World Best Chefs Head to Noosa For Tenth Anniversary Celebration

The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival has truly earned its international signature after announcing an unparalleled line-up of global culinary stars for their tenth anniversary event.

Ten illustrious chefs all drawn from the prestigious S.Pellegrino World's Best Restaurant List will come together to enthrall and inspire festival-goers on how to create and taste the dishes that have earned them international eminence.

The S. Pellegrino list is created from The World's Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of over 800 international leaders in the restaurant industry, each selected for their expert opinion of the international restaurant scene.

Starring at the event will be:

Mark Best - Three hatted chef, Marque Restaurant in Sydney is world renowned and is amongst a distinguished few to achieve 19/20 in the Good Food Guide. He won Gourmet Traveller's restaurant of the year in 2012 and opened his second restaurant, Pei Modern in Melbourne earlier this year

Mauro Colagreco - from his Italo-Argentinian cultural heritage, Mauro has developed a creative style of gastronomic cuisine, folding in the best of Mediterranean cooking at his two-star Michelin restaurant Mirazur on the French Riviera.

Andre Chiang - Listed by Wallpaper Magazine as one of the worlds best young chefs and one of the "Ten restaurants in the world worth a plane ride" by the NY Times, Andre has successfully combined Mediterranean accents and French techniques to his Restaurant ANDRE in Singapore

Carlo Cracco - Italy's new generation famed hyper creative molecular gastronomer and two-star Michelin chef from Ristorante Cracco, Milan. Also received 18.5/20 from Espresso and three forks from the prestigious Gambero Rosso.

Peter Gilmore - Has received an unprecedented number of national and international awards including three chef hats from the SMH Good Food Guide for ten consecutive years. Peter has established his restaurant at the forefront of the Australian food scene at Quay, in Sydney.

David Kinch - A two-star Michelin chef with a host of accolades behind him including Chef of the Year by GQ magazine, David is at the forefront of new contemporary Californian cuisine at Manresa, Los Gatos, USA

Yoshihiro Narisawa - Highly acclaimed for his plethora of culinary innovation, Narisawa creates nature conservation related dishes at Les Creations des NARISAWA, Tokyo

Ben Shewry - Three hatted chef from Attica in Melbourne. Ben has won The Age 2012 Good Food Guide, Restaurant of the Year and more recently the 2013 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Chef of the Year.

David Thompson - Regarded as the world's most comprehensive authority on Thai food and the name behind Bangkok and London's Nahm Restaurant

Tetsuya Wakuda - Recognised as one of Australia's most original, creative and successful culinary talents that has seen him win the inaugural SMH Good Food Guide People's Choice Award from Tetsuya's in Sydney and Waku Ghin in Singapore

Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games, Jann Stuckey, welcomed the international chefs to Queensland.

"The Noosa International Food and Wine Festival continues to offer visitors to the Sunshine Coast a superior culinary experience in one of Queensland's most iconic tourism destinations," Ms Stuckey said.

"It is with great pride we welcome such an impressive selection of highly-acclaimed interstate and international chefs to Queensland for the 2013 event.

"The Newman Government is proud to support international events like this through Events Queensland as part of our goal to double annual overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020."

The festival will offer many unique opportunities to mingle with the masters of the cooking world commencing with the spectacular 10th Anniversary Opening Night Celebration where the ten chefs will feature in a gala concert of "edible music" whilst guests eat their way through a sensory feast of gastronomic and music delights.

Their culinary talents and insights will also be put on show at a series of presentations, talks and cooking demonstrations throughout the 2013 program.

In an appropriate finale their visit will culminate at the prestigious Qantas Premier International Degustation Dinners (previously the "Best Dinner in the World") as the best epicurean flare is put on display over two nights at berardo's restaurant and bar on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May 2013.

The globally acclaimed stars will be joined by two hundred of the world's most prominent chefs, winemakers, media and food personalities for the Noosa International Food and Wine Festival from 16-19 May 2013.

Tickets for the Festival will go on sale on 14 January 2013. 


Stay up to date with all the Festival news, announcements and pics at www.facebook.com/NoosaFoodWineFestival

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/noosafoodwine57

Visit the website at www.noosafoodandwine.com.au for further information.

Kiwi winemaker Triumphs in Trans Tasman Awards

Media Release

Villa Maria’s Nick Picone awarded Young Winemaker of the Year

In a first for a New Zealander, Villa Maria Estate’s Senior Auckland Winemaker Nick Picone was named Australasia’s Young Winemaker of the Year last Friday night in Sydney at The Wine Society’s awards ceremony.

From 150 entries, ten finalists were selected after in-depth wine tasting sessions by the judges. Picone was joined in the finals by other highly esteemed winemakers from around Australia and New Zealand, with Malcolm Rees-Francis from Rockburn Wines and Nikolai St George from Matua Valley Wines the other two Kiwi finalists. Picone was named overall champion after tastings of all contestants’ wines.

