Calling golfers who love their wine and food

 

Calling all lovers of luxury, Tasmanian food and wine, and golf. 

How about three nights at delightful Country House, dinner, Pooley wine experiences and the chance to play two of the best golf courses in Tasmania? 

The the inaugural Prospect Epicurean Open from April 19-22 might be of interest. 

The experience includes a three-night stay at Prospect Country House - just across the road from owners the Pooley family's cellar door - and rounds of golf at 7 Mile Beach and Royal Hobart Golf Club.

From seasoned low handicappers pros to weekend enthusiasts, the event is designed for golfers of all skill levels. 

After the golf, participants can retreat to the heritage comfort of Buscombe's Restaurant and Prospect Country House in the Coal River Valley for a five-course degustation dinner, Pooley wines, and the quiet of the very pretty 1830s estate.

Mathew Goggin's 7 Mile Beach (above) is one of Australia's newest top-rated courses and participants will be led by pro golfer Scott Laycock and John Davis from Tasmanian Golf Experiences. 

Davis will also host the 18 holes at Royal Hobart Golf Club. 

The experience includes all transfers, accommodation, curated meals, Pooley wines, green fees and pull buggies included. All you need is a toothbrush and your golf clubs. The price is $3,150 person.

For full details email Lisa Pooley at lisa@prospectcountryhouse.com.au or check out https://prospectcountryhouse.com.au/

Subi Spritz adds some fizz to the Perth calendar

Each March, the Perth suburb of Subiaco celebrates the food and drink of southern Europe. 

Subiaco's annual Subi Spritz food festival, presented by See Subiaco, will return in 2026 with some familiar flavours and aromas. 

To run from March 26-29, Perth foodies will indulge in a taste of la dolce vita with a night market and Subi Spritz collaboration, as well as some new additions. 

Highlights will include a Euro Sunday Session featuring two of Western Australia's taste leaders in food and wine, Ben Ing (FOUND, Si Paradiso) and Ben Jacob (Masseria). 

The pair will join forces to create a food and beverage pairing that will combine the best of West Australian produce with contemporary Italian flavours, paired with Cherubino Wines and FOUND brews. 

Other highlights include the return of The Kiosk, which will run from March 26-28 and see Forrest Walk again transform into a vibrant Italian piazza complete with a pop-up spritz bar and DJ's spinning Italo disco tracks. 

The 2026 iteration of Subi Spritz marks the fifth consecutive year of the festival, which has grown to be an annual staple calendar event in Perth. 

City of Subiaco Mayor David McMullen said: “Subi Spritz is our iconic event showcasing our very own food and beverage experiences to the whole of Perth. 

"It not only draws visitors to the City of Subiaco during the festival, but it also keeps them coming back all year round once they discover what our fantastic venues have to offer.”

The full Subi Spritz line-up will be announced in January and will feature over 20 events throughout Subiaco. Sign up to the Subi Spritz mailing list here.

eat! Berlin aiming to sparkle in spring

Berlin is one of the world's most vibrant cities - and a potential magnet for food and wine lovers early in the new year. 

The eat! berlin 2026 gourmet festival runs from February 19 to March 2, 2026 showcasing German and international cuisine.

The festival boasts a prominent international line-up including star Austrian chef Lukas Nagl, who will will be a guest at the "From the Other Shore" event at the Rutz Zollhaus, while leading Alsatian chef Lucas Ramstein will bring a culinary journey through France with "Le Tour de France" to the Brasserie Quarré at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski.

Among the two-Michelin-starred chefs are Tony Hohlfeld, who will create a special evening at Restaurant Horváth, and Daniel Schimkovitsch, a guest chef at POTS. 

The national line-up covers a broad stylistic spectrum - from classic produce-based cuisine to modern regionality and internationally inspired concepts.

Among the program highlights of 2026 is the premiere of "SpizzaPizza", which makes a promise of "from oven to hand in two minutes". 

Local star chef Tim Raue (top) will present his new gastronomic concept for the first time at eat! berlin and will showcase it on February 24 at his eponymous restaurant. 

There will be a completely Vegan cinema evening at the Astor Film Lounge, while a perennial audience favourite the Tagesspiegel Blind Date; where neither the chef nor the wine supplier is known.

With "SparklingB!", eat! berlin 2026 is expanding its portfolio for the first time to include a major, independent sparkling wine trade fair. 

See www.eat-berlin.de 

Discover a celebration of the gamay grape

 

One of the most exciting red varieties being grown in the Adelaide Hills is gamay.

