Clare Valley gears up for 10 days of wine and food experiences

What used to be a gourmet weekend is now a 10-day wine and food festival.

The 2023 Clare Valley Gourmet Week starts on Friday and will feature 80 events across 35 venues in one of Australia's prettiest wine regions, including Pauletts Wines (above).

Whether you’re after a one-day experience or can make a weekend or week of it, the festival can be enjoyed in three parts; Festival Weekend (May 19-21), Breathe It In (May 22-26) and Land of the Long Lunch (May 27-28).

“The response to this year’s program has been terrific," says event organiser Belinda Heinrich of the Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association.

"This is our largest program to date with venues reporting huge increases on ticket sales and nearly half of the events already sold out but, there are still must-attend events on offer."

The first weekend of what is believed to Australia's longest-running wine and food events features several highlights including Mitchell Wines hosting rebel chef Duncan Welgemoed, a Paella Party at Pikes, and Riesling and Oysters at  Knappstein Wines.     

The festival features ticketed and free events, and wine lovers and foodies are encouraged to book their experiences at clarevalleygourmet.com.au.

Image: Matt Turner      

Clare Valley Gourmet Week returns for its 38th year

The Clare Valley Gourmet Week returns for its 38th year in 2022, showcasing award-winning wines, local produce and characters, heritage buildings and probably the most quintessentially Australian landscape of any wine region.

The flagship food and wine event for South Australia's Mid-North will again feature a week-long format, with the event incorporating up to 30 wineries and restaurants, offering more than 40 events.

Beginning with the traditional festival weekend, the region’s favourite cellar doors will open in collaboration with pop-up restaurants, food vans and live music.

Shuttle buses will be operating on constant loops, linking venues across the valley over the two days of May 14-15.

Then, during the week, a range of events will be popping up across the region.

Eventgoers can dine under the stars in the heart of the Eldredge Wines vineyard while learning about the constellations above; or take an art class on the lawns of Sevenhill Cellars allowing their creative side to flourish in one of the state’s most beautiful and historic locations.

There will be the chance to put sensory skills to the test in a wine blending workshop or traverse the valley on a wine and wilderness hike, finishing with lunch at Skillogalee Restaurant.

The week's festivities will conclude with the inaugural Land of the Long Lunch event on May 21.

Several long lunches will be presented in collaboration with restaurants and local and interstate food personalities, showcasing the very best regional produce and wine.

Belinda Heinrich, the event spokesperson, says that the diversity of the Clare Valley food and wine community is really evident in this year’s program of events.

“From intimate wine tasting and blending experiences, cooking and wine masterclasses, long lunches, to garden parties, picnics and markets; the 2022 Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week has it all,” she says.

“We encourage visitors to jump on a bus from Adelaide, stay for the weekend or organise a group itinerary to enjoy the very best that the festival has to offer.”

See www.clarevalleygourmet.com.au