NSW Wine Festival | Tour of the Regions Dinners

2012 NSW Wine Festival ~ February 25 – March 31

Tour of the Regions Dinners

Media Release

One of the most popular experiences in the NSW Wine Festival program is the series of exclusive degustation dinners entitled 'Tour of the Regions Dinners'.

These dinners bring together some of the country's most knowledgeable and entertaining food and wine commentators, four of Sydney's best chefs, 10 of NSW's most talented winemakers and an intimate number of dinners, offering guests the ultimate way to tour the 14 Wine Regions of NSW without leaving the dinner table.

Tickets to these dining events go on sale today (starting from $150 per person, including degustation menu and wine) and sell out fast so don't delay!

2012 NSW Wine Festival 'Tour of the Regions Dinners':

OTTO RISTORANTE ~ Tour of the Regions "Trophy Winners" Dinner with Huon Hooke, Richard Ptacnik & Nick Paterson

Tuesday 28 February, 6.30pm – for 7.00pm start

What a way to start the series of 'Tour of the Regions' Dinners! An exceptional degustation menu of finely crafted dishes matched to the ultimate selection of Trophy winning wines from the recent 2011 Citibank NSW Wine Awards.

This dinner will unite the talents of Chef, Richard Ptacnik; Nick Paterson (winemaker of the 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year) and one of Australia's most renowned wine critics and Chair of the NSW Wine Awards Judging panel, Huon Hooke. Explore the 'best of the best' of NSW Wine with their experienced guidance, learn what the experts think are the cream-of-the-crop from NSW's 14 diverse regions and find out what it takes to make a Trophy winning wine.

Host Chef:                               Richard Ptacnik                    

MC:                                         Huon Hooke

Featured Winemaker:            Nick Paterson, Mistletoe Wines winemaker & winner of 2011 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year

Address:                                 6 Cowper Wharf Rd Woolloomooloo NSW

Price:                                      $150 per person                     Bookings: 02 9368 7488


BUON RICORDO ~ Tour of the Regions Dinner with Armando Percuoco & Lyndey Milan

Tuesday 13 March, 6.30pm – for 7.00pm start

Armando Percuoco is an icon in the world of authentic Italian cuisine and Lyndey Milan is the most recent recipient of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Legend Award, making them the perfect hosts to offer you the ultimate Mediterranean meets NSW experience. They will be joined by three leading NSW winemakers who will share their passion for the amazing variety of wines being produced in NSW today and the tricks of the trade to achieve great food and wine matching with this equally diverse cuisine.

Host Chefs:                             Armando Percuoco               

MC:                                         Lyndey Milan

Guest Winemakers:               Westend Estate Wines, Moppity Vineyards, Bimbadgen Estate

Address:                                 108 Boundary Street, Paddington NSW

Price:                                      $150 per person                     Bookings: 02 9360 6729

 
MARQUE RESTAURANT ~ Tour of the Regions Dinner with Nick Stock & Mark Best

Tuesday 20 March, 7.00pm – for 7.30pm start

Yet again Marque Restaurant has achieved the prestigious three hats in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, continuing to inspire customers with cutting edge cuisine that provides the unexpected from the extraordinary. During this year's NSW Wine Festival, Marque's Owner/Chef Mark Best will be joined by wine expert Nick Stock (author of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Wine Guide) and three of the State's most forward-thinking winemakers to showcase how NSW winemakers are pushing wine styles to new heights.

Host Chef:                               Mark Best                              

MC:                                         Nick Stock

Guest Winemakers:               McGuigan Wines, Cumulus Estate Wines, Audrey Wilkinson

Address:                                 4/5 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills NSW

Price:                                      $160 per person                     Bookings: 02 9332 2225

 

SEPIA RESTAURANT ~ Tour of the Regions Dinner with Joanna Savill & Martin Benn

Tuesday 27 March, 6.30pm – for 7.00pm start

This exceptional Eurasian restaurant is the latest winner of the prestigious title of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2012 Restaurant of the Year. Joanna Savill, co-editor of The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide, and Chef Martin Benn will present an unforgettable menu and a panel of NSW winemakers will introduce guests to some of the best new wines from NSW.

Host Chef:                               Martin Benn

MC:                                         Joanna Savill

Guest Winemakers:               Logan Wines, Printhie Wines, De Iuliis, Brokenwood

Address:                                 201 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW

Price:                                      $155 per person                    Bookings: 02 9283 1990


Visit www.nswwinefestival.com.au for further program and pricing/ticketing information.

