Wine producers and distributors from New South Wales and beyond are being urged to submit their best drops to International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) this month, as the world-class venue looks to finalize its coveted wine collection ahead of its opening this December.

Collated by sommelier and ICC Sydney’s beverage operations and cellar manager, William Wilson, the industry-leading wine list will support ICC Sydney’s innovative Feeding Your Performance philosophy, with a focus on locally and sustainably produced wines.

A panel of industry experts, led by Wilson, will place all submitted wines through their paces in a series of tasting sessions starting Monday 18 July 2016.

According to Wilson, ICC Sydney’s wine collection will shine a spotlight on the nation’s best producers and provide an outstanding platform for local labels to be exposed to a huge number of Australian and international guests.

“More than 70,000 bottles of wine will be served annually to an ongoing calendar of exhibitions, conventions and entertainment acts across the integrated precinct.

“We are keen to hear from producers of all sizes who share our passion for craft and quality. This includes boutique wineries that create high quality drops in small batches, and those delivering organic, biodynamic, low impact wines in line with our sustainability philosophy.”

ICC Sydney’s panel is expecting to taste over 200 premium varieties during the selection process, with the collection set to focus strongly on wines from New South Wales as part of the venue’s commitment to working with a network of local and regional suppliers. Winning wines from other states across Australia and a select number of exceptional international labels will round out the list.

“With almost 500 wine producers and 329 cellar doors, New South Wales produces some of the top wines in the world. The diversity of climate and terrain has fostered ongoing success for established regions as well as encouraging new and exciting hotspots to emerge. We’re confident our collection will capture the best of the best,” Wilson said.

Geoff Donaghy, CEO of ICC Sydney, said the food and beverage offering at ICC Sydney will set a new benchmark for the industry, while helping to strengthen regional trade.

“The scale of ICC Sydney and our approach to fostering partnerships with local suppliers means we will be supporting the growth of businesses and the creation of jobs. Our partner network will continuously grow and evolve to ensure we’re always showcasing spectacular talent and produce to our guests,” he said.