In this exclusive interview, Natalie Pickett, founder of The Bubbles Review and visionary behind The Bubbles Festival, reveals the magic of her “divinely inspired” sparkling wine celebration which is returning to Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth in May-June 2026. Think 10+ curated bubbly tastings (local Aussies, champagnes, and hidden gems), gourmet canapés, RIEDEL glasses, a mini masterclass on sparkling wine tasting, VIP upgrades supporting local charities ($5 donated per ticket), and the sold-out joy that’s hooked fans since 2017. Discover her journey from viral Moët blogs and Champagne masterclasses to Veuve Clicquot inspiration, how the event has evolved, and why Natalie Pickett’s The Bubbles Festival is the ultimate bubbly escape. Read on for Natalie’s effervescent insights that’ll fizz your excitement and get you booking tickets in a flash.
Natalie, you’re bringing The Bubbles Festival back this May and June. For the uninitiated, what is The Bubbles Festival?
It’s a celebration of all things sparkling! Patrons purchase a ticket for a two-hour session, which includes the chance to meet and engage with producers and distributors of sparkling wine and champagne, and enjoy bubbly tastings paired with canapés, all within one stylish event. (A VIP upgrade can also be purchased, offering extra bonuses and access to a special tasting. $5 from every VIP ticket is donated to our chosen charity in each city.)
At the beginning of the session, I provide an introduction to tasting appreciation. It’s like a mini masterclass, with techniques and tips to help guests better appreciate the sparkling wines on the tasting list.
A RIEDEL Champagne tasting glass is given to each attendee, and a curated list of 10 or more sparkling wines is available to taste, along with canapés and tasting notes.
What sparked the idea to launch The Bubbles Festival initially?
The idea for The Bubbles Festival came to me in a meditation one morning. I joke that I like to think it was divinely inspired!
I had already started The Bubbles Review blog, and with a background in events and tourism, creating The Bubbles Festival felt like a natural extension of what we do. I love bringing people together over the shared joy of sparkling wine—connecting our exhibitors, including Australian producers as well as importers and distributors, with people who love sparkling wine. It’s a truly joyous event.
What do you look for in the drinks/producers that you showcase at The Bubbles Festival?
I love to introduce what we call ‘bubbly discoveries.’ I do this through our blogs and giveaways, our sparkling wine club, our print magazine, and our events—introducing people to names they may not have seen before, allowing them to taste, sample, and learn the story behind the wine.
Each city we visit has a different line-up. I always aim to include local sparkling wines from the state we’re visiting, along with a broader selection of Australian sparklings from interstate, and some international diversity with a couple of international sparklings, including champagnes where possible. Availability can vary depending on distribution in each state.
We like to bring back some favourites from previous years, while also ensuring there’s always something new to discover. That might be new vintages from returning exhibitors or completely new producers we haven’t showcased before.
What have you learned about organising festivals since your first one?
That people love their bubbles!
We have a very loyal following, with many guests returning year after year since the very first event. Over time, the festival has evolved—we always ask for feedback from both visitors and exhibitors, and getting the balance right is key.
We’ve trialled different venues, and we’ve always included food—designed as small bites to complement the wines. In the early days, we offered four canapé-style pairings, but as demand grew, we expanded the food offering to enhance the overall experience.
It’s important to me that the event is all-inclusive, so people don’t need to spend extra once they arrive—other than picking up their favourite bubbly discovery to take home, of course!
We also carefully manage visitor-to-exhibitor ratios. We want the event to feel lively, while still allowing guests time to connect with exhibitors and hear the stories behind their wines.
The tasting list is curated so guests can enjoy everything at a relaxed pace, rather than rushing through an expo-style environment. The goal has always been to create a stylish, sophisticated event.
How has The Bubbles Festival evolved since its start, and what cities are you targeting next?
The inaugural Bubbles Festival was held in Melbourne in April 2017. In response to demand, we expanded interstate, and since 2021 the festival has been firmly established as a national series, catering to sold-out audiences across the country.
We’re excited to be sharing the bubbly love again—The Bubbles Festival will be held in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide, and we may return to Perth again in 2026.
As host of guided tastings, what nuances do you most enjoy revealing about champagnes and sparkling wines from Australia and abroad?
In my introduction, I talk about the key influences that guide people’s tastings. Guests quickly realise that just because a wine has bubbles, it doesn’t mean they’re all the same. There are different methods used to create those bubbles, and that has a big influence on what you experience in the glass.