NSW Wine Festival     @NSWwinefestival

 

Winner of the Best Sommelier of Australia competition

Presentation of the Marc and Eva Besen Perpetual Trophy to Franck Moreau

Recently crowned the winner of the inaugural three-year title of ‘Best Sommelier of Australia’, Franck Moreau will be officially presented with the Marc and Eva Besen Perpetual Trophy in Sydney on Monday 27 February, receiving an extraordinary piece of sculpture created by renowned silversmith Robert Baines.

In late 2011 Franck Moreau from the Merivale Group took out the title of ‘Best Sommelier of Australia’. He was joined by fellow finalists Mark Protheroe (Grossi Group VIC) and Daniel Wegener (Quay, NSW) in a gruelling on-stage examination. The finalist trio were tested on service, tasting, vineyard recognition and wine list correction, all demonstrating the key elements that make a brilliant sommelier. But there could only be one winner.

Marc and Eva Besen have had a long-standing commitment to the Australian wine industry and the arts via their acclaimed Yarra Valley based winery, TarraWarra Estate and the privately funded, public TarraWarra Museum of Art. They have kindly commissioned this handcrafted perpetual trophy in recognition and acknowledgement of the sommelier profession, aiming to inspire future talent to continue to reach for the best in food and wine service.

The trophy has been designed by Professor Robert Baines who has applied his trademark technique of delicately interlaced powder-coated silver in a stunning design that features wine bottles and glassware. Now completed, it is ready to be handed over to its worthy recipient.

The top 14 sommeliers that competed for this coveted award were:

· Matthew Brooke – Circa, VIC
· Joseph Burton – The Source Restaurant at MONA, TAS
· Jeannette Clarke – Ezard, VIC
· Banjo Harris Plane – Attica, VIC
· Yuki Hirose – Rockpool Bar & Grill, NSW
· Travis Howe – Coda, VIC
· Alan Hunter – E’cco, QLD
· Sally Humble – Kumo Izakaya, VIC
· Jarrod Mills – Merivale, NSW
· Franck Moreau - Merivale, NSW
· Emma Plumridge – Rockpool, NSW
· Mark Protheroe – Grossi Group. VIC
· Daniel Wegener – Quay, NSW
· Sanpellegrino ‘Young Gun Wild Card’ entrant, Sarah Ward – Circa, VIC

The competition was developed by the Sommeliers Australia Education Committee comprising Ben Edwards (Sommeliers Australia President; Director of The Wine Guide), David Lawler (Sommeliers Australia Education Committee Chair and Vice President; Head Sommelier at Rockpool Bar & Grill Melbourne), Dan Sims (Sommeliers Australia Education Committee member; Project Manager at The Wine Guide) and Chris Crawford (Sommeliers Australia Education Committee member).

Fowles Wine: the winery formerly known as Plunkett Fowles

On 1 February Plunkett Fowles winery will be known as Fowles Wine to reflect the future direction of the winery.

Late last year, the Fowles Family purchased the remaining interest in the winery from Alan Plunkett. In the circumstances, Sam Plunkett has decided to pursue his Master of Wine.

These key developments are a significant milestone, marking what the Fowles Family feel is an exciting opportunity toevolve the winery's name from Plunkett Fowles to Fowles Wine.

Fowles Wine will continue to be led by Matt Fowles, with Victor Nash stepping up to lead the Fowles Wine winemakingteam as Chief Winemaker.

Matt Fowles said: "We have an incredible team here at Fowles Wine and a real winemaking talent in Victor Nash. Victorhas worked alongside Sam Plunkett crafting our award winning wine for over ten years and has had full operationalresponsibility for the winery since 2007."

Matt Fowles said: "There will be no changes to any of our wine or wine brands. We continue to be wholly focused onpouring the best of the Strathbogie Ranges into the glasses of our loyal followers. We only intend to make a smallcosmetic change on our logo to reflect the winery's ownership change.

As a family we're excited about the next phase and, in particular, continuing to take the best of the 'Bogies to the world.

"For further comment or more information please contact Matt Fowles: 0413 605 447 or matt.fowles@plunkettfowles.com.au

PERFECT CLIMATE FOR TASSIE BUBBLY – THAT’S COOL

Wc06Feb11

David Ellis

COOL idea for bubbly celebrations.

