Tasting Australia – April 13-22

The program for this year’s Tasting Australia features more than 140 events, including workshops, master-classes, degustation dinners and long lunches. The ‘Town Square’ in Victoria Square is the festival hub, and after a delayed start due to last weekend’s wet and windy weather, it will be open every day from 11am until the festival closes on Sunday. The Square features bars, the Glasshouse Kitchen, and “Charred” food vendors including Andre’s Cucina, Comida, La Popular Taqueria and Pizzateca. The full TA program is online, with events including:

Spirit Awards Party – April 19

This tasting event brings Australia’s best distillers together to celebrate the quality and diversity of the spirit industry. Over 150 different spirits and liqueurs will be on tasting and the distillers will be on-hand to talk about the science behind producing the perfect blend. The event will also feature Tasting Australia’s award presentation, where guests will have the opportunity to taste the award-winning entries as they are announced. Tickets include eight tastings, gin and tonic on arrival, a Riedel glass and cheese tasting.

East End Cellars Masterclass: Speed dating with Australia’s next generation of winemakers – April 20

Photo: Meaghan Coles

Get up close and personal with the next generation of Australian winemakers, including Jono Koerner (Koerner Wines) and Louis Schofield (World’s Apart) at the Masterclass Pavilion in Town Square. Featured wines include the Koerner La Corse Red Blend, Worlds Apart Wines Grenache, Murdoch Hill Riddley and Charlotte Dalton Semillon. Organisers promise “awkward conversations, wry smiles and cheesy tasting descriptors” along with the extensive tasting line-up. Details here.

L Plates – Vive La France – April 21

Hey Jupiter chef de cuisine Carlos Astudillo will reveal the techniques behind bistro classics at this workshop at TAFE SA’s Regency Campus. Learn how to create the perfect steak tartare, whip up a béarnaise sauce and perfect the toffee cap to a crème brûlée. Search for other Tasting Australia “L Plates” classes here.

Fresh Wine Disco – April 21

Tasting Australia’s celebration of young wine continues this year, with the Fresh Wine Disco taking place at The Manor at Basket Range. Between 4.30pm and 6.30pm, 2018 vintages will be poured by winemakers directly from the demi-john just weeks after harvest from the vine. Curated by Taras Ochota of Ochota Barrels (Basket Range), the afternoon will feature tastings and meet-and-greet opportunities with the emerging winemakers. Following the tasting, the room will be cleared for a disco party. Find out more here.

Glasshouse Kitchen – The Romans – April 22

Tasting Australia’s Glasshouse Kitchen at Victoria Square. Photo: Meaghan Coles

This Glasshouse Kitchen event is inspired by the Italian tradition of a long lunch shared in good company. Italian chefs and brothers Christian and Manuel Costardi will bring their Piedmontese heritage to the table with their take on risotto. Sydneysider and LuMi chef Federico Zanellato will twist Italian flavours with a Japanese aesthetic. He will be joined by modern Italian chef Monty Koludrovic, from Bondi’s iconic Icebergs Dining Room and Bar. The Lucia family, of Lucia’s in the Central Market, will also be in attendance, including matriarch Lucia Rosella. Each course will be matched with wines from East End Cellars, including La Prova, Brash Higgins and Oliver’s Taranga. Tickets are selling fast.

Comfort Food Cabaret – April 20

After a successful run at this year’s Adelaide Fringe, performer and foodie Michelle Pearson will bring her musical food cabaret to Crack Kitchen cafe in Franklin Street as part of Tasting Australia. The evening will showcase Pearson’s favourite South Australian produce, featuring a three-course “comfort food”-inspired meal with matching South Australian wine and beer. Read InDaily’s review of Pearson’s Comfort Food Cabaret Fringe show here and purchase tickets here.

Market Soirée – April 20

The Adelaide Central Market will host a night of fine food, live jazz music and cooking demonstrations at its Gouger Street-side dining area. Food and drinks offerings will include freshly shucked oysters, porchetta, crepes and Ambra Liqueurs and Spritz drinks. Local chef Heather Day will take part in cooking demos. The Market Soirée starts at 6pm with free entry.

Pasta-making class and dinner – April 26

Italian produce shop Mercato will host a “knead, roll and stretch” pasta-making class and dinner at its Campbelltown store. Guests will learn how to make fettuccine and ravioli and enjoy a three-course Italian meal paired with wine. They will also be given a recipe booklet to take home. Only a few spots left. Book here. 

Baltic Beer and Cider Tasting Feast – May 3

The Latvian Lunchroom at the Adelaide Central Market is hosting this meat lovers’ long-table event. Food such as smoked ribs, crumbed pork fillets with apple sauce, fried potatoes and sauerkraut will be served alongside Baltic-style Robetown beers (from pales to porters and stouts), LOBO ciders, Latvian vodka and liqueur tasters. Bookings here.

Dinner and a roasting of Nick Ryan – May 18

Wild Saffron restaurant in Clare will host wine writer and columnist Nick Ryan for an evening of “compelling wines, great food and thought-provoking ideas”. Ryan will speak about the Clare Valley’s wine scene before inviting the audience to “roast” him on the views he expresses in his columns. Tickets include a two-course dinner and a Gourmet Glass.

Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend – May 18-21

A Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend event at Shut The Gate Wines.

More than 30 wineries, two breweries and regional restaurants will take part in this year’s Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend, with events including degustation lunches and dinners, the Gourmet Farmers’ Market, masterclasses and a wine sale. The popular Gourmet Hub will be relocated to the Clare Showgrounds and include wine from new boutique labels that don’t have cellar doors. See the full program here.

Urban Wine Walk – May 19

This self-guided wine-tasting experience offers the chance to sample wines from makers such as La Prova, Yeti & the Kokonut, Hither & Yon, The Lane Vineyard and Chaffey Bros Wine Co at West End bars including Udaberri, Electra House, Hains & Co, MYLK Bar and La Buvette. Tickets are $55 and must be purchased prior to the event. For details see the Facebook event page.

Tasting Bench Discovery Wine Dinner at Pranzo – May 19

Guests will be introduced to six wines from six different Australian wine regions – from an Old Vine Grenache from Yangarra in McLaren Vale to a Cabernet Merlot from Mountadam in Eden Valley – in this long-table experience at East End restaurant Pranzo. The menu comprises three courses (seasonal antipasto, slow-braised beef cheek and matured cheese) with tickets costing $130 or $110 for earlybirds (before April 20). Details here.

News, tips and information?

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