I often have people come up to me afterwards to say how much they enjoyed the introduction and that they’ve learned something new.
I still love seeing people’s reactions when they discover that many champagnes and sparkling wines are made using red grapes—but without skin contact, they present as a white wine in the glass.
And terroir is another favourite topic. I’ve just attended masterclasses in Champagne focusing on terroir, and how you can actually identify the soils where the grapes were grown by how the wine sits on your palate.
You also choose a different charity for each city. How do you select them, and why is philanthropy important to you?
Giving back is very important to me—I’ve always built that into my businesses.
We’ve created a luxurious, stylish event while keeping ticket pricing accessible, but I’m very aware that not everyone has the opportunity to dine out and enjoy good food and wine.
Many of the charities we support are food-focused, providing meals and assistance to those in need. In Melbourne, we support Sacred Heart Mission; in Adelaide, Heart and Soul Group; and in Perth, Street Friends WA. In Sydney, we support Dress for Success, which aligns beautifully with helping women return to the workforce through clothing and mentoring support. In Brisbane, it’s the Teen Rescue Foundation, providing education and frontline support to reduce alcohol abuse among teens.
Before The Bubbles Review and Festival, you ran a mentoring, public speaking, and consulting business. How does that experience assist you now?
I still run that business, providing mentoring and consulting for business owners and management teams. I love helping people succeed, and I do that alongside my other ventures.
The public speaking and business skills I’ve developed all feed into creating successful events and building a strong, sustainable business.
What was the champagne or sparkling wine that inspired you to start The Bubbles Review?
I’ve always loved champagne and sparkling wine—I even had a champagne luncheon for my 18th birthday.
I’m drawn to the glamour and elegance of it all, but beyond that, I love the stories behind the wines—how they’re created and the people behind them.
The very first blog that I wrote for The Bubbles Review was “How do you pronounce Moët?” It turned out to be quite controversial and quickly went viral, with people tagging friends and saying, “I told you so.” I knew then that the blog had legs (wine pun intended!).
Who in the sparkling wine industry has most inspired you?
I’m fortunate to meet many passionate sparkling winemakers in Australia, Champagne, and around the world. There are so many inspiring stories, and I deeply admire the dedication it takes to produce quality sparkling wine.
My greatest inspiration is historical—although I’ve researched and written about her, she was well before my time. That would be the legendary Veuve (widow) Clicquot. She was not only the first woman to lead a Champagne house, but also one of the first women in business in France.
You’ve just returned from Printemps des Champagnes. Tell us about that.
It’s a five-day trade and media event held in Champagne, primarily in Reims, with some events in Épernay. Grower-producers from across the region come together to present their wines.
A key focus is tasting the vin clairs—the still base wines before they undergo the second fermentation to become sparkling—alongside the finished champagnes.
There are multiple tastings each day, so it’s definitely champagne overload, but also an incredible experience. I visit Champagne often, and I always come away having learned something new.
Why should people come to The Bubbles Festival?
Because it’s lots of bubbly fun!
Anything else you would like to add?
Take time to savour life’s precious moments—because life is short. Drink the champagne.
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We thank Natalie Pickett for this interview and cannot wait for The Bubbles Festival 2026 next month.
KEY INFO FOR THE BUBBLES FESTIVAL 2026
WHAT: The Bubbles Festival 2026
WHERE & WHEN & HOW:
Adelaide (Ayers House) – 6 June 2026 – Get tickets here.
Brisbane (The Hills of Rivermakers, MORNINGSIDE) – 8 & 9 May 2026 – Get tickets here.
Perth – 20 June 2026 – Join waitlist here
Sydney (Royal Automobile Club of Australia) – 22 & 23 May 2026 – Get tickets here.
HOW MUCH:
General session tickets are available at $139 + Booking Fee.
- Admission to one x two-hour tasting session.
- A tasting appreciation introduction by Natalie Pickett, the Founder of The Bubbles Review.
- 10 or more tastings of Sparkling Wine.
- Tasting notes.
- A RIEDEL Crystal Champagne glass (valued at $52.50).
- Canapés served during the tasting session.
- Sparkling wines are available for purchase.
- Bubbly giveaways.
VIP Ticket upgrade – are not released until general sales are released and are not available as a pre-sale tickets: $75 + Booking fee
- Priority access with a private tasting of a special cuvee prior to doors opening
- a Crystal Champagne glass Twin pack valued at $105.00.
- $5 from every VIP upgrade will go to the chosen charity.
