Comedians have a unique ability to unite their audiences, break down barriers and encourage people to live in the moment.
But in Australia, and across most of the world, comedy has traditionally been performed in indoor settings and theatres, and rarely in the great outdoors.
Established in 2017, Grapes of Mirth challenged this thinking and put Australia’s best comedians on stage outdoors among the vines in South Australian wine country.
Grapes of Mirth has opened a new door into South Australia’s wineries and regions, bringing a different demographic into the world of wine.
Comedy and wine can be enjoyed together in a casual setting, where attendees at no time feel like they’re in any rush but instead can take their time to enjoy the wonderful wines and food on offer, with friends and family, while sprawled out on a beautiful lawn, in a beautiful wine region.
Each outdoor comedy gala features performances from six or seven outstanding comedians. The atmosphere is further enhanced by DJs playing tunes between comedy sets, and a dance party finishes each event in style.
Grapes of Mirth has hosted 17 events in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale.
In 2022, Grapes of Mirth held its first two-day festival at Seppeltsfield in the Barossa, expanding its cultural offering to include live podcasts, wine masterclasses and cooking demonstrations. The masterclasses hosted by top South Australian sommeliers, local wine producers, and wine experts were especially successful, with attendees very interested in learning more about wine and the local wine region.
Grapes of Mirth won the Art and Culture award at the 2024 Best Of Wine Tourism Awards.