Spring in the Vines returns to southern Tasmania

Lovers of cool-climate wines might want to consider a trip to Tasmania for this year's Spring in the Vines festival. 

Dozens of vineyards in Southern Tasmania will be open to visitors from from Friday, October 30, until Sunday, November 1, and many of them are only open to the public a handful of days a year. 

The event is billed as a chance to meet with producers across the Derwent, Coal River Valley, Huon Valley and d'Entrecasteux Channel regions and taste their latest releases. 

"We're ready for our largest event yet," say organsiers Wine South. 

"We've had great early interest from many new and continuing vineyards to participate this year. 

"We are seeing great representation across all regions and are expecting 2026 to be our largest Spring in the Vines to date." 

There will be a range of accommodation partners for Spring in the Vines both in central Hobart and regionally, who will offer discounts of between 10-20% for wine-loving visitors.

There will also be rental car discounts if you are making a weekend of it, plus Hop On Hop Off bus tours.

Many producers will be offering live music and seasonal food on site and some be offering back vintages.

Others, like Trial Bay Estate, will invite guests to picnic in their lovely gardens. 

See https://winesouth.com.au/spring-in-the-vines/

Your chance to be a pinot noir master

Think you know the attributes of a cool-climate pinot noir?

You can prove your prowess as Tamar Ridge Wines launches new cellar door experience where wine lovers can step behind the scenes and try their hand at one of winemaking’s most creative processes. 

The Tamar Ridge Winemaker for a Day: Pinot Noir Blending Experience is a hands-on experience that invites guests to step into the role of winemaker, tasting individual pinot noir clones and parcels from Tamar Ridge vineyards before creating a blend of their own.

Guided by the Tamar Ridge cellar door team, guests will explore the distinctive characteristics of each parcel and discover how factors such as clonal variety, vineyard site and individual wine components can influence the aroma, flavour, structure and balance of a finished wine. 

Guests can take inspiration from the Tamar Ridge Reserve Pinot Noir, experimenting with different components to understand how the final wine comes together, or trust their own palate and create an entirely unique expression.

Katherine Brown, luxury portfolio manager for Brown Family Wine Group, said the experience offers wine lovers a rare opportunity to better understand the craft behind the bottle.

“It’s a great chance for a hands-on experience where guests really get to understand the influence each parcel can have on a finished wine,” she said.

“Pinot noir is particularly fascinating to explore in this way because each component brings something different to the blend. Guests can taste those differences for themselves and then see what happens when they begin bringing the parcels together.”

The experience costs $110 per person. 

For more info see Winemaker for a day: Pinot Noir Blending Experience - Tamar Ridge Reservations

Image: Natasha Mulhall 

Go behind the scenes with Tasmanian boutique wine producers

Some of Tasmania's best - and smallest - wine producers will be opening up this weekend before the 2026 vintage.

Producers without regular cellar doors including Trial Bay Estate, Resolution Vineyard, Chatto and Sailor Seeks Horse will be offering tastings from February 27 to March 1 for Southern Open Vineyards Weekend.

Stargazer will be showing off its new tasting facility in the Coal River Valley, while Alice Davidson of Aunt Alice will be showcasing its new garagiste-style winery in Geeveston.

The weekend offers the chance to explore 51 small and large wine producers and vineyards across some of Tasmania's striking wine landscapes - all under an hour from Hobart.

There is the opportunity to uncover hidden cellar doors - like the new facility at Elsewhere - tour working vineyards, chat with winemakers, and enjoy special barrel tastings. 

Many producers will offer food, or entertainment.

There is also a special deal with Bargain car rentals for festival goers. Use the code TASWINES15 when booking online for 15% off.

The weekend is run by Wine South with backing from Events Tasmania.   

For more details see https://winesouth.com.au/open-vineyards/

Coonawarra goes large for race day

Lovers of wines in large-format bottles may be tempted by an auction in Coonawarra later this month.

The Imperial Wine Auction will be a key element of the features of the 36° South Coonawarra Vignerons Cup race day.

There will be the opportunity to bid on exceptional large-format wines from some of the region’s top producers, including Zema Estate (Nick Zema above).

