Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson star in one of my all-time favourite movies. The Bucket List. For those not familiar with the film, two terminally ill men embark on an adventure to tick off their wish lists before they kick the proverbial bucket.
Over 97 minutes the duo go skydiving, fly over the North Pole, visit the Taj Mahal, ride motorcycles on the Great Wall of China, and visit Mount Everest. Many, I predict would feature on the bucket lists of others. Throw in the northern lights and a freshly baked baguette on Boulevard Saint-Germain, and you would have mine.
Unbeknownst to me, however, there is something more compelling than carbohydrates in Paris. Travel two hours north by Eurostar and you will uncover a dining experience that sells out within minutes and operates for two weekends every year. Located in the Belgium town of Boom, no more apt a name, is Tomorrowland, one of the largest and most iconic electronic music festivals in the world.
Stories told by friends of the said music festival have since become legend. A weekend parents were led to believe as historic sightseeing were in reality lost passports and sacrificed sleep in the company of over four hundred thousand people.
Exiting my twenties and entering an allegiance to the 8-hour sleep club, Tomorrowland seemed little more than a pipe dream. That was until a recent dinner for the launch of Anvers’ Adelaide Hills ‘Acta Non Verba’ vinous collaboration with the entertainment juggernaut.
Translating to ‘actions not words’, owners Wayne and Myriam Keough lead by example, proving that the Tomorrowland dream is still within reach. As grandparents of three, the Keoughs attended their first festival last year in Myriam’s home country.
This unexpected collaboration with an Adelaide Hills winnery was inspired by an equally unexpected muse… a South African Chardonnay regularly enjoyed by Tomorrowland co-founder, Michiel Beers. Its shared latitude with the Adelaide Hills sparking an idea for Belgian distributor Steven Coppens of Artevino. And so, Acta Non Verba was born – a celebration of bringing people of the world together.
The two unite in a unique dining experience at the Tomorrowland Restaurant, where the Acta Non Verba Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Rosé are paired by Michelin starred chefs in a culinary food journey. Last year saw Roger van Damme, Nick Bril, Thijs Meliefste and Marcelo Ballardin curate a menu around the festival’s LIFE theme. 2025 will revolve around the entirely new theme ‘Orbyz’, a universe made of ice, mythical creatures and a hidden community that rises to the surface after many years.
For those of us who missed out on tickets, why not recreate Tomorrowland from the comforts of your home?
What you will need:
– A Spotify account
– Rhinestones and glitter
– The Acta Non Verba range available through the Anvers website.
Acta Non Verba Rosé 2023
94pts | $36
Debuting on the 2011 Tomorrowland Stage, Avicii performed ‘Levels’, a track that would go on to achieve over one billion streams. The song opens with the resounding lyrics “oh, oh sometimes I get a good feeling”, an instinct echoed upon uncorking this coral beauty. Waves of strawberry sorbet, fairy floss and a cheeky smoked chipotle make for a compelling introduction. On the palate it moves with constant flow, oscillating from weighty to mineral and saline. Creamy, milk bottle confection, raspberry drops layered with strawberries and feta watermelon salad. Its flavours run deep, with a mellow mid palate giving way to a sleek and shiny finish. A rosé that is versatile and inexorably moreish.
Best paired with: Levels – Avicii
Acta Non Verba Chardonnay 2022
93pts | $55
A good Chardonnay is akin to a great DJ set: it unfolds with a gradual build-up, layered elements, a sense of tension and rhythm, and a drop that leaves you wanting more. When done right, both create a visceral experience. Fresh and zesty on the nose, the wine builds a tempo of nectarine, popcorn, orange-poppyseed cake and a touch of extra virgin olive oil. Medium-bodied there is a bit to ponder; custard, peach, dandelion tea, and that signature orange-poppy seed cake with its subtle mealy texture. Slinky and smooth, it bends and curves around the palate, leaving a trail of toastiness and spice. Citrus pith and tonic water flavours pulse through the wine’s unctuous finish – reverberating like an electronic bassline. A Chardonnay set that demands an encore.
Best paired with: Don’t you Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia, John Martin
Acta Non Verba Shiraz 2021
93pts | $98
A potion from Tomorrowland’s Orbyz universe, its golden filigree, Latin text, and black waxed seal read like a disclaimer to enter at your own risk. But as they say, no risk, no reward. And rewarded you will be. With time, its magic unfurls – entrancing, a tapestry of chocolate noir, blackberry, soy, polish, and shavings of graphite. The palate is laden yet retains vigour as sparks of acidity pulse through its body. As the wine evolves, raspberry, blackberry compote and plum stalk emerge from the inky, oaked shadows of secondary flavour. Chocolatey tannins melt into the wine’s complex depths – leaving behind a spiced, powdery finish. A fine example of vinous escapism.
Best paired with: Titanium – David Guetta and Sia
In an interview celebrating 20 years of Tomorrowland, co-founder Michiel Beers described the festival’s raison d’être as trying “to create a unique world that allows people to forget everything outside of it.” For an Adelaide Hills winery to be part of that carefully crafted euphoria is, not only audacious marketing but also, an achievement for the Australian wine industry.
