Mick Turner

I’m currently developing two complementary drinks industry platforms in Australia - each with a very different purpose.🍷 AWX - Australian Wine ExchangeAWX is a new trade-focused wine and drinks roadshow concept designed around smaller, more targeted market activations across key Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra.Rather than a large-scale consumer festival, AWX focuses on structured trade tastings, portfolio discovery, buyer engagement and meaningful commercial conversations in a premium environment.The model is built for:✔ Australian wineries✔ International producers seeking Australian distribution✔ Importers & portfolio companies✔ Distributors & wholesalers✔ On-premise and off-premise buyers✔ Selected engaged consumers and mediaThe ambition is to create a modern Australian wine and drinks exchange platform that sits somewhere between a trade fair, buyer tasting and portfolio showcase - with a strong focus on commercial outcomes rather than crowd volume.🥂 The Drink Show - Newcastle, NSWAlongside AWX, I’m continuing to build The Drink Show as a wine-led tasting event for the NSW market.The Drink Show was created after observing how many traditional drinks festivals prioritised attendance numbers over genuine engagement. The concept focuses on a more structured tasting environment where producers can connect directly with engaged consumers and trade buyers, generate sales, build brand awareness and have meaningful conversations.The next edition takes place at the Newcastle Showground Exhibition Centre in June 2026.Both concepts share the same philosophy:✔ Quality over volume✔ Structured tasting environments✔ Better producer visibility✔ Genuine trade engagement✔ Stronger commercial outcomesAustralia has incredible producers, importers and portfolio companies - and I believe there’s room for more focused, commercially-driven tasting platforms that better connect the industry.