WHEN one of our most respected sparkling winemakers sums up a vintage in just one word – fantastic – you can expect a bubbly from that year to be nothing other than, well, fantastic.

And that's the case with Chandon's Tasmanian Cuvée 2008, a celebration drop that the company's Sparkling Winemaker, Glenn Thompson can quite rightly describe as "a sensational blend of vibrancy, complexity and intensity."

Made up of 48 per cent  Pinot Noir and 52 per cent Chardonnay from the cool-climate Coal River Valley south-east of Hobart, this sparkling reflects just what comprised that "fantastic" vintage – a perfect growing season followed by a long, slow and cool ripening period that meant for wonderful flavour development and beautiful natural acidity.

Add to all this Glenn Thompson and his team's skills in the winery and you've a wine with a silky palate of brioche and toast from extended yeast aging, and which melds with lush fruits and a backbone of fresh acidity and minerality. At $39.95 you'll find it ideal with that next celebration brunch.

VALUE enjoyment with Asian dishes
or lighter Southern Italian pastas.

ONE FOR LUNCH: WITH some of the toughest conditions in New Zealand's Marlborough – steep slopes that many said were impossible for viticulture, high sunshine, strong winds, cool nights and low rainfall – you'd wonder why Peter Yealands even bothered.

But with determination and a great winemaker in Tamra Washington he's created some extraordinarily good wines, not the least his just-released Yealands Way 2011 Pinot Gris. Remarkably this variety actually flourishes in those harsh conditions we've mentioned, and the 2011 is full of stone fruit and honey flavours, and nicely-balanced fruit smoothness and acidity.

At $17.99 it's great value with Asian dishes or lighter Southern Italian pastas.

(NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

1 month Countdown has begun! 2012 NSW Wine Festival ~ Feb 25 to March 31

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On track to be even bigger and better than last year, The Sydney Morning Herald NSW Wine Festival, bought to you by Citibank,  begins in just under one month and runs throughout the month of March.

The festivities kick-off on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February with Sydney Cellar Door in Hyde Park South, one of the country's largest outdoor wine and food experiences, followed by a month-long celebration of NSW wines in bars and restaurants throughout the city and state-wide.

Tokens are on sale now for Sydney Cellar Door at  www.nswwinefestival.com.au

With an estimated 30,000 people due to enjoy this fabulous weekend in the park, buying tokens in advance online is a great way to maximize your time spent sampling from over 100 of NSW's most exciting wine brands. But visitors can also just arrive on the day, with FREE entry and Tasting Packages available from the token stands from just $25.

Meet the talented winemakers behind your favourite drops up-close-and-personal, including some of the State's most stellar wineries like Audrey Wilkinson, Bimbadgen, Brokenwood, Cumulus Estate Wines, De Iuliis Wines, Logan Wines, Moppity Vineyards, Printhie Wines, McGuigan Wines and Westend Estate Wines.

All the wines on offer can be deliciously complemented by food from 25 of the city's hottest restaurants (many of which are featured in The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide) including Bodega and Porteno, Almond Bar, Efendy, Zushi, Peruvian hot spot Morena and more.  Regional food and restaurant stalls include Esca Bimbadgen, the Hunter Valley Cheese Company and Restaurant Cuvee.

A new layout to this year's Sydney Cellar Door, running along the length of Park Street in Hyde Park South, will provide a bigger area than ever before and even more shaded seating areas to relax and enjoy discovering your way around NSW's best wine styles, new hidden wine gems and finest culinary delights. Not forgetting free all-day music and live entertainment, including the My Ty's and electro-acoustic band Kinetic Method - creating a world-class festival vibe!


The 2012 NSW Wine Festival program continues after Sydney Cellar Door, with bars and restaurants throughout Sydney and regional NSW featuring many food and wine matches and exclusive degustation dinners. The program is:

·       NEW TO 2012 … NSW Wine of the Month – February 27 to March 31, 2012

A selection of Sydney's wine bars offering a glass of NSW wine and matching bar snack for just $15.

·       Dine with NSW Wine – February 27 to March 31, 2012

Leading Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide restaurants throughout NSW create exclusive, great value wine-matched menus from just $30-$50, letting everyone enjoy the best our state has to offer.

·       Tour NSW Wine Regions Dinners - selected dates throughout March, 2012

Don't miss the very special Tour NSW Wine Regions Dinners - a series of unique degustation dinners featuring fresh NSW produce matched to the finest NSW wines, and hosted by leading food and wine personalities.