The Coonawarra Vignerons Cup will be run on Friday, January 16, at Penola, and the 44th running of the race day and will see eight six-litre imperial bottles go under the hammer.

The 2026 catalogue spans vintages from 2006 to 2021.

Coonawarra Vignerons marketing and events manager Heidi Guyett said interest was expected from wine collectors across Australia.

“The Imperial Wine Auction is consistently one of the most talked-about highlights of the day," she said.

"These are truly special wines - one-off imperials presented in bespoke velvet-lined display cases and labelled exclusively for the 36° South Coonawarra Vignerons Cup."

Many of the imperials will be personally signed by the winemaker/producer on the day.

The featured wines are:
• Balnaves of Coonawarra - 2010 ‘The Tally’ Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
• Bellwether - 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
• DiGiorgio Family Wines - 2021 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
• Raidis Estate - 2016 ‘The Trip’ Cabernet Sauvignon
• Riddoch Coonawarra - 2021 ‘The Author’ Cabernet Sauvignon
• St Hugo - 2012 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
• Wynns Coonawarra Estate - 2012 Michael Shiraz
• Zema Estate - 2018 Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Registered bidders will be able to participate via phone bidding. 

See https://coonawarra.org/coonawarracup2026/imperial-auction

Where to try wines from some of Tasmania’s best small producers

Want to taste wines from some of Tasmania's best emerging wine producers?

Or to sip on releases from small winemakers that often fly under the radar?

Budburst Wine Collective, headed by Joe Lenck, is holding its first Tasmanian Wine Expo in Hobart on on Saturday, December 6.

The event at RACV Hobart Hotel will feature 10 local winemakers and Lenck hopes it will become a regular fixture.

So if you haven't tried wines from the likes of Alice Davidson from Wines by Aunt Alice, from Marco Lubiana, or from newish labels like Future Perfect, or Cave Wines, here is an opportunity.

"We've gathered a group of 10 of the best young and talented local winemakers with their emerging brands," Lenck says.

With a few more vintages under their belt are Jonny Hughes from Hughes & Hughes, Kate Hill, Frieda Hensekens from sparkling specialist Henskens Rankin, Keira O'Brien from Rivulet Wines, Todd Goebel from Brinktop and Greer Carland from Quiet Mutiny

"With so much talent in one room, you won't want to miss this one and get amongst the future leaders of our Industry," Lenck says.

And each attendee gets to take home a free tasting glass.

# Budburst Collective is an online retail portal. Joe Lenck has worked for several of Australia’s leading wine wholesalers over a long career in the industry.

Tickets are $32 per person, plus booking fee. Go to https://www.oztix.com.au/ and search for Tassie Wine Expo.

New Tolpuddle releases reflect a special site

 

It is now almost 15 years since Shaw+Smith co-owners Martin Shaw and Michael Hill-Smith MW visited Tasmania and purchased a vineyard on a whim. 

The Tolpuddle Vineyard in the Coal River Valley was planted with chardonnay and pinot noir clones best suited to making sparkling wines. 

But Shaw and Hill-Smith had very different plans, Their vision was to create one of the best single vineyard sites in the country, producing world-class table wines. 

After some re-planting, new clones and a decade and a half of work on the vines, Tolpuddle has established a global reputation for excellence. Mission accomplished. 

"There was never any great plan to buy in Tasmania," the duo says. We were simply blown away by some of the wines from this vineyard that we had tasted from barrel, then fell in love with the site when we visited. Both serendipitous and spontaneous.

"We believed, and still do, that it is a special site with potential to produce wines of outstanding personality and quality."  

The 2024 Tolpuddle Chardonnay and 2024 Tolpuddle Pinot Noir were launched this week at the award-winning tasting room surrounded by the vineyard. CD manager Pip Anderson did a great job of overseeing the tasting and lunch.

The wines hit the market this morning and are sure to be in high demand following international wine show successes for the 2023 releases. 

"We think this already one of the great single sites," Shaw told guests who were lucky enough to taste five previous vintages of each variety: 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022 - which illustrated just how gracefully both wines age. "A lot has changed over the last 15 years."

