Treat Dad to a Tassie wine and whisky dinner

Looking for a special Father's Day treat?

How about a trip to northern Tasmania for a culinary collaboration between Josef Chromy Wines and McHenry Distillery?

Chromy's delightful cellar door restaurant will host a wine and whisky north meets south degustation dinner on Friday, September 4.

Executive chef Nick Raitt is promising a bespoke menu that infuses Bill McHenry’s handcrafted spirits from the Tasman Peninsula with fine local produce augmented by vineyard views.

Throughout the evening guests will discover the Chromy winery kitchen’s farm-to-plate philosophy and hear directly from Bill McHenry as he shares the story behind one of Tasmania’s favourite distilleries.

This evening is designed as a showcase of the whole island, from the rugged Tasman Peninsula to the rolling hills of Relbia, 10 minutes south of Launceston.

What is being promised is "a night of exceptional food, fine spirits, great wine, and captivating stories".

I'd make a weekend of it, following up with some Tamar Valley tastings and a night or two in Launceston.

The event runs from 6pm and costs $180 per person (including the degustation, matched wines and cocktails). BOOK YOUR TABLE HERE

Effervescence is back with more bubbles than ever

Effervescence Tasmania, the three-day sparkling wine celebration, returns in 2024 with even more bubbles.

Josef Chromy Wines at Relbia will host the festival, which will bring together 15 of the island state's leading sparkling houses from November 8-10.

I've attended all but a couple of these events, which draw sparkling wine lovers from around Australia.

This year’s program features a black tie Effervescence Gala Dinner at Josef Chromy Restaurant, the Effervescence Grand Tasting: a tasting picnic hosted lakeside at Josef Chromy Wines, sparkling wine masterclasses featuring both local and international producers, a Bubbles & Beats after party and Effervescence at Timbre, a food and wine dinner.

TV presenter Cassandra Charlick will a new 'VIP Experience", which includes early access to the Grand Tasting and a two-course lunch.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Tasmania’s finest sparkling producers back to Josef Chromy for this year’s Effervescence,” Josef Chromy chief winemaker Ockie Myburgh said.

“Every year, the excitement for Tasmanian sparkling wine continues to grow, and this event is the perfect opportunity to see the unique story each winery is telling through its sparkling wines.

“This is also a unique chance for Tasmania’s wine industry to come together and celebrate all its recent success over a few glasses of delicious wine. We can’t wait to see the winery grounds and wider Launceston region buzzing with excitement during this year’s Effervescence.”

Off-site events include:

● House of Arras Masterclass & Vineyard Tour: 
● Let’s Jansz! with live music, local fresh oysters, cheese and produce platters.
● Tassie Tides Sparkling Lunch: A three-course seafood lunch with Small Wonder Wines. 

● Bellebonne at Evenfall with winemaker Natalie Fryar hosting a behind-the-scenes winery
tour and barrel tasting, followed by a six-course degustation long lunch at the Evenfall
Dining Room.

Tickets for this year’s Effervescence Tasmania program are now available at
www.effervescencetasmania.com.

Effervescence is a sparkling success story

Look. There is Ed Carr, Australia's most-awarded sparkling winemaker from House of Arras. He's talking about the importance of aging cool-climate bubbles until they are ready to be released. 

Over there is Nat Fryar from boutique producer Bellebonne. She's chatting about the key role that chardonnay plays in her wines.

And here is Claudio Radenti from Freycinet Estate talking in his own understated way about his winery's recent show successes.

Oh, and over there is industry pioneer Andrew Pirie revealing the philosophy behind his Apogee label.   
Tasmania's leading sparkling wine producers get together each year for the Effervescence festival that celebrates the state's ongoing success. 

It is a chance for wine lovers to get one-on-one with producers and ask them questions you've always wanted to ask. 

But this is not just an event for wine nerds.

Hosted by Josef Chromy Wines, Paragon Wine Estates and Pinnacle Drinks, in conjunction with Events Tasmania, the three-day event is held each November.

In addition to masterclasses for the aficionados, there is also the chance to chill out on the lawn with a glass of Delamere, Holm Oak or Josef Chromy bubbles, or to boogie the night away at Bubbles and Beats. Or even do some yoga in the vines. 

The grand tasting, the centrepiece of festivities, features a diverse selection of wines made by producers spanning the entire state.

If the technology of winemaking is your thing, then masterclasses hosted by panels of experts (above) look at topics including dosage levels and differences between local styles and the wines of Champagne.

For those who want to enjoy wine and food matches, Timbre Restaurant and Josef Chromy both offer that opportunity.

There is, however, some bad news.

Effervescence Tasmania has become so popular that many of its events sell out well in advance.

So while the next event is still 11 months away, it is probably worth your while getting on the mailing list, or keeping an eye on the website for the 2024 line-up.

Check out https://effervescencetasmania.com/ for updates.