-edition art prints, pet wares and so much more.  Shopping can be hungry work, so be sure to fuel up with treats from some of the country's best culinary connoisseurs, including the likes of CDMX, Wonder Pies, Ca Com Bánh Mì Bar, Casa Nata, Mork Chocolate and Billy Van Creamery. On the beverage front, St Ali will be slinging coffee to keep your energy levels up, while Pizzini Wines, Cheeky Rascal Cider, Archie Rose Distilling Co and more will be on hand to whip up something a tad stronger.  This market edition's guest artist is Claire Mosley, who is making an exclusive installation for the event. She's a local watercolour artist who creates nature-inspired prints, paper goods and textiles. And if you’ve got kids in tow, a designated entertainment zone with creative activities is sure to keep them busy. The show bags are also back – these usually sell out within the first few hours and boast more than $90 worth of goodies (including stationery, socks, body care and gourmet produce) for just $25. A different selection of