South Australia's Cellar Door Wine Festival 2011

The ‘festival state’ (that’s South Australia) in conjunction with the leading wineries has put together a true state wine festival. The Cellar Door Wine Festival will showcase over 100 wineries from premium wine regions of South Australia.

This will be a great way for all those with a passion for Pinot, or are curious about Cabernet, or even serious about Shiraz to see the best regions all in one location. South Australian regions covered include; Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Padthaway and the Riverland.

South Australia produces most - and some of the best – of Australia’s wine. It boasts some of the oldest commercially producing vines in the world. It has a diverse range of regions and is considered to be the wine industry’s “powerhouse” state. Surprisingly we have never had a state wine celebration here. The Cellar Door Festival will be held in Adelaide over 3 days from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 February, 2011 and will be at the world-class venue the Adelaide Convention Centre.

Festival highlights include:
• Regional Wine and Food Trail - showcasing a ‘taste’ of each region... wander through at your leisure to chat with the winemakers, sample wines and regional produce!
• Top up your own cellar - purchase full bottles of wine from more than 100+ wineries and take advantage of some incredible show specials!
• Master Classes - interactive talks and tastings with iconic wine identities, local SA microbrewery tastings, wine and cheese matching... plus the launch of Wine Australia’s first consumer A+ Australian Wine Master Classes!
• A+ Australian Wine SA Varietal View - tasting area featuring grouped wine varietals from all across the state.
• Regional Farmer's Market - after sampling wines and produce on your walk through the themed regional areas, head over to enjoy regional tasting platters, barbeque plates and gourmet desserts!

Something's Fermenting in Barossa

Barossa has a new restaurant. Tuoi Do and Grant Dickson have opened FermentAsian on Murray Street in Tanunda. Chef Tuoi Do was born in remote Northern Vietnam, two hours drive north-west of Hanoi, with her love of cooking leading to the new venture.

FermentAsian is an exciting addition to the region's food scene, the menu comprised of traditional Vietnamese dishes balanced by creations inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine, all of which brim with local produce.

The wine menu is well worth a look too, the carefully planned list dotted with local Barossa wines and international examples. The wine list no doubt influenced by Grant and his wine industry connections, given his fulltime role with Barossa iconic winery Rockford Wines. For all the details head to www.fermentasian.com.au.

Henschke Winery of the Year

One of Rich & Lingering's key winery partners in Barossa, Henschke, has been named Winery of the Year in the inaugural The Age/Sydney Morning Herald Good Wine Guide Awards.

Wine critic and author of the Good Wine Guide, Nick Stock, said the quality of Henschke wines has never looked better. “Its hard to sum up just how precious an asset this winery is; Henschke are the custodians of not just Australia's, but the world’s most important vineyards,” he said.

The winery, established in 1868 by Johann Christian Henschke, is notable for pioneering single-vineyard wines in Australia and for the internationally renowned shiraz, Hill of Grace, in Eden Valley.

Fifth generation winemaker, Stephen Henschke and his viticulturist wife, Prue, said they were thrilled to be awarded this accolade recognising “the strength of their family heritage, the outstanding quality of their wines, their commitment to leading viticultural research and evolution, as well as their dedication to inspiring and nurturing the next generation”.

Prue Henschke said a priority for her and Stephen was their passion protecting the land, the environment and the future of their vineyards for the next generation, their three children, who are set to be the sixth generation of Henschkes in wine.

“Nourishing the land is a vital tool to connect healthy soils and healthy vines, to produce fruit with vivid varietal flavours and give the vines a buffer against climatic extremes. Sustainability in the vineyards has always been our goal — we aspire to tread as lightly as possible on our land,” she said.

Langtons Wine Classification

The Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V has grown in size and stature since its last classification in 2005, showing an increased demand for quality across the Australian wine category. Compiled using secondary wine market data, the Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine V indicates the added depth, awareness and movement in the top end Australian wine market and the support for premium Australian wine with domestic and international consumers alike.

The list is comprised of 58 Shiraz/blends, 40 Cabernet/blends, 10 Pinot Noirs and 15 white wines. Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz heads up the list and according to Langton’s founder and general manager Steward Langton, the dominance of Shiraz on the list, including five new “exceptional” entrants, reflects the variety’s reputation for longevity and style diversity.

