Beach days and supporting local with Perth Ambassador Emma Farrelly

By Rachel Fellows

Published 24-December-2024

Interview / Perth

Sommelier Emma Farrelly is recommending six new Red Stars in Perth. We ask the ambassador where to spend New Year’s Eve in Western Australia’s capital.

Perth Ambassador Emma Farrelly has some clear advice for anyone in the city for the New Year celebrations – and you'll need more than one evening:

• Support local wine bars and restaurants over the holiday period.
• Outdoor music festivals.
• Beach days – Cottesloe, South Beach, City Beach. We have so many to choose from.
• Picnic in some of our beautiful outdoor spaces – Kings Park is a must.
• Spend some time in Fremantle. It’s vibrant, eclectic and full of energy.

As Director of Wine at the State Buildings, Emma is busy working on the 2025 calendar and a series of events to celebrate the retail and hospitality hub’s tenth birthday. She is also in charge of procuring wine for its private cellaring facility and creating experiences for its two members’ clubs, Mello House and Lawson Flats. Next year will see a new events space dedicated to wine, which is keeping Emma busy too.

What's the latest on Perth’s wine scene?

“The wine scene here is vibrant, with a strong focus on local regions and producers. Having the Swan Valley right on our doorstep offers fantastic opportunities for people to connect with winemakers and gain first hand insights into their craft. That said, Perth locals are generally well-travelled – while some are quite parochial, many enjoy exploring wines from all over the world.”

Have you seen any trends emerging across wine lists lately?

“We're definitely seeing an increase in Burgundy due to recent strong vintages. German and Spanish wines are on the rise, and Italian wine is as popular as ever. American wine has also become more accessible, with a raft of new producers being imported.

“Locally, Western Australia stands out with high-quality, well-priced wines that consistently exceed expectations, making them a cornerstone for many small wine bars focused on supporting local producers.”

How can a restaurant or wine bar impress you?

“I believe a great wine list should have balance, regardless of where it is. [I want] to be able to find the odd treasure or well-priced gem. I like wine service to be suggestive but not arrogant or condescending. Interesting wines by the glass. Good stemware and wines served at the correct temperature. Service with personality and warmth. An excellent playlist will keep me somewhere for hours…”

Do you have any wine list pet peeves?

“My biggest pet peeve is when you order something and it’s out of stock. I understand it happens better than anyone, but it still annoys me!”

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