Picone was humbled to be named as the overall winner at these awards, stating “I am extremely proud to be the inaugural New Zealand winner of the Young Winemaker of the Year Award, especially in a year with such high calibre finalists. I started out right at the bottom and it’s so exciting to now be at the helm of New Zealand’s most awarded wine company and to be the first Kiwi to win this overall prize”. These awards are renowned as the most significant in Australia and New Zealand for young winemakers.

To enter this competition, which is now in its 12th year, winemakers must be under 35 years old and be principally responsible for the wines they have entered. In Nick’s case, his assessed wines were the award winning Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010, Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2010, and Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Syrah. New Zealand is well known internationally for its Sauvignon Blanc prowess, so it was interesting to see that all three Kiwi finalists submitted wines other than Sauvignon Blanc, showing the increasing depth and scope of New Zealand’s wine industry.

Wine Society CEO Peter Wheatley spoke before presenting the award to Picone; “The Wine Society is proud to present this valuable and prestigious industry award for the twelfth time and is honoured to celebrate and acknowledge the industry’s talented, up-and-coming winemakers”.

Nick had an early start in winemaking, completing his first vintage at 18 years of age at Esk Valley Estate in Hawkes Bay. After completing a BA in Wine Science, he became Villa Maria’s youngest Assistant Winemaker at 24 with a shift to the South Island’s Marlborough region. In 2004 he was awarded the Yalumba scholarship to attend the Len Evans tutorial in the Hunter Valley in Australia. Nick became Villa Maria’s Senior Auckland Winemaker in 2008, and began overseeing Villa Maria’s North Island production, including in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. In total, he has completed 16 vintages including several in California and Italy. Nick was previously named as the joint winner of NZ Winemaker of the Year at the Royal Easter show in 2011.

A LIGHT MOSCATO FOR YOUR JUST DESSERTS

Wc12Nov12

SWEET-tooths unite around this one
– with fresh avocados and chocolate.

David Ellis

FOR anyone with a sweet-tooth and a penchant for fresh-picked avocados, now's the time to indulge your passions – and the more so with a sweet, low-alcohol 2012 Deakin Estate Moscato that's wonderful buying at just $10.

Made from Muscat Gordo Blanco grapes from the Murray Darling region of North Western Victoria, this one's got just 6% alcohol, which is under half the norm, and has a nice light-bodied palate that's spritzy from careful use of CO2, a natural zingy acidity, and a finish suggestive of green apples.

This is a wine to enjoy with light desserts like meringues and cheesecakes, fresh home-made fruit salad, or even ice cream with fresh avocados whipped through it.

But we confess to a glass or three with an idea that came out of this year's Avocado Masterclass Series – a dessert of chocolate, avocado and lime. Oh yeah…

FLAVOUR-filled match with asparagus
salad or spicy Indian dishes.

ONE FOR LUNCH: WITH a 2012 vintage defined by extremely low yields that meant for great flavour concentration in the fruit, Peter Logan had everything going for him and the annual Rosé he produces at his cold climate Logan Wines at Orange in NSW's Central West.

"The fruit for our 2012 Hannah Rosé developed really vibrant flavours typical of our cold, high altitude location," Peter says. "It meant for a resultant wine that's light yet luscious, elegant and restrained."

Peter uses Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Shiraz in his Rosé that he describes as "being inspired by a combination of lovely southern French Rosé and Chardonnay."

At $22 enjoy with an asparagus salad, or for something hot, spicy Indian dishes.

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

ALL SWEET AND NO SOUR THIS CHRISTMAS

Media Release

This festive season can be full of sweet-talk, with the results from the 2012 International Sweet Wine Challenge shining a light on the variety and quality of sweet and semi-sweet wines from around the world, and helping you find the best wine to go with your Christmas pudding, ice cream or pavlova.

Not that sweet wines can only be drunk with dessert, as if the 2012 winning wines demonstrate anything it is just how widely diverse sweet wines can be.

A record number of entries to this year's Challenge highlighted the many styles of sweet wines that are now available - wines not just for special occasions or to have with desserts but to enjoy at many different times. Which is just why the Riverina Winemakers Association created the International Sweet Wine Challenge seven years ago; to showcase sweet wines from around the world and allow Australian sweet wines to be judged alongside their international counterparts.

Riverina Winemakers' Association President Les Worland said, "Australia is the perfect location to host such a wine show as we are known for pushing the boundaries with wine and bending traditional drinking rules. And of course the Riverina is also well-known for its ability to produce world-class sweet wines."

The wine that claimed the ultimate title of the 2012 International Sweet Wine of the Year was the 2011 Forrest Wines Noble Semillon from New Zealand. Judge Ben Edwards (co-contributor to James Halliday's Wine Companion and President of Sommeliers Australia) said, "This year's winner showed amazing purity of expression and is a beautifully balanced wine with a long future."