The addition of Jeffrey Grosset Polish Hill Riesling to the highest ranking acknowledges and rewards a unique masterpiece. The total numbers have expanded from 101 to 123, it should be remembered that most of these wines are limited in production.

Andrew Caillard MW of Langtons said “If you take out Penfolds, an incredible auction market performer, the volume of wine produced is equivalent to less than the five Bordeaux first growths. It is no exaggeration to say that ultra-fine Australian wine is extremely limited and the rarity of pre-1990 vintages illustrates this.”

“Langton’s classified wines are Australia’s enduring grand marques. Individually they resonate a sense of place or voice of country; combined, they articulate Australia’s place in the world of fine wine.”

Langton’s Classification was first released in 1990 to create confidence in a fledgling Australian secondary wine market.

Classification comprises four rankings (Exceptional, Outstanding, Excellent and Distinguished) and for a wine to achieve a listing it must have traction on the secondary wine market. Auction prices, track record and volume of demand are all considered and the criteria for inclusion are objective and market-driven.

Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Tasting

Taste over 30 different Sauvignon Blanc wines at the 2010 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc launch event, Market Savvy, on Friday 15th October 2010.

As the kick off to the region’s ‘Spring into Whites’ month-long festival of events and activities celebrating the region’s white varietals at many cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, Market Savvy invites guests to experience what this vibrant region is most famous for - their Sauvignon Blanc.

As part of the festival, this year wine and food enthusiasts have the chance to win a personal cooking class with the South Australian winner of Masterchef 2010, Adam Liaw, simply by purchasing 6 or more bottles of Adelaide Hills wine in the month following the launch.

Visit us at the Central Market and be the first to experience the latest vintages.

Date: Friday 15 October 2010
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Location: Adelaide Central Market
Entry: No admission fee

Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc Tasting

Taste over 30 different Sauvignon Blanc wines at the 2010 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc launch event, Market Savvy, on Friday 15th October 2010.

As the kick off to the region’s ‘Spring into Whites’ month-long festival of events and activities celebrating the region’s white varietals at many cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills Wine Region, Market Savvy invites guests to experience what this vibrant region is most famous for - their Sauvignon Blanc.

As part of the festival, this year wine and food enthusiasts have the chance to win a personal cooking class with the South Australian winner of Masterchef 2010, Adam Liaw, simply by purchasing 6 or more bottles of Adelaide Hills wine in the month following the launch.

Visit us at the Central Market and be the first to experience the latest vintages.

Date: Friday 15 October 2010
Time: 4pm – 9pm
Location: Adelaide Central Market
Entry: No admission fee

Australian Wine - Every Wine has a Story

Celsius Restaurant and Bar

Following stints in world-famous restaurants interstate and overseas, one of Adelaide's most exciting young chefs, Ayhan Erkoc, has launched his own establishment, Celsius Restaurant and Bar, at 95 Gouger St in the heart of Adelaide. Joining Ayhan at Celsius is a dream team of chefs from establishments including Magill Estate, Auge and Sparrow.

Opened last month and already causing a huge stir among the State's foodies, Celsius reflects Ayhan's passion for local produce and classics with an experiential twist. You'll find dishes on the menu such as 'Hahndorf venison with celeriac, chocolate, wild garlic leaves and hazelnut', as well as 'bubbled pork crackling with yoghurt and fennel pollen'.

The Celsius team are so serious about sourcing the best local produce that they have established a dedicated farm in the Murraylands, with 70% of the restaurant's ingredients to come from their own 'kitchen garden'. Erkoc will also be devoting time to foraging expeditions – making the most of seasonal, sometimes-overlooked ingredients growing wild around Adelaide.

The Celsius menu caters for everyone and includes gourmet bar snacks for those who pop in for an after-work drink, plus tapas, an a la carte menu and an eight-course degustation with matched beverages for serious food lovers. Its wine list features local boutique wines and respected international varietals, plus beers, ciders, sake and spirits. Celsius is also seriously good value for money, look out for the three-course lunch special, a six-course degustation lunch special or the eight-course degustation dinner.

