Tasting Australia starts in Adelaide tomorrow and runs until 22 April. We have savoured the program and chosen 7 events which have a French taste.
1. East End Cellars Masterclass: Sparkling wine and Champagne darling – A Salon Style Tasting – 13 April
For the opening night of the festival, you will taste Australian sparkling wines and compare them to the grandes marques of French champagne.
This masterclass will be run by Kate Laurie of Deviation Road and Ed Carr of the House of Arras.
You will taste the following champagnes and sparkling wines:
- Dom Perignon 2009,
- Krug MV,
- Pol Roger Brut Rose 2008,
- Ashton Hills Salmon Brut,
- Jose Dhondt,
- House of Arras Brut Elite,
- Romney Park Blanc de Blancs 2011,
- Deviation Road Loftia,
- Daosa Blanc de Blanc 2012,
- Ruinart Blanc de Blancs,
- Michel Genet Brut Esprit.
Ticket price: $147.70
2. East End Cellars Masterclass: Chardonnay – 15 April
Another East End Cellars masterclass but this time on the subject of chardonnay.
Michael Hill-Smith will lead a comparative tasting of Australian and French Burgundian Chardonnay.
You will taste the following wines:
The Australians:
- Shaw & Smith
- Tolpuddle
- Tapanappa
- Vasse Felix
- Rodda
- BK Wines
The French:
- Patrick Piuze
- Blain Gagnard
- Bruno Colin
- Olivier Leflaive
Ticket price: $120
3. Great Wine Voyage – 15 April
How are you planning on spending your Sunday afternoon? Travelling around the world without even needing your passport? It’s possible with the Great Wine Voyage. You will visit 8 Adelaide bars and in each one you will taste both the great wine of the world and its local Australian equivalent.
Ticket price: $75
4. East End Cellars Masterclass : The Glory of Grenache MK II– 19 April
Another East End Cellars masterclass but this time about grenache.
Perhaps best known in France because of the Châteauneuf du Pape variety, Australian grenaches are mostly from South Australia.
In this masterclass, Chester Osborn of d’Arenberg, Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba, Stephen Pannell of SC Pannell and Nick Ryan the wine journalist will talk to you about the grape and the wine it produces.
Ticket price: $92.84
5. Old World vs New World – 19 april
Head to 2KW on 19 April for a 5 course meal prepared by two well-known chefs (Dan Lawrence, Executive Chef at 2KW and Paolo Arlotta formerly of Vue du monde and Tipo 00 before that), 5 South Australian wine makers who will eat with you and will discuss their lives, passions and interests (and not just wine) all with Liinaa Berry as Maitre D.
This event has sold out but included even so in case extra tickets get released.
6. L Plates – Vive La France – 21 april
In this class led by Hey Jupiter’s chef Carlos Astudillo, you will learn how to make the French bistro favourites such as steak tartare, sauce béarnaise and crème brulée.
Ticket price: $85
7. L Plates – Out of Algeria – 21 APRIL
Or do you prefer Algerian cuisine? Azou Bouilouta from the restaurant Le Souk will teach you how to make a perfect couscous and a delicious chicken and artichoke tagine.
Ticket price:$93.50
Which Tasting Australia events are you going to? What is your favourite wine variety?