FULL LIST OF TROPHY WINNERS:

• 2011 Forrest Wines Noble Semillon ~ 2012 International Sweet Wine of the Year and Best Young Sweet, Semillon predominant
• 2012 Deakin Estate Moscato ~ Best Sweet Moscato styles
• 2012 Josef Chromy SGR Riesling ~ Best Medium Sweet
• 2011 Osawa Wines Noble Gewurztraminer ~ Best Young Sweet, Floral styles
• 2010 Nepenthe Winemakers Selection Riesling ~ Best Mature Sweet, Floral styles
• 2008 De Bortoli Deen Botrytis Semillon ~ Best Mature Sweet, Semillon predominant
• 2011 The Ned Noble Sauvignon Blanc ~ Best Young Sweet, Other Varieties & Blends
• 2008 Lillypilly Noble Blend ~ Best Mature Sweet, Other Varieties & Blends
• 2006 Lillypilly Noble Harvest ~ Best Sweet Wine from the Museum Class

The Challenge is open to any non-fortified sweet wine that is commercially available in the country of origin, and holds a minimum stock of 50 case lots at the time of entry. There is also a separate Museum Class for wines five years or older, which are not commercially available, with the aim of this class to show unusual or rare styles.

Epic night for the Hunter Valley at the Citibank NSW Wine Awards

 Media Release

It has been a NSW Wine Awards of "Epic" proportions with the Hunter Valley taking out 22 of the Top 40 Wines, and last night a Hunter Valley winery was also awarded NSW Wine of the Year for the fifth successive year.

The Hungerford Hill Epic Shiraz 2007 (RRP $55) was named 2012 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year at the States' most coveted wine show, the Citibank NSW Wine Awards, at the NSW wine industry's night of nights held at Guillaume at Bennelong.

"This win confirms the fact that the Hunter Valley is making great wines across the board, from producers new and old, large and small," said Andrew Margan, President, Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association.

For the last five years a Hunter Valley winery has taken out the top award. The NSW Wine of the Year predecessors include Mistletoe Wines in 2011, Tempus Two in 2010, Brokenwood  in 2009 and Audrey Wilkinson in 2008.

James Kirby, owner of Hungerford Hill was presented with this his second prestigious NSW Wine of the Year Trophy (the previous win was in 2006 when the Hungerford Hill Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2005 took out the trophy) before the who's who of the wine industry, including Chair of Judges, Huon Hooke, and flanked by the other Trophy winners and Top 40 winemakers of the 2012 NSW Wine Awards which also included an impressive line-up of the State's best wines, including three other Hunter Valley Trophy winning wines:-

• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard "The Ridge" Semillon 2012 – Trophy for Best Young Semillon
• Audrey Wilkinson Museum Reserve Semillon 2006 – Trophy for Best Mature Dry White
• Tallavera Grove Shiraz 2011 – Trophy for Best Young Shiraz
• Hungerford Hill "Epic" Shiraz 2007 – Trophy for Best Mature Dry Red

Top 40 wines from the Hunter Valley included:-

• Ascella Wines Premium Chardonnay 2011 (Hunter Valley) $30
• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard Museum Reserve Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $60
• Audrey Wilkinson Vineyard "The Ridge" Semillon 2010 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Brokenwood Stanleigh Park Semillon 2007 (Hunter Valley) $45
• De luliis Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $25
• De luliis Steven Vineyard Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $40
• First Creek Wines Winemakers Reserve Semillon 2009 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Gartelmann Hunter Estate Benjamin Semillon 2009 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Hungerford Hill Wines Epic Shiraz 2007 (Hunter Valley) $55
• Leogate Estate Reserve Semillon 2010 (Hunter Valley) $25
• McLeish Estate Semillon 2007 (Hunter Valley) $55
• McLeish Estate Semillon 2011 (Hunter Valley) $23
• Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $30
• Pepper Tree Wines Coquun Reserve Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $55
• Pokolbin Estate Riesling 2007 (Hunter Valley) $25
• Tallavera Grove Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $25
• Thomas Wines "The O.C." Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $22
• Thomas Wines Braemore Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $28
• Tulloch Wines Vineyard Selection Semillon 2012 (Hunter Valley) $18
• Tyrrell's Vineyards HVD Semillon 2006 (Hunter Valley) $35
• Tyrrell's Vineyards Vat 8 Shiraz 2010 (Hunter Valley) $50
• Tyrrell's Vineyards Vat 8 Shiraz 2011 (Hunter Valley) $50

Hunter Valley Uncorked Balmoral will celebrate its seventh year of showcasing some of the region's best wines and produce on Sunday 4 November between 11am and 5pm at Balmoral Beach. Many of the wineries in the 2012 Citibank NSW Wine of the Year Awards Top 40 will be attending and offering a range of premium Hunter Valley wines for tasting on the day.