Celsius Restaurant and Bar 95 Gouger Street, Adelaide. Open for lunch: Wed-Fri and dinner: Tues-Sat Ph: 08 8231 6023

Adelaide Central Market

To Adelaide locals Adelaide is just a big country town. But that doesn't do justice to this city of astonishing diversity and quality ethnic cuisine. The Adelaide Central Market is a national treasure, and Adelaideans love of welcoming, adventurous dining and their pride in regional products make it a must-visit on ever food-lover's itinerary. The Adelaide Central Market is a part of how we live, and has been since 1869.

The indoor market is owned by the city council, is open to the public and is far more than a tourist attraction. Adelaideans are pretty savvy about food- we take an interest in how it's produced, where it's from. So knowing the vendors who make or sell it is part of the social fabric. We're a multi-cultural city, with the first German immigrants arriving shortly after the colony was established in 1836. This was followed by Russians, Czechs, Poles, and Hungarians. South Australia also has a considerable Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian population. This has had a significant impact upon the food of South Australia.

Over at Sevenhill Fine Foods, Mr. Waldeck, a Polish refugee, sells traditional tastes of his homeland, including makowiec, a poppy seed bread, and regional charcuterie like mettwurst and lachshinken. Sun Mi runs a small stall offering her Korean take on made-to-order sushi, while Tony O'Connell of O'Connell's Quality Meats specializes in local product, such as lamb. O'Connell, 52, started in his family's shop at 15, and treats his customers like relatives.

At Wild Oz, you can buy native game such as emu, kangaroo, and wallaby, and feral animals eg wild pig and goat. A number of shops sell regional and indigenous "bush tucker" ingredients such as lemon myrtle, wattleseed, and quandong jam, and flaky, red, Murray River salt. House of Organic sells pristine, sustainably-grown Australian produce: Mildura asparagus, Adelaide Hills beurre bosc pears, kipfler potatoes.

At dough!, Turkish pide and Lebanese flatbread compete for space with quiche, pastry, and locally-made, whole, glaceed figs, clementines, and kumquats, and plump, dried muscatel grapes from Barossa Valley vineyards. Across the aisle is one of my favourite at The Smelly Cheese Shop, stocked to capacity with imported and Australian artisan cheeses and housemade condiments such as skordalia, oil-packed, dried tomatoes, marinated bocconcini, and other picnic and cheeseboard items.

With such a diversity of styles and broad range of items Adelaide Central Market has to be on your list of foodie things to do when next in Adelaide.

Cheeseaholics Over-indulge at Cheesefest 2010

Coles has joined CheeseFest as the major sponsor for 2010. CheeseFest is a celebration of Australian cheeses, taking place Sunday 17 October 2010 at Rymill Park. A highlight on the South Australian calendar, Coles CheeseFest 2010 is set to be the biggest and best cheese festival yet.

Owner of Woodside Cheese Wrights, Kris Lloyd is excited Coles has come on board as a major sponsor of CheeseFest. “Australia’s specialty cheese making industry is of an incredibly high standard, and events like this really help bring the hard working cheese specialists into the limelight they deserve,” Ms Lloyd said.

Visitors to CheeseFest can taste the finest specialty cheeses, meet the cheese makers, enjoy music and entertainment, gourmet food and wine and soak up the atmosphere.Visit the picnic area on the day and you can sample delicious cheese and accompaniments, and relax with friends.

The day at Rymill Park, located in Adelaide’s east end will be filled with activities and rides for kids plus celebrity chefs such as Simon Bryant and Michael Angelakis providing cooking demonstrations for the adults.

More details http://www.southaustralia.com/9005877.aspx

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Barossa Gourmet Weekend 2010

Set your taste buds free with a weekend of indulgence in one of world's best wine regions. Each of the cellar doors taking part in this event will be serving up a fine dining experience matched with premium wines and the smooth sounds of live music. NAB Barossa Gourmet Weekend is a fantastic opportunity to indulge in food, wine and music and famous hospitality in the beautiful Barossa. Here is just a small snapshot of some fabulous events to tantalise your gourmet tastebuds!

Nothing quite starts the day like a glass of Sparkling Merlot, but you’ll need something to go with that, so head to fun loving Gibson Wines for a hearty country breakfast to stand you in good stead for the day ahead. Stay on a while, because twice cooked pork belly is a bit of a Barossa favourite and so is visiting acoustic funk bank Cousin Leonard, who will provide a great backdrop to good food and good wine in an authentic setting. Gibson Wines, Willows Road, Light Pass.