·       NSW Wine at The Sydney Morning Herald Growers' Market ~ Sat 3 March, 2012

Leading wine experts will treat market-goers to guided tastings of premium NSW wines, along with advice on pairing wines with delicious tidbits from key food producers.

For full details, a list of participating bars and restaurants and pre-purchase tokens, visit www.nswwinefestival.com.au and look out for the special NSW Wine Festival program in The Sydney Morning Herald's Good Living section on Tuesday, February 21, 2012.

Twitter       @NSWwinefestival

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON – BUBBLING WITH SUCCESS

NICE drop for that
next big celebration

Wc30Jan12


David Ellis

BEFORE he passed away in 2004, Malcolm Logan loved nothing more than donning his North Sydney Bears beanie and scarf, grabbing a bottle of his own bubbly and cheering-on his team on TV.

Today his son Peter has inherited his dad's skills in creating sensational sparkling wines from fruit from the Logan premium, cool-climate vineyards on the frosty hilltops outside Orange in Central Western NSW.

His latest release is a 2009 'M' Cuvee named in honour of his dad and interestingly, and unusually, made from equal portions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – with two-thirds being from red grapes its got a nice salmon pink colour and brims with strawberry and spice characters on a creamy palate.

Beaut buying at $35 for that next big celebration.

ENJOY this with barbecued prawns
or pork chops with sweet 'n sour sauce

ONE FOR LUNCH: A FLAVOUR-explosive Rosé from Margan Family Winemakers shows just how good this style can be when it comes from a stand-out vintage such as the Hunter Valley enjoyed in 2011.

Made from Shiraz fruit from the company's 40 year old Fordwich Sill vineyard, winemaker Andrew Margan has labelled it Rosé, but with 'Shiraz Saignee' on the label as well – Saignee (which is pronounced sanyay) being a French term that refers to the juice run-off from the red grape skins.

The Fordwich Sill vineyard produced just 0.5 tonnes to the acre of fully-ripened fruit in 2011, giving Andrew Margan the opportunity to create a wonderfully-flavoured wine that's bright pink in colour, has vibrant berry and cherry aromas, a palate of juicy red fruits and a dry finish.

At $17 it's a great drop to enjoy with barbecued prawns, or pork chops with a sweet and sour sauce.

 (NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out  http://www.vintnews.com )

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival turns 20

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Celebrate all things culinary at the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival this year as it celebrates its 20th birthday with a host of gastronomic extravaganzas. Boasting more than 300 events across Melbourne and Victoria, there is something for every gourmand including 80 events under $50.

Visitors can share in Melbourne’s obsession with food and wine with over 20 days of eating and drinking, comprising gastronomic delights from one-off dinners, whirlwind tours and crawls to hands-on learning, regional adventures and riverside parties.

The Festival kicks off with the brand new Riverside Opening Weekend on 3-4 March when the Yarra River transforms into a food and wine lover’s paradise. There’ll be plenty of activity including the Cellar Door & Farmgate at South Wharf, which will bring together craft brewers, artisan products and boutique cellar doors complemented by restaurants and bars along the promenade once the sun goes down.

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A firm Festival favourite, the IGA World’s Longest Lunch will snake itself along the banks of the Yarra River on Friday 2 March inviting guests to enjoy a three course seasonal feast under the tree line of Alexandra Park. Designed by hatted regional star chefs Patrizia Simone (Simone’s of Bright), Annie Smithers (Annie Smithers Bistrot, Kyneton) and George Biron (Sunnybrae, Birregurra), each course will be matched by the finest drops from Yering Station. Complementing all this feasting will be 29 Regional World’s Longest Lunches taking place across Victoria.

The Langham Melbourne Masterclass stage will be a hive of activity with world-class culinary whizzes over the weekend of 10 and 11 March including world number one chef Rene Redzepi (Noma, Copenhagen), three star Michelin chef Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana, Italy) and Claus Henriksen (Dragsholm, Horve), who will each provide inspiration and insights into their clever creations.

And for those keen to get their hands dirty, there are plenty of hands-on cooking classes to get involved in from making macaroons and passata to learning the art of porchetta.

Further afield, North East Victoria plays host to the Tastes of Rutherglen festival, which begins with a regional showcase dinner on 10 March highlighting the best produce from across the region. Visitors to the region over the following two weekends can continue to enjoy perfectly matched food and wine combined with culinary experiences and activities at participating venues.

For more information: www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au