EVER EVOLVING, NEIL’S BIN THERE, DONE THAT

Wc05NOV12

IDEAL with a simple chicken casserole
or quickly grilled white-fleshed fish.

David Ellis

WHEN you've been making wine in the Hunter Valley for 140 years or more and are simply continuing to grow – expanding into such other regions as the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, Adelaide Hills and Eden Valley to name just a few  – you should be well-content in the knowledge that you are doing things right.

But McGuigan Wines' Chief Winemaker, Neil McGuigan while no doubt content with what he can see behind him, is forever looking to the future, crafting better and better wines and creating new labels to reflect new approaches to his ever-evolving skills, whilst ensuring only the best continues to go under existing labels.

A favourite of ours is his value-priced Bin 7000 Chardonnay, the 2011 vintage a stand-out medium-bodied wine with a creamy mouthfeel and one that's delightfully fresh and crisp. Its powerful aromas are all about tropical fruit and lovely citrus overtones – and yet it's priced at just $12.99.

Definitely not being in the Not Another Chardonnay camp – we still consider the variety amongst our top three white favourites – we'd suggest enjoying this one now with a simple chicken casserole, quickly grilled white-fleshed fish or creamy pasta dishes, or putting it aside for more rewarding drinking in three to five years time.

SLIGHTLY sweeter than usual and lower
in alcohol, enjoy with a pork stir-fry.

ONE FOR LUNCH: IF you are into pork stir-fries, a nice wine to enjoy one with is a New Zealand Riesling from Giesen in the famed Marlborough region.

Their 2011 Estate Riesling that's now available nationally is slightly more sweetish than most drier Rieslings, which is why it will go well with that pork stir-fry… the palate has flavours of tangelo, and touches of honey. It's also got a slightly lower than usual alcohol content at 10.5%.

Pay $18.99 and go forth and enjoy.

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

PRETTY IN PORTUGUESE PINK

Media Release: 1 November 2012

Although miles apart by geography, the highly regarded winemaking regions of Portugal and NSW’s Central Ranges, are surprisingly firm friends when it comes to the production of easy-to-drink, fresh Rosé wines. Transport yourself to another time and place this summer by indulging in a glass of the latest collaborative effort from Cumulus Estate Wines and The Berardo Group of Portugal. Introducing the…

2012 LUNA ROSA Rosado (rrp: $14.99)

As part-owner of Cumulus Estate Wines and some of the most prestigious wine estates in Portugal, The Berardo Group brings a wealth of European winemaking knowledge to the Orange-based wine business. Lending their global expertise to the production of wines with exceptional depth and flavour, this exciting fusion of old world Portuguese artisanship with new world cool climate winemaking has led to the creation of the delightfully drinkable Luna Rosa Rosado.

The second vintage of Luna Rosa, the 2012 is a uniquely styled Australian Rosé that is naturally lighter in alcohol, a perfect addition to balmy spring and summer entertaining. Winemaker Debbie Lauritz says, “Our first Luna Rosa was all about testing the waters with the market. With this latest wine, I really think we’ve hit the mark. We were looking to create a lighter bodied style that displayed brighter fruit characters and a fresh acid. I am excited to say I think we have managed to create something truly special.”

A blend of 50% Grenache, 50% Mourvedre was used; sourced from slightly warmer vineyard sites to ensure adequate tannin levels, the parcels were also picked early to ensure lighter flavours and alcohol could be achieved. Upholding European winemaking techniques, a small tank of juice was also held back during the fermentation process before being added back into the wine to keep alcohol levels low. Debbie says, “Each parcel of fruit was picked in the cool of the night by the light of the moon to retain the delicate aromatics, hence the name Luna Rosa. We also kept the wine very cold post-ferment to give it a very light spritz on the palate, adding freshness and lift.”

The ceramic tiles that decorate the Luna Rosa label take their inspiration from the Portuguese Azulejos (or polished stones). Closely associated with Portuguese culture, the pattern on these tiles symbolises the joining of these old and new world winemaking techniques, a passion that remains at the heart of all Cumulus Estate Wines.

Debbie concludes, “This style of Rosé wine is enjoyable because it is light, refreshing, well-balanced and fruity – just as rosé should be. It’s the perfect choice for those looking for a refreshing alternative to white wine this summer, and the ideal accompaniment to tapas, seafood and spicy Asian foods…or if you prefer, simply enjoy it on its own.”

Only one thing is for sure; it doesn’t matter how you drink it, just make sure it’s with good friends and family. Saúde!

Stockists:

RRP $14.99 - Distributed by Cumulus Estate Wines

Available nationally through good independent bottle shops