Where cheese, wine and knowledge collide
Cheese, wine and knowledge collide at CheeseFest’s new beverage masterclasses.
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Masterclass. It’s the latest buzzword if you’re into food and wine, but if done well, can be a great way to learn more about what we imbibe.
I’ve been to a lot of masterclasses in my time. They range from serious, sit-down affairs to raucous boozefests. The perfect masterclass sits right in the middle – with great storytelling at its core.
CheeseFest is the latest event to add masterclasses to its offering and chief winemaker wrangler Mark Kamleh and East End Cellars owner Michael Andrewartha have done a fine job compiling the line-up.
“These classes aren’t meant to be serious or intimidating,” Mark says.
“They are aimed at punters who want to learn a little more about their favourite drops. All they need to know before coming to the classes is that wine comes from grapes.”
It kicks off with The Great Wine and Cheese Voyage, a four-hour tasting that takes participants through the wines of the world. Go from Germany’s Rheinhessen, Bordeaux in France, Verona in Italy, Chile’s Casablanca Valley, Portugal’s Porto, to the South Australian drops turning heads across the globe. You’ll need some stamina as the voyage stops at four venues: The Stag balcony for wines from Morocco and Argentina (matched with cheese, naturally), East End Wine Cellars for a taste of Italy and Portugal, Mothervine for tipples from France and the US, and the CheeseFest Pavilion for wines from Germany and Italy. Each stop will also showcase South Australian wines.
Full disclaimer: I’ll be there to quiz the winemakers and wine gurus on Saturday, including a Spanish masterclass “A Trip To Priorat” with Iberian wine expert James Varcoe. Expect insight into modern Spanish wine: the regeneration of old vineyards abandoned in tough economic times and the rediscovery of terroir happening all over Spain.
“It is also the story of grenache and its Aragonese and Catalan origins,”
James says.
A Sparkling Wines of the World masterclass with Deviation Road’s Kate Laurie is something to be excited about. Kate is a straight talker and an exquisite winemaker.
She and her husband Hamish make the good stuff at their Adelaide Hills property, where they have established a name in handcrafted bubbles.
Kate is originally from Perth, cut her teeth at French wineries and studied an advanced diploma in viticulture and oenology at Lycée Viticole d’Avize in Champagne. Her approach is méthode traditionnelle.
Saturday’s masterclasses also include educator David Ridge and Stephen Pannell (S.C. Pannell Wines), who host “Ciao Bella”, focusing on wines from Italy’s Piedmont.
On Sunday, “The Wines of Germany” will be led by Australia’s leading German wine supplier, Randall Pollard and Wines by KT winemaker Kerri Thompson.
Penfolds Magill Estate sommelier Marcell Kustos will also lead masterclasses on Sunday. Marcell was born in Hungary and moved to Australia to further his studies. He recently completed a PhD in wine science and is one of the brightest minds I’ve encountered in the food and wine space. I can’t wait to soak up his knowledge and storytelling during “Coast To Rhone” with winemaker Rose Kentish, and “The World Tour”.
Epic tastings such as
these can be enlightening. Just remember: all in moderation. There’s power in spitting, especially if you want to retain your new-found knowledge.
CheeseFest+FERMENT, October 26-27 at Rymill Park. Masterclass tickets, $99, include entry to the festival: cheesefest.com.au
ARTWINE
NV/ Prosecco
Adelaide Hills
One for the dreamers. Floral and fruity, with a lovely burst of grapefruit that keeps you on your toes. It’s evocative anddelicate — like Claude Monet’s water lilies paintings, from afar. The fruit was estate grown by Artwine’s Judy and Glen Kelly. The pair has a thing for alternativevarieties and regularly wins gold at the annual Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show, held in Mildura during November.It goes down very easily and is a steal at this price. Go on – have a couple.
$25
DEVIATION ROAD
2016 / Loftia Vintage Brut
Adelaide Hills
The care factor that goes in to this beauty is impressive. Winemaker Kate Laurie doesn’t cut corners and the proof is in thebottle. Parcels of hand-picked pinot noir and chardonnay are fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged for a minimum of24 months on lees. It’s crisp and pert – like a pack of meerkats on high alert. Each bottle is riddled and hand disgorgedin small batches. Think lemon zest, a hint of sea breeze and a cracking citrus finish. An aperitif to impress your mates with.
$45
POL ROGER
2012 / Brut Champagne
France
There’s a certain thrill that comes with the rush of foam in a Champagne glass, especially when there’s Pol Roger on the horizon.The thrill is justified here. Made from 60 per cent pinot noir and 40 per cent chardy, plucked from 20 grands and premierscrus vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, it was aged for seven years before being disgorged and released.It’s delightfully fresh but delivers layers of warmth – like crawling into bed between fresh flannelette sheets.
$140