How a London-trained sommelier built one of Europe's most interesting independent wine festivals from scratch, and why its fifth edition might be its most important yet
When Emily Harman left a career that had taken her from the River Cafe in London to the World's 50 Best restaurant Attica in Melbourne, through winemaking seasons in the Barossa Valley, Chianti, and Sierra de Gredos, she did not open a wine bar in Notting Hill or take a position at a Michelin-starred restaurant group. She moved to Berlin, founded a consultancy, built an import business focused on grower producers from emerging regions, and started a wine festival.
Five years later, the Berlin Sommer Weinfest has become one of the more quietly serious independent wine events on the European calendar. Not because it is the biggest, but because of what happens inside it. On Sunday 14th June 2026, over 70 independent winemakers from across Europe and the Middle East will pour more than 350 wines at Haus der Visionäre in Treptow, Berlin. Every ticket holder has direct access to the producers themselves. No intermediaries, no brand activations, no sponsored stages.
This year the festival's talk program puts two of the most important conversations in European wine and gastronomy into the same room on the same afternoon.
Billy Wagner of Nobelhart and Schmutzig and Dylan Watson Brown of Ernst will speak publicly about whether the economics of wine and fine dining still make sense. It is not a comfortable question, and neither of them is known for comfortable answers.
A dedicated session on the Greek wine scene, with producers Melina Antonopoulos of Dameli and Meli Ligas of Domaine Ligas alongside Jan Konetzki of the Four Seasons Astir Palace Athens, arrives at a moment when Greece has become one of the most discussed territories in serious European wine. Felix Baumann of Nakkt Wein addresses the science of winemaking for an audience that increasingly wants to understand what is actually in the glass. And Holger Schwarz of Muri takes on the alcohol-free question not as a wellness trend but as a genuine opportunity to drink differently and better.
All talks are free to attend on the day.
The evening closes with an after party hosted by Anima Radio, with Izzy Demsky confirmed for the afternoon set and the full music lineup to follow.
Tickets are on sale now. The festival is a single day and capacity is limited.
General Tickets
Complimentary press tickets are available on request. Emily Harman is available for interview in advance. Please register weinfest@quinto.com
About Berlin Sommer Weinfest
The Berlin Weinfest is an independent, producer-led wine festival produced by Sublime Wine. Now in its fifth year, it takes place annually in Berlin and is built around one principle: every ticket holder meets the makers, tastes with them, and leaves knowing more than when they arrived. www.berlinweinfest.de
About Emily Harman
Emily Harman is a London-trained sommelier and wine consultant with over 20 years of experience across some of the world's most respected kitchens and cellars, including the River Cafe in London and the World's 50 Best restaurant Attica in Melbourne, Australia. She has worked winemaking seasons in the Barossa Valley, Chianti, and Sierra de Gredos. In 2015 she founded VinaLupa, a bespoke wine consultancy now active across the UK, Germany, Austria, and the USA. She is co-founder of Sublime Wine, a Berlin-based import business focused on artisan and grower producers from emerging regions, and the founder of the Berlin Weinfest. www.vinalupa.com / www.sublime.wine
