Winter Reds Weekend – July 29 to 31

The annual Adelaide Hills Winter Reds Weekend is a mini wine festival celebrating the region’s cool-climate red wines. This year is set to be the largest Winter Reds Weekend with more than 40 participating wineries offering a diverse range of tasting events. Ticketed events include Sidewood vs France (July 30), a degustation dinner at Maximilian’s Restaurant; Shanks, Shiraz & Soul (July 31), a day of slow-cooked food, wine and music at Glen Ewin Estate; and the six-course Slow Pinot Lunch at the Stirling Hotel’s Grill Restaurant (July 31). Entry to non-ticketed events is free. Space may be limited at some Winter Reds events, so bookings are encouraged. See the Adelaide Hills Wine Region website for the full program.

Culinary masterclasses at Westfield

Join MasterChef contestants Adam Mizzi and Jessie Spiby for program of free culinary masterclasses at Westfield Westlakes shopping centre. Learn skills such the art of tea making with T2 (July 24), basic butchery (July 31), how to make the perfect coffee (August 7) and how to jazz up your cheeseboards with home-made jam (August 14). More information can be found here.

Jessie Spiby.

Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers Festival – Until July 31

Coonawarra wines are known for their ability to age well and the annual Coonawarra Cellar Dwellers Festival is a celebration of rare and aged wines that are not normally available for tasting. During the festival, the wineries will dust off some of their hidden treasures, making them available to taste and purchase as part of the Cellar Dwellers program of more than 30 events including masterclasses, dinners and vineyard visits. Read the full program here.

Bottega Rotolo Cheese Experiences

Fine food and wine merchant Bottega Rotolo has a new calendar of cheese classes and workshops at its King William Road store exploring some of the best European and Australian varieties, styles, and food and wine matches. Classes include the European Cheese Experience (July 21), the Cheese and Whisky Experience (August 4), the Cheese and Chocolate Experience (August 11), the Spanish Cheese Experience (August 18), the Washed Rind Cheese Experience (September 8), the Goat Milk Cheese Experience (September 15) and the Raw Milk Cheese Experience (September 22).

Romeo’s Cheese Club

Romeo’s Foodland McLaren Vale has teamed up with local producers to present a calendar of sensory experiences involving local wines, beers and a selection of cheeses from around the world from its new cheese room.  Winter Cheese and Wine (August 9), and The Goodiesons and Cheese (August 16). For tickets and more information call Romeo’s Foodland McLaren Vale on 8323 7714.

Meet the Brewer – July 20

Chef Adam Budd has joined forces with the crew from Big Shed Brewing Co to put together a food and beer-matching event at The Gov. For $75 guests will enjoy four craft beers and a cider with a four-course beer-inspired menu, including Big Shed Brewing Co’s West Coast Indian Pale Ale, F-Yeah American Pale Ale, FrankenBrown American Brown Ale, KolsChisel German Pale and Cherry Popper Apple and Cherry Cider alongside pork-belly popcorn with cherry popper mayo, crispy duck shanks with pickled carrot and beery ripe porter compote, beef cheek and brown ale pie, and golden stout time beeramisu. The brewers will be on hand to chat about the beers. The event starts at 6pm. For bookings phone Deb on 8340 0744.

Palate and Pixel – July 22

The Clare Valley wine region is the focus of an exhibition of photographic works by John Kruger titled Palate and Pixel which opens at the National Wine Centre this month. The photographic project is an initiative of the Clare Valley Winemakers to create a library of photographs that capture the emerging talent, heroes and unique stories behind the region’s wine industry. The exhibition will be launched at 4.30pm on July 22, with food and wine by Clare Valley producers. Tickets are $35 per person and are available for booking here.

Waywood Wines Paella Day – July 23

Waywood Wines is hosting its last monthly Paella Day before the owners head to Spain to enjoy the delights of San Sebastian, Pamplona and Barcelona. The cellar door will remain open but there will be no August Paella Day. Enjoy paella with combinations of seafood and chorizo or chicken and chorizo, served with salad, plus a selection of tapas and a Spanish-inspired dessert. Cost is $25 per person. Bookings essential by phoning 8323 8468.

Kersbrook Hill wine, pizza and platters – July 24

Join Kersbrook Hill Wines & Cider for an afternoon of wine, cider, pizza and platters to enjoy with the acoustic sounds of Suzi and the Jets performing throughout the afternoon. Bookings are essential by calling 8389 3301. More information available here.

OzHarvest lunch – July 25

Join OzHarvest, the official Australian partner of the United Nations Environment Programme global campaign against food waste, for a free hot lunch on the Goodman Lawns, North Terrace, between 11.30am and 2pm. More information here.

Meet the maker at La Cantina – July 28        

Join La Cantina in welcoming Riccardo Bera from Piemonte’s Bera Wines for a tasting of eight of his family’s wines including the single-vineyard Rabaja Barbaresco. Cost is $40 per person. Bookings are limited to 20 people.

Langhorne Creek Cellar Treasures Weekend – August 13 to 14

Discover hidden gems at Langhorne Creek’s Cellar Treasures Weekend as the region’s cellar doors uncover some carefully cellared wines. Learn about the benefits of cellaring wines as you taste the difference. See the Langhorne Creek Wine website for more details about this free event.

Pizza nights at Bar Mercato

Join Bar Mercato for pizza al taglio, Rome’s most famous street food. The traditional pizza dough is made with Bar Mercato mother yeast and leavened for 72 hours before being baked on rectangle trays and served by the slice. The pizza nights will be held on August 18, September 15, October 20 and November 17 from 6.30pm. Tickets are $25, which includes unlimited pizza and live entertainment. Bookings essential by calling Julia on 8337 1808.

Pizza ‘al Taglio’ at Bar Mercato.

An Islander Experience at Leonards Mill – August 19

Leonards Mill at Second Valley is hosting a five-course tasting menu featuring Kangaroo Island produce. Prepared by head chef Brendan Wessels and his team, each course will be matched with Islander Estate Vineyard Wines throughout the evening. Cost is $150 per person and bookings are essential. More information available here.

Fino Fridays – until September 1

Bring your best bottle and join Fino Seppeltsfield for Friday night dinner. Using locally produced Barossa Birds chicken, Schu Am Pork Toulouse sausage and The Dairyman heritage pork belly, Fino will prepare the ultimate winter dish – French provincial cassoulet – to be accompanied by a salad of Loralai’s lettuce and house-baked sourdough to mop up all the juices. Dinner is $30 per person and corkage is free on your first bottle (standard size, one per couple). An a la cart menu is also available. Bookings recommended.

News, tips and information?

The Forager would love to hear about your news, events and suggestions. Please contact us at [email protected].