The Beaujolais grape is an ideal match for Australia's outdoor lifestyle and the vignerons of the region say it is "our cool climate region's answer to grenache: a lighter-style red variety than syrah but every bit as delicious".

Gamay is growing in popularity due to its floral aromas, luscious berry flavours, subtle earthy tones and gentle tannins, which bring a velvety mouthfeel.

Local fans of this emerging variety, Lucy and Darren Golding, have invited their fellow gamay-loving producers in the Adelaide Hills to come together for GAMAY FEST on Sunday, October 5, at their property at Lobethal.

This is the first time in Australia that multiple Gamay makers have joined forces to showcase the appeal of the grape variety.

On show will be gamay wines from Artwine, Five Acre Wines, Golding Wines, Hesketh Wines, K1 By Geoff Hardy, Mt Lofty Ranges Vineyard, Sidewood Estate, Turon Wines, Vella Wines and Worlds Apart Wines.

Attendees will also enjoy a trio of bao buns (included in the ticket price) to demonstrate how well gamay pairs with food.

Anyone interested can book here.

Discover two weeks of Chablis celebrations

Wines from Chablis are perhaps the purest expression of the chardonnay grape; showcasing bright acid and minerality.

While Australia makes a wide range of chardonnay styles, Chablis is revered by aficionados and has a loyal following even as the prices of imported wines have risen. 

This spring, Chablis wines and Merivale are combining for a collaboration that will run from September 29 to October 13. 

A total of 16 Merivale venues will host a Chablis fortnight, spotlighting the classic pairing of Chablis and oysters. 

Guests will be able to choose between six or 12 oysters, paired with bottles of Chablis wines chosen to  showcase the vibrant minerality, purity, and precision that Chablis is known for.

The wines of Chablis are shaped by the unique Kimmeridgian subsoils and cool climate of northern Bourgogne - just along the road from Champagne. 

Merivale venues will feature Petit Chablis’ lively, zesty freshness (perfect for casual enjoyment) to the elegance of Chablis, known for its finesse and minerality, and the depth and complexity of Chablis Premier Cru. 

Australia is the 10th-largest global market for Chablis, with over half a million bottles enjoyed across the country.

Producers to feature include Famille Grossot, William Fevre, Domaine Antoine et Laura Robin, Julien Brocard, Domaine du Colombier (a personal favourite when I lived in France), and Prieure Sainr-Come. 

The venues include Bert's Bar and Brasserie, Newport; Mimi’s, Coogee; Felix, Ucello, Sushi e, Ash Street Cellar and Mumu in Sydney CBD; and The Surf Deck, Collaroy. 

See https://merivale.com/

African wildlife experiences paired with top-notch wine and food

A lifetime ago I found myself on a slow train between Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha) that stopped in bleak, dusty railway towns like Noupoort and De Aar in South Africa's Karoo desert.

The Karoo semi-desert can be unforgiving country, similar to the Australian outback, but it is also home to Samara Karoo Reserve (www.samara.co.za), one of South Africa’s most diverse safari destinations.

Samara is not only a game reserve - it also invites food and wine lovers to embark on a culinary journey through the heart of the Great Karoo semi-desert, "where sustainable, farm-to-table dining meets the wild beauty of the African bush".

Nestled in 67,000 acres of soulful wilderness, Samara offers big five wildlife encounters paired with an immersive food and wine experience that celebrates the region’s rich culinary heritage, exceptional local produce, and boutique South African wines from the Cape winelands.

And from May 16, Samara will host “Wine in the Wilderness” experiences to coincide with the “Stoep Tasting Wine Weekend” in nearby Graaff-Reinet.

Samara’s cuisine is rooted in the traditional flavours and ingredients of the Karoo, showcasing the area’s farm-to-table culture.

 

Executive chef Vandeline Pienaar uses Karoo lamb , along with indigenous herbs and plants such as spekboom.

Signature dishes include Karoo lamb burger with agave buds and Amagwinya (dumplings) with spekboom salsa.

Guests can enjoy a bush breakfast under the shade of a centuries-old shepherd tree, enjoy a picnic on the mountain plateau, or dining beneath the stars.

Each meal is paired with a curated selection of boutique South African wines, many sourced from family-owned vineyards practicing regenerative viticulture.

For those seeking a unique local flavour of the Karoo, Samara has partnered with Leonista Agave Spirit, South Africa’s award-winning organic agave distillery for a safari tasting; "pairing the bold flavours of Leonista with a wilderness experience".

For The Stoep festivities, Samara offers “Cheetahs and Cultivars” experiences in collaboration with renowned South African winemakers. The first weekend (May 16-18) will see Samara partner with Creation Wines from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. On the second weekend (May 23-25), Samara will welcome Simonsig Family Vineyards of Stellenbosch.