The new releases are super impressive - and very food friendly - and you can read full reviews at www.tasmanianwineonline.blogspot.com this weekend.

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.

Coonawarra vignerons to raid their cellars for back vintages

Coonawarra vignerons will be scouring their cellars for older gems when the annual Cellar Dwellers festival returns next month. 

Coonawarra’s wineries are inviting wine lovers to discover treasures from their cellars with back vintage drops and special museum-release wines on offer for tasting during the July event. 

Among the activities to feature this years are themed wine trails, winemaker brunches, lunches and dinners, daily slow-cooked food pairings, behind-the-scenes winery tours, and intimate fireside tastings.

“Cellar Dwellers offers something truly special - you’re not just tasting wine, you’re experiencing the history and heart of Coonawarra," says Heidi Guyett, events and marketing officer for Coonawarra Vignerons. 

"Whether it’s sipping a beautifully aged vintage rarely seen outside the region, sharing a meal with the winemaker who crafted it, or enjoying a relaxed afternoon by the fire with a glass in hand, each event offers a genuine connection to the place and the people behind the wines. 

" It’s a chance to slow down, savour the stories in every bottle, and discover what makes Coonawarra so unique. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or just starting your journey, there's something here for everyone.  

“The cornerstone of the event is the opportunity to taste treasured back-vintage wines from our 
cellar doors, offering a rare chance to compare them with current releases. It’s all designed to showcase the depth and warmth of our region - one sip and one story at a time.”

The Cellar Dwellers Back Vintage Tasting Showcase will be held on Friday, July 18, bringing together up to 15 Coonawarra producers to showcase their older wines.

“It’s a special evening where wine lovers can taste up to 30 aged wines from a collective of Coonawarra producers -all under one roof, for one night only," says Guyett. 

"This walk-around tasting is a rare chance to explore the evolution of both red and white varieties, from riesling and chardonnay to merlot, shiraz and, of course, our iconic cabernet sauvignon." 

A full list of the wines being showcased is available on the coonawarra.org website.

For those wanting to make a night of it, Guyett recommends rounding out the experience with dinner at the award-winning Pipers of Penola. 

Full event details here: https://coonawarra.org/cellar-dwellers-july-2025/

Image: Tasting at Zema Estate

Yalumba offers rare back vintages for wine lovers

 

Yalumba has just revealed its second museum release celebration for lovers of mature wines.

Following the success of last year’s inaugural museum release, the family-owned winery has announced the second release launching May 1.

The release showcases rare and fine wine wines from the 2010, 2013 and 2015 vintages, each carefully cellared since being bottled.

Building on Yalumba’s 175-year legacy, the selection includes limited parcels of The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz, The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz, The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon, and The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz.

This year’s collection also includes The Tri-Centenary Grenache, made from ancestor vines spanning three centuries.

“For generations, we have been setting aside our finest wines from great vintages, allowing them to mature in the ideal cellaring conditions of the Yalumba Museum,” said fifth-generation proprietor Robert Hill-Smith.

“The 2025 museum release reflects our unwavering commitment to crafting wines of exceptional pedigree and ageing potential. Each bottle tells a story of time, place, and dedication.”

Hill-Smith says the collection "offers wine collectors and connoisseurs the opportunity to experience the complexity, depth, and refined elegance that comes with carefully aged wines".

The wines are available in limited quantities through the Yalumba Wine Room and website, select fine wine retailers, and leading restaurants worldwide.

The wines are:
2013 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Museum Release $550
2015 Yalumba The Caley Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Museum Release $520
2015 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz Museum Release $234
2010 Yalumba The Octavius Old Vine Shiraz Museum Release $252
2015 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Museum Release $100
2010 Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Museum Release $110
2015 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon Museum Release $85.00
2010 Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon Museum Release $95.00
2015 Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache $100

See Yalumba.com

Hobart wine lovers get a rare chance to sample imports

Hobart may be the capital of Tasmania but it is a small city and its resident wine lovers often miss out on regional roadshows and trade tastings that are held in Sydney and Melbourne.

Not so next month when the Negociants Imported Wine Odyssey tasting hits town for one day only.

