South Australia sweeps International Wine Challenge

South Australian winemakers have blitzed the 2009 International Wine Challenge (IWC), picking up 27 gold medals. The Challenge brings together the very best judges with the arduous task of tasting every single bottle of wine. Boasting more than 9,500 entries, the International Wine Challenge has cemented its place as the best and biggest blind tasting in the world. It is held every year at the Barbican Centre in London.

Out of an overall worldwide total of 304 gold, Australia scored 43, second only to France. Multiple gold winning SA wine producers were Yalumba, Peter Lehmann and Tim Adams. Barossa wines featured most prominently.

Some of Rich & Lingering’s key partners were successful at the Challenge. Those winning gold medals and trophies included; Fox Creek (2006 Reserve Shiraz), Shaw & Smith (2007 Shiraz), Peter Lehmann (2004 Mentor, and the 2003 & 2004 Margaret Semillon), Primo Estate (2007 Joseph Angel Gully Shiraz), and Wirra Wirra (2007 Dead Ringer Cabernet Sauvignon).

Producers' Long Lunch at the Sea and Vines Festival

Celebrate Sea & Vines at Producers’ Table, on Sunday 7 June. Resident chef Nigel Rich (co-head chef of d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant and devoted fisherman) creates a taste of the sea with views to Willunga Hills.

Maverick winemaker Joch Bosworth serves a selection of Battle of Bosworth’s organically grown single vineyard wines over a deliciously long lunch, including; Snapper broth with saffron foam Oysters BBQ baby squid stuffed with Willunga almonds, spinach and buffalo mozarella Chargrilled octopus in sake Beetroot tarte tatin with goat curd Thai prawn salad with citrus dressing, garden peas and fresh mint Flathead saltimbocca on green rice with anchovy butter & blistered tomatoes Orange, fennel & rocket salad with olives and verjuice Potato & tilsit gratin Roasted vegetables from the farm Producers’ verjuice custard with pickled quince in shiraz syrup Petit fours quinces & candied citrus served with coffee.

Set menu shared table $90 per person. Please book early as seating is limited: by phone (08) 8323 0060 or visit http://www.producers.net.au/

Rigoni's Long Lunch At Lloyd Brother's

The Sunday Long Lunches are back at Lloyd Brothers in McLaren Vale. Take a tour through their new Olive Oil Press house with General Manager Sam Temme, as he describes the process of making Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Kalamata Table Olives and handpicked, Single Vineyard wines.

Chef Tony Bailey from Rigoni's warms things up as he draws on the rich flavours of Italy to prepare one of his trademark lunches. Each course will be matched with a flight of Lloyd Brothers wines, with the rare opportunity to sample and compare some of their past vintages.

Seated in their private dining area next to a log fire, you are invited to take the time, slow down and enjoy the beautiful food and wine of our region.

The first Long Lunch starts on the weekend of Sea & Vines Festival (Sunday 7th June & Monday 8th June), then each Sunday for the rest of the month. $80 per person (all inclusive).

For reservations contact at Lloyd Brothers Wine and Olive Company.

Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

Come up to the cool climate of Adelaide Hills (1 to 3 May 2009) in its most exquisite season - Autumn. Drive through the region in all its glorious colour. Discover the new Chardonnays; fine, elegant golden wines and the delicacy of sparkling wines in many beautiful locations around the region. There will be separate events, from regional wine tastings with the winemakers, wine masterclasses, and some great food and music.

Other sessions will focus on sparkling wine, with demonstrations on disgorging, or dinners at The Lane Vineyard based around sparkling wine and Chardonnay wines.

On Sunday 3rd May, at Mt Lofty House there is a special event based on a vertical tasting of the ‘White Grange’, Penfolds Yattarna, with winemaker Kym Schroeter. This will include the two vintages that were made entirely from Adelaide Hills’ Chardonnay grapes, the 2003 and 2005.

Other great producers from the region who will be concentrating on Chardonnay include; Ashton Hills, Barratt Wines, Petaluma, Shaw + Smith, to name but a few.

For more details contact Rich & Lingering or download a flyer to discover more about this exception variety of the region.

Adelaide Hills Crush

Crush 09 will continue to build on the success of this key Adelaide Hills Festival. In addition to providing a wonderful showcase for the very best the Region has to offer on the Australia Day weekend, Crush 09 is taking an innovative direction in offering complimentary tutored tastings through the day on three of our key varieties, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Shiraz.

These ‘Discover more…’ sessions will give both new and more experienced wine lover the opportunity to learn some of the secrets of these wonderful wines from our gifted young winemakers and take those secrets home with them. Darryl Catlin of Shaw & Smith will be comparing Adelaide Hills and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, Peter Dredge of Petaluma will be inviting people to rediscover the elegance of Chardonnay and Erinn Klein and Phillippe Morin will be comparing cool and warm climate and French Shiraz.

There will also be lots of fun with 17 different venues offering everything from an Amy Winehouse tribute at Hahndorf Hill Winery to an opportunity experience the thrill of black cockatoos flying in at dusk at Sinclairs Gully.

Crush 09 will also be the start of a journey leading through three further, seasonal events during the year which will celebrate Chardonnay and Sparkling Wines in Autumn, Adelaide Hills Reds in Winter and the season’s new Sauvignon Blancs in Spring.

Through encouraging a deeper knowledge of these wonderful varieties producers continue their commitment to encourage both greater appreciation and safe drinking of Adelaide Hills Wine, which can be tasted in the vineyard only 20 minutes from Adelaide city. For more information see www.richandlingering.com.au/Crush.html

Sticky Rice Cooking School

Sticky Rice Cooking School in Stirling (in the Adelaide Hills) is an exciting new culinary experience offering hands on cooking classes with adventurous and talented chefs in Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine.

You can learn how to create restaurant quality dishes in hands-on cooking classes with Australia's masters of Asian cuisine, then wine and dine on the recipes.

Sticky Rice Cooking School was named as one of the Top 20 Hotspots for 2009 by the Adelaide Annual 2009 as published by the Advertiser and are one of only 3 places listed in SA.

Regional Tourism Award Success

The 2008 SA Great Regional Tourism Services Award was recently awarded to Rich & Lingering by Catriona Rowntree, presenter of Channel 9’s travel program “Getaway”.

Catriona presented the award to Jason Miller of Rich & Lingering at the official awards ceremony at Auchendarroch House in the Adelaide Hills.

The award recognises and celebrates those individuals and businesses that have made a significant contribution to the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. This award is open to specialised tourism services or facilities that enhance the visitor experience and integrate with other tourism products.

2008 is the second year Rich & Lingering have been recipients of the SA Great award.

"It is gratifying to receive recognition from the industry of our commitment to excellence, and caps off another very successful year for us” said Jason Miller of Rich & Lingering.

Rich & Lingering were the proud winners in the 2008 SA Tourism Awards. It is recognition of their creativity, professionalism and innovation in the industry. The award highlights Rich & Lingering’s focus on providing both high levels of wine and food knowledge and excellent customer service to their guests.

Rich & Lingering provides 5 star food and wine tours for guests, focussing on Barossa Valley, Adelaide Hills, and McLaren Vale wine regions of South Australia.