Australia is far away from the rest of the world. Because of that, Australians are very independent and have learned to create what they need without relying on the rest of the world. One area that they have excelled in is creating an exceptional culinary scene and wine industry. Once a year they celebrate South Australia’s epicurean gifts at the Tasting Australia Adelaide. The event brings together the best to the region’s producers of food and wine and chefs for an eight-day gastronomic feast.
Tasting Australia Adelaide is a series of 100 events throughout the culinary centers of South Australia including Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, The Barossa, McLaren Vale down to the Fleurieu Peninsula and all the way to Kangaroo Island. The hub is the Town Square Adelaide which was transformed into a foodie’s theme park with music, food stalls, presentations and activities for children.
Australians revere the farm-to-table concept, so shopping at a farmers market is preferred over a big supermarket. The Adelaide Central Market has been a South Australia institution for over 148 years. It is also the location for the Taste of the Market Adelaide Central Market where star chefs Frank Camorra (MoVida ) and Mitch Orr (ACME Sydney) demonstrated their culinary skills using market products. In the show kitchen, the duo created inventive Spanish Tapas and Italian Antipasti accompanied by a wine pairing by one of Australia’s most revered wine makers, Hentley Farm.
On the other side of town, the Taste the Market at the Adelaide Farmers' Market was a wonderful long table dinner of four courses showcasing South Australian artisan food. The farmers and producers also gave interesting talks about their industry, and insights in to the meal beyond the palate.
A cadre of international celebrity chefs joins in, such as Ana Ros, who was voted top female chef in the world, World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards and Gordon Ramsay’s mentor and the youngest chef to receive three Michelin stars: Marco Pierre White. One of the personalities behind the event was heralded local chef and creative director Simon Bryant. Bryant shares: “If you love eating and drinking, sharing food and beverages and meeting the people behind what’s on your plate and in your glass, then Tasting Australia is for you.”
Within the space was a beautiful Town Square restaurant, the Glasshouse Kitchen. This temporary structure hosted some of the more exclusive events. The closing event was the formal Chefs Supper Club where 20 of Australia’s top chefs and personalities created a decadent epicurean adventure of food, cocktails, and fine regional wines.
South Australia put Australia’s wine making on the international wine map and has become one of the revered wine capitals of world. The Barossa and McClaren Vale are known around the world for producing the finest Shirazes, Grenaches and Cabernet as well as Riesling and Chardonnays. This is wine country and in the blood of those who live here.
The McLaren Vale area is known as the epicurean trail, but it’s really all about wine. The Maxwell Wines Family has been producing exceptional Cabernets and Pinot Noirs for three generations. For the Tasting Australia events, the Maxwell family provided an uber exclusive opportunity to experience a day at the vineyard with the winemakers, a fantastic meal at their cellar door and a tour of the region by helicopter.
After a greeting by Jeremy Maxwell, it’s off by helicopter for incredible views of the vineyards, town and beautiful coastline of McLaren Vale. The first stop was at Scoop which produces organic micro herb and produce for the area’s top restaurants. From there we were off to Diana Olive Oil which produces fine olive oil for export around the world.
Upon our return, it was time to get serious about wine and the owner and winemaker Mark Maxwell took us on a tour of the winery and barrel tasting in the cellar. He shared his passion for the craft speaking about his approach to wine making and the nuances in the flavors that we were experiencing.
Now the feast that we had been waiting for was before us at the cellar door’s Ellen Street Restaurant. The exquisite six-course meal was prepared by the talented German chef, Fabian Lehmann. It was delicious, especially with the pairing of Maxwell Wines.
The famed Barossa Valley is the Tuscany, Bordeaux, or Napa Valley of Australia. Once a year the Annual Barossa Camino immerses an exclusive group of oenophiles into the lives of Australia’s wine dynasties who have been crafting fine wines for almost 200 years. The Barossa Camino is a full day trek with the Henschke Wine and Angas’, the royal families of the Australian wine industry, through three great vineyards, the Hill of Grace, Hutton Vale Farm and Mount Edelstone.
It was heaven for wine lovers, as the Camino trekked through the beautiful vineyards and guests enjoyed the day learning about the wines from the families, while drinking with other wine lovers. The day ended at the Hutton Vale Wines farm with a delicious outdoor, country-style dinner.
One of the more fun events was the Fresh Wine Disco which took place in the rural village of Adelaide Hills. Guests interacted with 30 of the region’s low intervention wine makers, sampling vintages which were blended only weeks prior. The fun lasted into the wee hours of the night as the tasting morphed into a disco ball with the sounds of thumping '70s and '80s disco music. The event was led by the fun loving Tara Ochota of Ochota Barrels who also happens to be the Tasting Australia 2017 Wine Ambassador and all around fun guy.
For those who appreciate good food and wine, the Tasting Australia Adelaide is one destination in May not to miss. For a celebration of those who produce and prepare what we love to eat, this event does not disappoint.