If you want to try some of the best wines from France and Italy along with global stars like Thelema from South Africa and Chateau Musar from Lebanon you won't want to miss out on this one.

The venue has changed from Peppina to Franklin Wharf Function Centre, but what was a trade event last year will now also feature a public session.

There will be around 120 wines to try in total and around 30 principals will be in attendance to chat about their wines.

So if you've ever wanted to try wines from global big guns like Antinori, Guigal, Faiveley, Fevre and the like then this is your chance,

The date is Thursday, March 27 from 6-8pm.

Tickets are available here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/imported-wine-odyssey-hobart-public-event-tickets-1236687669109?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

How to avoid making a fool of yourself at cellar door

Winemaker David Lloyd tells it like it is. 

He recently posted on LinkedIn a notice that he used to have displayed when he owned and operated Eldridge Estate on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. 

Lloyd is now semi-retired in Tasmania, making small batches of the Odd Couple pinot noir in partnership with Michael Twelftree, but his words remain as relevant as ever. 

As someone who occasionally helps out at a cellar door, I can assure you that if you follow this guide you will have a much better tasting experience. 

Open your eyes, perhaps, to styles that you think you don't like. And make friends with the person pouring.    

But, most important of all, just don't be a dick.   

Tamar Ridge releases new super-premium pinot

Leading Tasmanian wine producer Tamar Ridge has launched a new super-premium flagship pinot noir in time for the festive season. 

The 2022 Grand Assemblage is described as the best red wine Tamar Ridge has made and is a blend of seven parcels selected from over 100 barrels by winemaker Tom Wallace. 

"With Grand Assemblage, we wanted to create a pinot noir that truly showcases the pinnacle of what we can achieve at Tamar Ridge," Wallace says. 

"It's a wine that reflects our deep understanding of this variety, our commitment to meticulous vineyard management and winemaking techniques, and the unique character of our Tasmanian environment.” 

Wallace talks of "alluring aromas of wild strawberries, bright red fruits and subtle spice". 

"This wine is an absolute joy to experience," he says. "The aromatics are captivating, and the palate is a beautiful dance of fruit, spice and earthy complexity. It's a wine that will reward those who take the time to savour it, revealing new layers of flavour and nuance with every sip.” 

The 2022 Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir is available now for $180 per bottle exclusively from the Tamar Ridge cellar door or online at tamarridge.com.au.

It is one of the most expensive still wines made in Tasmania, a list that is headed by Glaetzer-Dixon's limited-release La Judith wines at $220 a bottle. 

A Queenstown weekend for serious wine lovers

The Rees Hotel & Apartments is an outstanding address in Queenstown, overlooking Lake Wakatipu and with a long record of excellence in wine and food.

The Rees will host the inaugural auction of some of Central Otago and the world's great wines over the October Labour Day weekend (October 25-28) this year.

The auction is expected to feature approximately 300 lots with some individual wines with reserves of up to $50,000.

The Rees, which has its own internationally acclaimed cellar, is aiming to to make this an annual event; one that will develop into a food and wine festival for Queenstown.

The weekend will culminate in a degustation dinner with wines from four local producers and Ata Rangi from Martinborough, hosted by CEO Mark Rose, himself a wine expert.

The inaugural weekend event will include a welcome cocktail party, wine masterclasses and tastings, a lunch at Bannockburn Hotel on Saturday and the Central Otago Wine Auction.

The featured wineries will each provide two wines to match each of the five courses created by The Rees’ executive chef Trent Watson.

Blair Walter, of Felton Road Wines and a trustee of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Charitable Trust (established by COPNL), announced at a launch event in Queenstown that local producers, Prophet’s Rock, Quartz Reef, and Rippon will feature.

A special charity fundraising feature of the auction will include several vintages of the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration Cuvée. These wines feature labels from prominent New Zealand artists including like Bill Hammond, Grahame Sydney and Ralph Hotere.

A three-night package includes three nights Lakeview accommodation, breakfast daily, welcome function including drinks and canapes; The Rees Pinot Noir Expedition including 5 x masterclasses with five winemakers and lunch at Bannockburn Hotel; tickets to the wine auction, winemakers' dinner and a late check out on the Monday. 