In Angaston, The Magnificent 7, Wine Guns from the West will be showcasing non cellar door brands and those whose wines are not readily available, such as Tscharke, Russell Wines, Diggers Bluff, Jamabro, David Franz, Soul Growers and Milhinch Seize the Day Wines. The tasting will be extensive but it’s still a great place to bring the kids. The lawns at family friendly restaurant SA Company Store will provide a great space to race around and face painting and crazy hair are also on offer.

If your looking for a all inclusive NAB Barossa Gourmet Experience, then join the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort an Langmeil Wines for their annual NAB Gourmet Weekend 5 course degustation dinner. Novotel Barossa Valley Resort's Executive Chef, James Dooley and Langmeil Wines Chief Winemaker, Paul Lindner will host you for an experiential night of delicious Barossa cuisine.
Package includes
• 5 course degustation dinner with a glass of Langmeil Wine to match each course for two people
• Overnight accommodation for two people in a standard studio room
• Full buffet breakfast in Harry’s Restaurant for two people the following morning
Saturday 21st August 2010 in Harry’s Restaurant 6pm until 11pm - All for $499 per night per couple! (Terms and conditions apply)
Bookings essential: Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, Golf Links Road, Rowland Flat 08 8524 0000

There are many more fabulous cellar doors and wineries hosting events to remember! Full details on the program, are available on the website www.barossagourmetweekend.com.au.

Blaufrankish at Hahndorf Hill

Hahndorf Hill Winery's new-wave red wine – the Blaufränkisch 2008 – will be released at the Adelaide Hills Winter Reds festival on 24 and 25th July 2010.

Their Blaufränkisch 2008 has already won a Gold Medal at the 2010 International Cool Climate Wine Show, as well as being awarded Top of Class in the 2010 Australian Boutique Wine Awards. Also known as Lemberger in Germany, this varietal is only grown in Australia at their Hahndorf vineyard!

At the Winter Reds festival they will also be conducting a vertical tasting of Shiraz and presenting a special ChocoVino and Shiraz experience. For more information on Hahndorf Hill Winery's participation in the Winter Reds festival, visit the Adelaide Hills Wine Region website.

Chester Osborn Pine's for Wine

Normally at this time of year Chester Osborn would be putting his highly trained taste buds to work for South Australia's d'Arenberg winery. But Mr Osborn, chief winemaker at the McLaren Vale winery, south of Adelaide, has been sidelined from sipping duties by a mystery reaction to pine nuts that makes everything taste metallic.

Find out about the impact on d'Arenberg with the full story in The Australian.

Adelaide Hills Wine Expo

On July 11 2010 as part of the Winter Reds event for Adelaide Hills Wine Region, enjoy a day of fabulous wine & produce at the Arkaba hotel. Taste wines from over 50 wineries from arguably one of the best cool climate wine regions’ in the world.

Some of our favourite producers will be attending, including; Henschke, Fox Gordon, Shaw & Smith, and The Lane. Also available will be a range of wine master classes covering Sparkling wines, alternative varieties and Pinot Noir.

Venue Arkaba Hotel, 150 Glen Osmond Rd, Fullarton
Time 11am - 4pm, 11 July
Price $20pp including Spiegelau glass

T 08 8338 1100
E tania@arkabahotel.com.au

Degustion Barossa 2010

You are invited to join "Degustation Barossa" SALA 2010, showcasing the best art, wine and food the Barossa has to offer on Friday July 30th 2010. This event will be part of the SALA Festival which celebrates South Australia's living artists.

A limited number of tickets are now on sale for $60 pp. Included in the ticket price is a glass of wine, a course of food and exclusive first access for purchase to the exhibitions at each of the six wineries on the trail.

Participating wineries include St Hallet Wines, Kabminye Wines, Turkey Flat Vineyards, Peter Lehmann Wines, Whistler, and Hentley Farm.

For more details or to purchase your ticket please contact: Peter Lehmann wines on 08 8563 2100.

Adelaide Hills Winter Reds in July

In winter the mists roll through the bare vines as the pruners prepare for another year. Visit the Adelaide Hills during July at its most intimate and mysterious. Enjoy a glass of award winning red wine from this cool climate region; sensuous Pinot Noir, elegant food friendly Shiraz, and exciting new Italian and Spanish Varietals.

