Crush Festival – January 25-27

More than 30 wineries will host events ranging from picnics, garden parties and live music sessions to long lunches, degustation dinners and a dessert night for the Adelaide Hills’ annual summer fling. You can view the list of events online, but here are a few that take our fancy.

Beats + Eats + Art from the Streets: A free event at Longview Vineyard at Macclesfield featuring DJs; paella, churros and other Spanish bites from La Dolce Vita; street art and beers from Big Shed Brewing. Visitors can try the winery’s 2016 “The Piece” Shiraz, as well as its award-winning Nebbiolo Rosato – served frozen.

Fringe in the Vines: Yes, Fringe is coming early to Tomich Wines, which is hosting Fringe performers including cabaret singer Amity Dry and magician Robbie Kay across the Saturday and Sunday of Crush. There will be food trucks on site across the weekend, and a three-course, grazing-style Twilight Dinner in the Vines with paired wines on Sunday night.

Dinner at Dusk Degustation: Woodside winery Bird in Hand’s Dinner at Dusk will begin with freshly shucked Coffin Bay oysters on the terrace as the sun sets over the vineyards, to be followed by six courses with paired wines ($170pp) in the Gallery Restaurant. It’s on both Friday and Saturday nights, with a bus available for city pick-up and drop-off.

Summer Day Party: The new Lot 100 cellar door venue in Nairne (home to Adelaide Hills Distillery, Mismatch Brewing Co, Vinterloper, Ashton Valley Fresh and The Hills Cider Company) is hosting a free Crush party from 11am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday, with wood-fired pizzas, picnic platters and DJs.

International Rosé & Dumpling Festival: Howard Vineyard, also in Nairne, will be serving up a range of different dumplings alongside its full range of wines, Pirate Life beer, Adelaide Hills cider and a special Crush cocktail at this themed event. There will also be live music. Bookings (here) are essential, with the $10 cost including wine glass.

Prawns on the Lawn: Electra House Hotel will serve up charcoal-grilled BBQ prawns with mussel, chorizo and pipi cataplana on the lawn at Karrawatta’s Meadows cellar door from 11am-8pm on Saturday and Sunday (tickets $45). On Sunday, they will also be offering an $85 three-course menu including yoghurt-crusted lamb shoulder with Moroccan spices and chocolate stout cake. Bookings here.

Summer Sunday at Murdoch Hill: Africola chef Duncan Welgemoed will be in the kitchen for this Crush session at the new Murdoch Hill cellar door (featured in The Forager last week). While Murdoch Hill co-owner Andrew Downer tells CityMag even he hasn’t seen the menu yet, we’re told much of the action will be happening on the lawn, which will be laid with tables, chairs and picnic rugs, with wines available by the glass or bottle and music by Skin Contact.

Australia Day Barbecure – January 28

Lady Burra Brewhouse in Topham Mall is hosting this fundraising event on the Australia Day public holiday, with Rosa’s wood-oven roast pork sandwiches served with Portuguese slaw, brews from its outdoor beer cart and DJ music. It all begins at 11am, and $1 from every beer and sandwich sold will go to Cure Cancer.

An Evening with Nigella Lawson – January 27

Fans of British “domestic goddess” Nigella Lawson will be pleased to know tickets (from $86) are still available to her live show at the Adelaide Festival Centre this Sunday. An Evening with Nigella Lawson will see the TV cook and author share her “thoughts, food stories, and insights into what she’s eating and cooking now”.

78 Degrees Gin Dinner – January 31

La Boca Bar and Grill and Adelaide Hills distillery 78 Degrees are joining forces to present this four-course degustation dinner. Argentinean head chef Nicolas Arriola will serve a menu created to match 78 Degrees’ gins, including dishes such as house-smoked ocean trout and sloe-gin-marinated pork rib-eye. The $78 price includes three gin cocktails and a rum cocktail paired with dessert. Bookings here.

CBD & Vines – February 2-3

Photo: Julian Cebo

To be held over two days across the three levels of Electra House, this new festival will feature more than 80 wines from 30+ producers, as well as an outdoor space dubbed Tin Can Alley with live music and craft beers from the likes of Mismatch, Tiny Rebel and Little Bang. There will also be gin, whisky, masterclasses and DJs, as well as food by Electra House head chef Josh Kim. Entry tickets for CBD & Vines are $40 per day ($30 earlybird) or $70 for the two days. Read more in this CityMag story.

SA Spirits Day at Plant 4 – February 3

Punters are promised a huge range of “specialised flavours and incredible mixes of gin, vodka and whiskey” from South Australian distilleries at this 11am-6pm event at Plant 4 Bowden. The $25 entry includes a tasting glass, with food also available and live music adding to the vibe. Details and tickets here.

Clare Valley Cans & Cajun BBQ Beer Launch – February 10

Clare Valley Brewing Co will launch its two latest beers – the Mango Berliner Weisse and Hazy Mosaic IPA – at this Cry Baby takeover. Its XPA and Hoppy Lager will also be on tap, with the Solomon Street bar serving up Cajun barbecue (including vegetarian options) to complement the brews. Details here.

Chilli Fest Willunga – February 9-10

Willunga’s annual chilli festival returns in February, with cooking demonstrations and gardening tips, as well as live music, stalls and a shaded beer garden where visitors can enjoy “chilli-inspired food” plus local beer and wine. The event takes place in the Festival Hall, Show Halls and adjoining outdoor area from 10am each day.

BOAB Fest – February 15-16

The Best of Adelaide Brewers Festival is coming to The Flour Shed Port Adelaide in the second weekend of Feb, promising a top line-up of beer and gin, as well as wines, cider, food vans and live music. There will also be brewers on site talking about their craft, plus a judging panel to pick “the best of the best”. The beer will be flowing from the Friday evening, with the festival continuing across Saturday afternoon.

Gin Pangolin industry launch + bar takeover – February 16

The third Saturday of February, for those not in the know, is World Pangolin Day. So it’s a fitting date for Adelaide producer Blend Etiquette to launch its new Gin Pangolin – a spirit created to highlight the plight of the endangered pangolin, a scaly anteater considered one of the most trafficked animals on the planet. The launch will be held at The Howling Owl in the East End, with gin tastings and sales, martinis, food and music. Keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates and tickets, and read this CityMag story to find out more about about both pangolins and the gin made in their name.

15 Shades of Rosé at 2KW – February 23

The love affair with rosé continues with this afternoon event at 2KW which will showcase 15 different styles of the wine from across Australia, France, Austria and Italy, alongside what is described as an “epic Mediterranean outdoor feast” by chef Trent Lymn. Tickets for 15 Shades of Rosé are $99 and the dress code is, of course, pink and white.

Cellar Door Fest – March 15

A Cellar Door Fest masterclass. Photo: supplied

The Adelaide Convention Centre’s three-day food, wine, beer and spirits festival returns in 2019 with tastings, interactive masterclasses (including gin blending and cheese + wine), long-table dining and an Emerging Winemakers’ Zone. New features will include “Dude Food” in the Wintulichs’ Beer Garden, a New Orleans-inspired long-table lunch by NOLA Adelaide, and a long-table dinner presented by Jacob’s Creek. A range of ticket options are available – see the website for details.

News, tips and information?

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