The price is $NZ 1290 per person, double/twin-share. 

For bookings and enquiries phone: +64 3 450 1100 or email: events@therees.co.nz

See therees.co.nz

Coonawarra winemakers hit the road

It isn't that easy to get to Coonawarra, so its winemakers are bringing their wares to cities and towns across Australia. 

The 2024 Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow will be held in four capital and two provincial cities with up to 26 premium producers travelling across the land to show off some of their best drops. 

Attendees will be spoilt for choice with between 100 and 170 wines featuring on the wine lists at the various events. 

Here is the line-up: 

SYDNEY | Sydney Masonic Centre - Wednesday August 14 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-in-sydney/
NOOSA | Sunshine Beach Surf Club – Friday August 16 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-roadshow-noosa/
BRISBANE | The Calile Hotel - Sunday August 18 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-roadshow-brisbane/
GEELONG | Novotel Geelong – Wednesday August 21 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-in-geelong/
MELBOURNE | RACV City Club – Thursday August 22 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-in-melbourne/
ADELAIDE | The National Wine Centre – Friday August 30 https://coonawarra.org/event/2024-coonawarra-roadshow-adelaide/

“The Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow is an enduring regional showcase, much anticipated by wine lovers around Australia," says Wynns Coonawarra Estate winemaker Sarah Pigeon. 

"It’s a great way to get a snapshot of the current wine styles across Coonawarra and meet the people behind your favourite wines, while discovering some new ones. 

“Direct connection with wine lovers is always a valuable two-way conversation that invigorates our wine community.” 

Meet a very special $495 wine tasting experience

Penfolds Grange is undoubtedly Australia's most famous wine. It is recognised worldwide and is much sought-after by collectors. 

For many wine-loving visitors to South Australia, a Grange tasting is a key component of their travels. 

To celebrate 180 years of Penfolds and the 60-year anniversary of Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon - another wine icon - Penfolds Magill Estate has launched a new tasting experience. But it doesn't come cheap. 

Those participating enjoy a bespoke winery tour and tasting, followed by a food and wine experience in Magill Estate Restaurant. The cost is $495 per person and the experience is available Wednesdays–Saturdays at 3pm. It's part of the Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia roster. 

The historic vineyard was established in 1844 by Dr Christopher Rawson and Mary Penfold.  

The new Collectors' Experience includes a guided tasting of Penfolds' most famous wines, including  Penfolds Grange, in a private tasting room. 

The wines featured in the tasting include Yattarna Chardonnay, Quantum Cabernet Sauvignon from the  Napa Valley/South Australia, Penfolds X Dourthe Bordeaux Blend- Superblend 802.B Cabernet Shiraz,  Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon and Grange. 

Other inclusions are a copy of Penfolds Rewards of Patience book to take home. 

Of course, if you really want to push the boat out, there is also the Platinum Grange Experience where you arrive in style with a chauffeured transfer, followed by a guided historical tour of Penfolds Magill Estate.

Then enjoy a tasting of Penfolds most high-profile wines, including Grange, and indulge in a five-course lunch with paired wines at Magill Estate Kitchen, where your experience concludes with a personalised bottle of Grange and a return luxury transfer.

That's $1,650 per person and bookings are needed at least 48 hours in advance. 

For more details see https://www.penfolds.com/en-au/experiences/magill-estate-cellar-door.html 

For wine experiences across Australia check out https://www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au/

A most unusual wine tasting with a Eurovision theme

Calling all adventurous wine lovers in Melbourne.

Fancy combining the spirit of Eurovision with a tasting of wines from the likes of Slovenia, Moldova, Greece and Georgia?

With small bites and a hip tattooist thrown into the mix?

Put the night of Thursday, May 9, into your diaries for Collingwood’s Into The Vines Wine Tasting Series kicking off Eurovision fever at Into Coffee from 6pm.

There will be the chance to sample up to 24 international wines that are not the usual suspects, along with Really Nice Poke - a Melbourne poke tattooist offering wine-themed tattoos, a masterclass hosted by wine educator Jay Bessel, and small bites curated by chef Boris Portnoy.