Some of our favourite producers will be involved, such as; Shaw & Smith, Petaluma, Hahndorf Hill, and Lobethal Road. Over the month of July 2010 there will be a range of indulgent wine events, including

• Taste award winning red wines
• Celebrate new releases
• Discover old vintages
• Meet the winemakers
• Winery lunches & dinners
• Wine masterclasses

The full program is available from Adelaide Hills Wine Region.

South Australian 2010 Vintage

Rain and cool weather have favoured the 2010 vintage in South Australia – in contrast to the heat and fire of last year. We've seen slower, steady ripening. It's been a much more controlled and regular vintage - a bit like 2005.

Louise Rose, head winemaker at Yalumba in the Barossa Valley said quantity was down but not excessively so, and the quality of the wines looked 'extremely strong across the board' in all regions. 'Standouts include Eden Valley Riesling and Barossa Shiraz. We had the best rains in the Barossa for five years, filling up the soils and setting up the vines for the coming season.'

Winemakers are reporting excellent quality in all varietals. 'All the crops appear balanced and the red varieties are hugely exciting,' according to Chester Osborn at d'Arenberg, in McLaren Vale and the Adelaide Hills. 'The skins are very thick and dark with a good level of tannin. Early picked Shiraz is peppery with elegance and lots of length. Cabernet shows outstanding varietal character and tannin and, despite low crop levels, Grenache is strong with loose clusters producing dark, concentrated wines with nearly all berries being shrivel free.' Chester said.

There was good acid development in grapes – and in a lot of fruit achieved ripeness without high sugar. Some rain during the vintage didn't hurt as the soil soaked up water like a sponge, but didn’t really get into the fruit. Further detailed assessment of the 2010 vintage will be provided as our tastings continue around South Australia’s premium wine regions.

Tasting Australia 2010 menu

A rich and lingering menu of more than 40 associated events will be on offer for all to experience during Tasting Australia. Here is just a taste of what the associated events program has to offer:

LungoVista - Chianti Classico at Longview Vineyard Friday 30 April; 12:30pm; Longview Vineyard, Macclesfield
Stunning new dishes from Chianti Classico chef Tobias Gush paired with award winning wines from Longview Vineyard will make this lunch a most sought after event.Cost: $150 per ticket including bus transportation to and from Adelaide where requested

Dinner with Ben O'Donoghue - Friday 30 April; 7:00pm; Enoteca, Adelaide
For chef and television presenter Ben O'Donoghue, cooking is a passion and a reflex, it's something he's done since childhood and it never ceases to give him pleasure or stimulate his imagination. He unequivocally believes that food should be simple and distinctive, technically and culturally correct. Cost: $155 per person

The McLaren Vale Olive Story - Saturday 1 May; 11:00am; The Producers, McLaren Vale
Celebrate McLaren Vales Olive Harvest, visit the olive grove, gain hands-on experience of olive picking and oil pressing, learn all about Oil in a hosted Olive Oil tasting, join in our shared Mediterranean lunch full of the good oil. Hear stories on the history of oil in our region and find out what makes a great oil. Cost: $140 per person

The Smelly Cheese Shop presents - The True Taste of Maturity Wednesday 5 May; 6:00pm; Say Cheese, Adelaide
Guests will be treated to a structured, educational tasting by a Master Affineur to experience firsthand the difference in taste between young and expertly matured cheese. This exciting tasting will be followed by an exclusive tour of the Maturing Room, glass of wine and nibbles.
Cost: $75 per person

Barossa Pizza Top 10 in World

The 'smokey on thin crust' pizza from the Barossa's 40s Café in Angaston has been named the seventh best pizza on earth at the World Pizza Competition in Las Vegas. 40s Café owner and chef Damon de Ruiter cooked off against 120 competitors over three days, taking his critical smoked Barossa meat toppings with him. Damon was invited to the world championships after taking out the national title last September.

Barossa 2010 Vintage Declaration

The Barons of Barossa held their annual Declaration of Vintage ceremony on Sunday, which included the traditional blessing of the 2010 grapes by Pastor David Gogoll and a colourful procession of Barons in full regalia.

