Gincident – December 1

“An event that happened due to one too many gins” is the tagline for this spirited celebration which will take place in Port Adelaide at the Flour Shed at Hart’s Mill. The Howling Owl will host the main bar, serving a selection of gin cocktails, while Fever-Tree Tonic and Hains & Co will host a “garnish bar”. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to taste around 20 different gins from the likes of Prohibition, 36 Short, McHenry, Adelaide Hills Distillery and Never Never, with food vans serving bites outside and live entertainment. Gincident will run from midday until 9pm, with pre-sale tickets costing $25 ($35 on the door).

Spring at Seppeltsfield – November 30

Barossa Valley’s Seppeltsfield Estate is hosting an evening of wine, food, craft, design and more at this late afternoon/evening event. Those attending will be able to “soak up the spring vibes” on the terrace with a cocktail or spritzer from Fino paired with tasty street food, enjoy a glass of Seppeltsfield wine in the revitalised cellar door and try Barossa produce from Owen Andrews Catering in the lounge area. Other Spring at Seppeltsfield activities will include a meet-the-makers opportunity at JamFactory and segway tours. Entry is $10.

The Bazaar at Gilles at the Grounds – December 1-2

Gang Gang, Motherlode Nuggeteria, Cloud Theory Marshmallow, Let Them Eat and Pizzateca will be among the food vendors popping up at Gilles at the Grounds’ Christmas market The Bazaar this weekend to help shoppers refuel as they explore the more than 150 stalls selling their wares. The Bazaar is open from midday until 9pm on Saturday and from 10am until 4pm on Sunday, and will also have a pop-up bar and live music.

Mordrelle wine dinner at La Boca – December 5

La Boca Bar & Grill is teaming up with boutique Adelaide Hills winery Mordrelle for a four-course Argentinean dinner matched with Mordrelle wines. Dishes will include a cheese and charcuterie plate, paired with Blanc de Blancs Sparkling; beef empanada, paired with Pinot Noir; beef, lamb and pork cooked on the Asador and served with a warm beetroot salad, paired with Malbec; and Sauvignon Blanc clafoutis (a fruit dessert), paired with Sauvignon Blanc. Tickets are $59 plus booking fee.

Finding Vino – December 7

Described as a “Vino & Not Vino party in the Adelaide West End”, Finding Vino will take over Fenn Place from 4pm until late next Friday. At least 25 SA wineries will be represented – including the likes of Alpha Box & Dice, Charlotte Dalton, Wirra Wirra, Ministry of Clouds and Teusner – alongside other drinks businesses such as LOBO Cider, Mismatch Brewing, Adelaide Hills Distillery and KI Spirits. There will also be food and music (keep an eye on the Facebook page for more details), and tickets are $25.

Summer in the Vales – December

McLaren Vale wineries are springing into summer with a host of weekend wine, food and music sessions throughout December. Here’s a few picks:

Picnic at Paxton: Two days (December 1-2) of picnicking at Paxton Wines, with wine – of course – plus cheese boards and live music. Keep an eye on Facebook for more details.

Pizza & Wines at Hugo Wines: From 1-5pm on December 2, this Sunday session under a marquee on the lawn at Hugo’s cellar door will include food by Rolling Pizza Oven and live music. Tickets are $15, including a Riedel Hugo wine glass and free first glass of wine.

Lavish Lawns at Beresford: This is a monthly event over summer at Beresford Wines in Blewitt Springs Road, with the next one scheduled for December 2. Lavish Lawns serves up food, wine, premium cocktails and craft beer from a pop-up bar, along with live entertainment, vineyard tours on the Beresford Wine Cart and masterclasses.

Lavish Lawns at Beresford Wines.

 Summer Saturdays and Lazy Sundays: Doc Adams will be presenting live music acts at a series of Lazy Sunday sessions throughout December, with tailored food and wine packages available (bookings essential). And on December 22, it’s hosting a Summer Saturday event with live acoustic music plus a DJ; platters available, BYO picnic rug.

 Syn at Sunset: Presented by Leconfield and Richard Hamilton Wines, Syn at Sunset is celebrating its 10^th anniversary on December 27, with music; Old School Bus toasties, smoothies and coffee; Leconfield regional platters; picnic boxes; Leconfield, Richard Hamilton and Syn wines, and Vale Ale beer.

 Cheese After Dark Christmas Special – December 5

The Smelly Cheese Shop at Adelaide Central Market is holding a special end-of-year Cheese After Dark event combining French cheeses with Champagne including Pol Roger and Pierre Gimonnet NV. Tickets are $95; details here.

Lot 100 launch party – December 8

The much-anticipated Lot 100 Adelaide Hills cellar door and multi-purpose venue will officially open to the public next weekend. Located in Nairne, the venue is a collaboration between Mismatch Brewing Company, The Hills Cider Company, Adelaide Hills Distillery and Ashton Valley Fresh (read more about what it will offer in this CityMag story). Tickets for launch party are $70 plus booking fee, including a bus to and from Adelaide, a drink on arrival, canapes, live music and venue tours.

 Women in Wine – December 12

McLaren Vale will be the focus of December’s Women in Wine event at Electra House’s Level One restaurant, with guest winemakers Corrina Wright from Oliver’s Taranga, Vanessa Altman from Switch Wines, and Gill Gordon-Smith from Fall from Grace. At the $75pp dinners, each winemaker matches one of their wines to a course from Level One’s modern Asian shared-plates menu, with the meal  followed by a Q&A session.

 Adelaide Wine Markets – December 15

After a sold-out launch party in October, the Adelaide Wine Markets is returning to the Market Shed on Holland in December. The pop-up event, which has a stated mission to “connect wine lovers with some of the best small and boutique producers from all over South Australia”, will be offering wine, gin and cider tastings from 5-10pm, with food stalls and live music. Tickets are $20.

Aladdin High Tea – December 16

Stamford Plaza Adelaide’s Aladdin-themed high tea should whet appetites for the lavish Disney musical bound for Adelaide next year. The hotel promises “a magicial afternoon where wishes come true”, with savoury and sweet treats, plus entertainment. Bookings are essential; $52 for adults and $27 for children aged five to 12 (under fives free). There is also another Wizardry High Tea planned for January 30. Details for both events here.

Christmas Cooking Lessons in French Cuisine – December 20

Chef Bernard Raoux of Adelaide Central Market shop Les Deux Coqs will share the secrets of several traditional French Christmas dishes at this class at the market. Participants will prepare three recipes: snails and mushroom mille-feuille, poultry with chestnut and truffle French white sausage stuffing, and a chocolate yule log. The cost, including a free glass of wine, is $120pp. Details here.

Adelaide French Festival – January 11-13

Hosted by the Adelaide Festival Centre, the French Festival includes some tasty food and wine events alongside the line-up of live music, theatre, dance and fashion. Bon Vivant will see Breton chef Nathalie Beavuais from Le Jardin Gourmand create a $150-a-head French seafood dinner showcasing the flavours of Brittany in the centre’s Banquet Room on January 12, while Adelaide’s Zephyr Quartet will team up with The Smelly Cheese Shop for a sensory experience, pairing cheese, wine and music at an $80 Sonic Seasoning event on the Dunstan Playhouse stage on January 13. Gresham Street small bar La Buvette Drinkery will host a French spirits masterclass, and a taste of French food and wine will be available on the Riverdeck Hub throughout the festival. See the full program here.

 News, tips and information?

Please send details of any upcoming food and/or drink events to: [email protected].