By Ian Neubauer
No expense was spared for the global launch of Italian brewer Peroni’s new reduced-carb beer — Peroni Leggera.
Held on a balmy Wednesday (Feb 25) night, the event saw the exclusive Ivy Pool Club portrayed as a mansion on the Italian Riviera, with fresh bougainvillea lining the cabanas, a pearl-white baby grand piano mounted on a platform above the pool, icy fruit-flavoured cocktails, free-flowing Champagne, enough Peroni beer to drown a football team and haute finger food created by Ivy’s Uccelo Restaurant.
Entertainment was provided by US soul singer Peyton, a fashion show by Diesel and a skirmish of paparazzi who nuzzled their way through the crowd throughout the evening.
Guests included Peroni chief brew master, Robert Cavalli, who flew to Australia with his wife especially for the event, Ivy proprietor ‘Captain’ Justin Hemmes, representatives and senior managers of Pacific Beverages, which distributes Peroni in Australia, and the who’s who of Sydney’s bartending community.
Peroni Leggera is a lower-carb, low-calorie beer that the manufacturer claims still embodies the crisp Peroni Nastro Azzurro taste. It is targeted at 20-45 year old premium beer drinkers and will be available nationally from Monday (Mar 2).