So maybe not for Nannas who like a quiet Moscato.

The showcasing of wines from lesser-known European wine regions will put a spotlight on rare varieties and bring a little funk to the tasting table.

Because production is limited, many of these wines are usually only available ‘on-premise’ - fine restaurants and wine bars, or specialised boutique bottle shops - but this event will also offer a rare opportunity to purchase them directly.

Among the importers being showcased will be Small Story: Germany and Austria; Romwine: Romania and Moldova; Vinous Wines: Georgia; DejaVu: Greece and Felixir: Slovenia.

Guests can choose from two experiences at booking: the tasting experience which allows them to try over 24 wines during the evening ($20) or a masterclass and tasting experience ($45)– where they can try the 24 wines in the tasting at their leisure, and also participate in an interactive "edutainment".

On arrival, guests will be given a tasting card, a glass and an introduction to all of the importers, and then they are invited to move through the room discovering and purchasing the wines.

On theme, there will be a voting station where they can give their 12 points to their favourite country’s wine.

I'm told tickets are selling fast. Check out:

https://events.humanitix.com/into-the-vines-eurovision-united-by-wine

Discover a whole month of chardonnay celebrations

May is the best month of the year for chardonnay lovers to visit the Adelaide Hills.

Bookings are now open for the month-long Chardonnay May festivities in the Hills - just a short drive from downtown Adelaide.

Throughout May, cellar doors and venues across the region will offer special tastings of the wine variety. There will be over 30 chardonnay tasting experiences to choose from across 22 wineries in the Hills.

Some producers will debut their new vintages, while and others will bring out aged gems from their cellars.

There will be 16 chardonnay tasting experiences on offer over the month, including food and wine pairings.

For those with a hunger to delve deep into the world of chardy. there will be masterclasses with Sidewood Estate, The Lane Vineyard, and Deviation Road.

There will also be three long lunches at Golding, Lobethal Road and Karrawatta.

Night owls may prefer one of the five chardonnay dinners, including the Tasting Australia event "Adelaide Hills Chardonnay Heroes" dinner, which sold out last year and this year is over two nights at Fourth Hill Providore.

Chardonnay will be when paired with its best friend, cheese, at Hesketh with Udder Delights, and at Murdoch Hill with Section 28 cheese. or maybe dance with a glass of Chardonnay in hand at Simon Tolley's French-themed disco.

At Tapanappa, they will team up with Patch Kitchen & Garden to host a four-course Chardonnay and succulent pig feast on May 23.

You'll find all the details here: https://www.adelaidehillswine.com.au/events/chardonnay-may/?mc_cid=bffaec2ac6&mc_eid=c8d5c5375d

 

Major milestone for Australia's original wine and gourmet celebration

It was Australia's first food and wine festival: and many would say it remains the benchmark. 

The Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week - held in one of Australia's most beautiful wine regions - is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and has announced its 2024 program, which features more than 85 events,

The 10-day festival can be enjoyed in three parts; Festival Weekend (May 17-19), Breathe It In (May 20-24) and Land of the Long Lunch (May 25-26) and kicks off with new events, including Fire and Wines at Skillogalee Estate with Africola ace Duncan Welgemoed cooking over fire. 

Another debutant is Sip, Savour, Celebrate: A Homage to 40 Years of Clare Valley Gourmet at Pikes Wines’ Slate Restaurant - a culinary journey over five courses and a walk down memory lane with a re-creation of dishes over the four decades of Gourmet. 

The official 50th birthday party for Knappstein Wines will be the VinoVibe Fest, which will include a fusion of flavours, melodies and festive good times. 

Guests can round out each day with The Sailing Club – the Unofficial Afterparty at the Clare Showgrounds. 

The team from Mitchell Wines (above) will be marking their 50th birthday during the event. 

Crowd favourites returning including the Cellars without Doors Degustation Dinner on the Friday night, where wines from winemakers who do not have cellar doors are matched with a six-course degustation dinner by state Chef of the Year Nicola Palmer at the stunning Watervale Hotel. 