The reserve offers accommodation in two lodges. The Karoo Lodge is a renovated farmhouse with a veranda while the Manor House has an infinity pool.

All units have air-conditioning, a patio, tea-and-coffee making facilities. All meals and selected drinks are included and guests can join two daily game activities with an experienced game ranger. Port Elizabeth is a 2.5 hour drive and there is a private air strip located 20 minutes' drive from the lodges.

Such unique experiences do not come cheap, but I'd bet they will be truly memorable. I'd certainly be  tempted.

For further info, visit www.samara.co.za

A serious wine and food experience in Queenstown, New Zealand

The Rees is one of New Zealand's finest luxury hotels, known for its focus on fine food and wine. It is a destination I can highly recommend.

The hotel overlooks Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown and hosts regular wine and fine events hosted The Rees' director of wines Mark Rose, who is also the general manager.

The first dinner this season features winemaker Kate Radburnd from Radburnd Cellars in Hawke's Bay, who has over 35 vintages in her kitbag. She was formerly chief winemaker with Vidal and Pask, and started Radburnd Cellars in 2017.  

The Rees executive chef Corey Hume will craft a five-course menu to accompany the Radburnd Cellars wines with tickets $165 per person. 

For those who want to stay the night, the Rees' Radburnd Cellars Residential Package costs $302.50 per person including one night’s stay in a lake view hotel room with a complimentary upgrade; two tickets to dinner;  breakfast for two the next morning and a noon checkout.

Email events@therees.co.nz to book.

Future events on The Rees' schedule include:
Friday, June 24 - Esk Valley with Gordon Russell
Friday, September 23 - Ata Rangi
Friday, October 21 - Dhall and Nash
Friday, December 2 - Taittinger Champagne 

For details and hotel bookings see https://www.therees.co.nz/

Go East for some of Tasmania's best festivals

From the delightful beaches of the Bay of Fires (above), the gorgeous Freycinet National Park and to the many wineries in and around Bicheno, the East Coast is one of Tasmania's treasures - and it is less than a two-hour drive from both Hobart and Launceston.

Even though winter is approaching there are plenty of events to entice you east but it does pay to book well in advance as popular events like the Great Eastern Wine Weekend tend to sell out fast. 

Here are just a few of the upcoming events: 

April 8-10: ECHO Festival, Swansea

July 1-31: Bicheno Beams, Bicheno

September 9-18: Great Eastern Wine Week (program released May 2)

November 19: Bicheno Food & Wine Festival, Bicheno

The East Coast Harvest Odyssey, known as ECHO Festival, has become known for weaving together experiences around the traditions of harvest, old and new. 

Later in the year, but sure to sell out, The Tasmanian Walking Company is offering two live music walks with local alt country star Ange Boxall and Splendid Gin. 

These run from December 11-14 and December 12-15 and are priced at $3,095 per person. 

Guests can walk the Bay of Fires and enjoy an intimate Ange Boxall performance at the Bay of Fires Lodge. Book here: www.taswalkingco.com.au/bay-of-fires-live-music-walk-with-ange-boxall/

For full details on all East Coast events click on the ad boxes above, and remember to please book in advance your accommodation, car rental, events and experiences.  

Head to the Highlands for a gourmet experience

The Southern Highlands Food & Wine Festival is back in 2022 in one of the most beautiful regions of Australia with organisers are promising the event will be "bigger and better than ever".

There is a new new venue - in Moss Vale - and a new look with visitors being promised an array of local vendors including restaurants, winemakers, distillers, and brewers, as well as food stalls and a farmers' market growers area⁠.

There will also be cooking masterclasses and a VIP tent for those with cash to splash. 

To be held at the Moss Vale Showground on February 26-27, the event will also feature live music and space for children to enjoy while their adults do some tastings from producers like Centennial Vineyards, Tertini and Joadja Distillery.

VIP tickets include private parking, a glass of bubbles on arrival, plus a take home gift that includes a box of Riedel wine glasses and a $100 gift voucher for Langton’s 

There will also be opportunities to pay for exclusive tastings of Château d’Yquem and poulet de Bresse. 

Cooking classes will feature chefs including Colin Fassnidge and Alex Pritchard. 

For more information on who’s on when and for tickets see Southern Highlands Food and Wine Festival. 

Silver ticket: $20 including a wine tasting and Olsson’s salted popcorn bag; 
Platinum ticket: $50 including a wine tasting and a cheese plate

VIP ticket: $150.