It’s been two years since Adelaide had Cheese Fest – largely because of the O’Bahn works in Rymill Park. Last year, the Festival’s organiser decided to give us a brand new festival that went beyond cheese with Ferment the Festival, which was very well received.
This year, Cheese Fest is back but will take place in the same place and at the same time (so with the same ticket) as Ferment the Festival. On the weekend of 27 and 28 October, Rymill Park in Adelaide’s city centre will host these two festivals.
What’s on at these festivals?
Your entry ticket gives you a keepsake glass, a tote bag and access to hundreds of Australian cheeses and their producers, and free tastings of 17 of them, wine from South Australia, local beers, ciders and spirits, live music, cooking demonstrations, unique Cheese tastings, the Fermented Dome, face painting for the kids, cheese oriented quizzes, and more.
On previous years, Cheese Fest was strictly only for South Australian produce. This year, for the first time, there will be a French dedicated area called The Pol Roger French Quarter. There, you can expect champagne and French sparkling wines, brie and baguettes.
Who will be there?
The following producers will be at CheeseFest and Ferment The Festival.
Cheesemongers:
Udder Delights
Alexandrina Cheese Company
Woodside Cheese Wrights
Kris Lloyd Artisan
Vannella Dairy
Meredith Dairy
La Casa Del Formaggio
Boatshed Cheese
La Vera Cheese Company
Warrnambool Cheese & Butter
Olympus Cheese
Milawa Cheese Company
Shaw River Cheese
Robe Dairy
Red Cow Organics
The Dairy Man
Craft brewers:
Little Bang Brewing Co (Stepney)
Big Shed Brewing Concern (Royal Park)
Left Barrel Brewing (Balhannah)
Clare Valley Brewing Company (Clare)
Mismatch Brewing Co. (Nairne)
Western Ridge Brewing (Barossa)
Lobethal Bierhaus (Lobethal)
The Sparkke Change Beverage Co (Gypsy)
Libation Army (Gypsy)
Vale Brewing
Fox Hat Brewing
Lobo Cider
Wine makers:
Shinglebackk Wines
Kimbolton Wines
Beresford Wines
Vineyard Road Wines
Coriole Vineyards
Pikes Wines
Dune Wines
Pol Roger
Smallfry Wines
Charlotte Dalton Wines
BK Wines
Distillers:
23rd St Distillery (with its gin bar).
Kangaroo Island Spirits
Never Never Gin
Ambra Liquers
Chesterfield Whisky
Restaurants:
Salopian Inn
A Hereford Beefstouw
Sprout Cooking School
Frencheese
Ragini’s Spicery
Level One @ Electra House
Kings Head
Food stalls:
Lost Loaf
The Fermentary
Singing Magpie
Geraldton Hill
Dot Chocolate
Matchetts
Beach Organics
Tuckers Natural
Les Deux Coqs
Popsicool
Skara Smallgoods
Spring Gully
Red Cacao Chocolatier
Smelly Cheese Shop
Additional tastings
Sponsored by RAA Travel and Les by Paul Wood et Dougal Mc FuzzleButt, there will also be RAA Travel Tastings. You have the choice of MasterClasses/tastings of cheese and wine, cheese and beer, cheese and gin, or canapés and wine, led by tasting experts.
At the RAA Travel speed tastings you’ll get three drinks and 3 bites which will all be from South Australian producers. Each selection will be carefully matched and you will also get to meet the maker in an intimate setting but with enough time to go back and enjoy everything else the festivals have to offer.
These tastings cost $20.
TICKETS AND INFO:
When?
The festivals will be open:
Saturday 27 October from 11am to 8pm; and
Sunday 28 October from 11am to 6pm.
Price?
$25 for either the Saturday or Sunday (purchased online or $30 at the gate.
$40 for both days , the “weekend pass” (the same price online and at the entrance)
Free for children under 15 years old accompanied by an adult.
The price for the RAA Travel Tastings is additional to the entry ticket. These cost $20.
What’s your favourite cheese or fermented product?