Many of the region’s favourite cellar doors will open in collaboration with pop-up restaurants, food vans and live music with shuttle buses operating on constant loops, linking the valley over the weekends.

At the Sevenhill Cellars' new event space, winemaker Will Shields will showcase 2024 vintage samples while guests sitting around a campfire. 

Shiraz will star at Explore Kilikanoon Shiraz, where guests can compare different bottles of shiraz across the Kilikanoon range. 

Returning to the program is Wines by KT Clare Valley Gourmet Sips From the Cellar, which will feature tastings of museum wine flights as well as current release wines.

The event wraps up with The Land of the Long Lunch, featuring events in both unique locations and well-loved venues. 

Some of Clare’s most celebrated Clare Valley “wine industry” women, Ali Paulett, Kerri Thompson and Marnie Roberts, will host a tasting matched with light plates to highlight the diversity of people, wine and the Clare Valley environment at Navigating Diversity. 

Gourmet ambassador Nick Ryan - one of Australia’s leading wine writers - said the festival is the original and the best.

“I spend my life travelling to the greatest wine regions across the globe, and there is only one that I choose to call home," he said. 

"The Clare Valley is quintessentially Australian and a special part of the world. The wineries here consistently deliver phenomenal wine and Gourmet Week is a great opportunity to experience everything this region has to offer, and I can guarantee you will have a great time doing it.” 

# To mark the 40th anniversary, a special Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame Gala Dinner and Awards Presentation will be held at O’Leary Walker Wines on the evening of Friday, May 24. 

Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week is presented by the Clare Valley Wine & Grape Association and sponsored by Southern Cross Austereo. 

For details see clarevalleygourmet.com.au. 

Images: Matt Turner images 

A weekend Tassie date for lovers of cool-climate wines

Anyone who loves cool-climate wine and has been planning to visit Tasmania should put the weekend of March 1-3, 2024, into their diaries. 

Some of the best wine producers in southern Tasmania will open their doors for the 2024 Southern Open Vineyards Weekend.

This annual celebration encourages wine enthusiasts to explore the offerings of over 35 vineyards sprawled across southern Tasmania.

The Southern Open Vineyards Weekend includes the Derwent Valley, Coal River Valley, the Huon Valley/D’Entrecasteaux Channel, and the south-east region, including Hobart and surrounds.

The weekend highlights tastings, vineyard tours and visits to facilities that are sometimes not open to the public at other times of the year. Think producers like Stargazer, Sailor Seeks Horse or Trial Bay Estate, or the swish new Bream Creek facility at Marion Bay. 

Several of the venues will offer live entertainment ad food pairings to match with wines.

"This event represents a unique opportunity to connect with our local talkent growing and making wine, as well as celebrating and discovering amazing Tasmanian wines," says event manager Greer Carland, who grew up on the Laurel Bank vineyard and now makes her own wines under the Quiet Mutiny label.    

Stay tuned for the forthcoming release of event details, where the complete line-up of participating vineyards, activities, and special events will be revealed.

For further information and updates, you can visit the Southern Open Vineyards Weekend Website.

A sparkling way to celebrate Global Champagne Day

There will be dozens of events, tastings and dinners to celebrate Global Champagne Day on October 27 but one in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building looks a good deal.

Reign at the QVB has announced a special event to celebrate Global Champagne Day: 'A Date with Champagne'.

The event, priced at $60 per person, will include tastings of up to five Champagnes from renowned houses including Perrier Jouet, Bollinger, Taittinger, Louis Roederer and Gosset, as well as some grower Champagnes that are new to Australia.

Tickets also include prawn toast and chicken liver parfait with crumpets.

Reign Champagne Parlour bills itself as "Sydney’s best destination for Champagne lovers" with over 150 on offer.

‘A Date With Champagne’ will run from 5-8pm.

“Although we celebrate Champagne every day at Reign, Global Champagne Day gives us an opportunity to kick things up a notch," says sommelier Louella Mathews.

"When curating the beverage menu at Reign, I wanted to showcase a wine list that reflects Champagne in a modern-day setting as an easy and accessible luxury for everyone.”

Further details at https://reignatqvb.com.au/whats-on/international-champagne-day/