Yalumba winemaker Louisa Rose presented an enthusiastic forecast on the 2010 vintage. “The Barossa experienced the best rains in five years in late winter and spring which were very welcome,” she said. “Riesling vines in the Eden Valley are well set, balanced and very healthy – and the cool nights are causing the vines to hold their acid and aromatics while the sunny days mean flavours and sugars are increasing quickly.

“Crops of Grenache are looking well below average in response to challenges over the flowering period, but indications are that they will have good character. Shiraz and Cabernet are beautifully balanced with strong early colours and flavours.

“We are seeing an evenness of ripening on these reds which is typically indicative of a high quality year.”

Maggie Beer is Senior Australian of the Year

When you think of great Australian wine making districts, the Barossa instantly springs to mind. And when you think of Barossa legends, Maggie Beer is one of the greatest.


Maggie was recently crowned Senior Australian of the Year. She was the star of ABC television's popular The Cook and the Chef shows. Maggie began her interest in food in 1973 when she moved to the Barossa to breed pheasants and grow grapes with husband Colin. With seven books and numerous awards to her name, Maggie is famous for her innovative recipes and produce such as preserved lemons, quince pastes, oils, nuts, spices and even ice cream.

Gluttony at Adelaide Fringe

Gluttony will be two days and nights of outstanding food and wine on the fringe of the city in leafy Rymill Park. During the Adelaide Fringe picnic on the lawn and groove to the laid back sounds on offer while feasting on sumptuous food & wine from some of South Australia’s finest regional producers. A cool inner city oasis by day, a vibrant outdoor lounge bar by night. This will be a definite highlight of the Adelaide Fringe opening weekend, on Saturday the 21st and Sunday the 22nd of February 2010.

A hip and sophisticated cultural offering, Gluttony will be an annual platform for showcasing food and wine producers and restaurants from across regional South Australia during Adelaide Fringe. Together with some of the best in film and Fringe acts from Australia and abroad, this will be a true gastronomic celebration. For further details and bookings please visit the Gluttony Website.

Adelaide Hills Farmers Market

The newly opened Adelaide Hills Farmers Market brings together a wide range of goods grown in the healthy, pollution free environs of the Adelaide Hills. Located behind the exquisite Auchendorrach centre at Mt Barker, the food is fresh, the people friendly and your meals will be tasty and healthy. The Adelaide Hills Farmers Market is open every Saturday morning from 8am to 12 midday.

The Adelaide Hills Farmers Market is a 'true farmers market' - it is a food only market that specialises in authentic, regional, fresh and seasonal product. The farmers market offers a range of vegetables, herbs, fruit, nuts, seeds and any product that can be grown or is made from primary products. In the true sense of a farmers market the Adelaide Hills Farmers Market does not allow products that have been genetically modified, are out of season, or travel significant ‘food miles’ from outside of Adelaide HIlls.

At present approximately 50 stall holders can supply visitors with fresh produce, flowers, plants, bread, eggs, meat and smallgoods, wine, juices, jams, condiments and chutneys, fresh pasta, olive oil and honey and anything else that is either grown or produced in the region. There is freshly ground coffee wafting across the market, hot food, and a terrific selection of vegetarian food offerings. The smells, colour and textures of the food are rich and lingering at this friendly country farmers market and already has a great local following. More information:

Tasting Australia 2010

Tasting Australia will return to Adelaide in May 2010. It is held every two years in Adelaide to celebrate the very best Australia has to offer in food, wine and beer. Tasting Australia is designed for the nation's food and hospitality industry, local and international media and the passionate public.

British TV personalities, including a Ladette to Lady teacher, are among the international celebrities who will take part in Adelaide's Tasting Australia. Ladette to Lady cookery teacher Rosemary Shrager also presents Rosemary Shrager's School for Cooks. Italian chef and cookery writer Antonio Carluccio will make his third visit to the event.

The international celebrities will join a smorgasbord of Australian chefs, writers and TV presenters, including Maeve O'Meara, Stephanie Alexander and Simon Bryant.

Tasting Australia began 11 years ago to gain further worldwide recognition for South Australia as a food and wine centre of excellence. The past Tasting Australia was in 2007 but a change from spring to autumn means a stretch until 2010 for the next one, which runs from April 29 to May 6. The full program for Tasting Australia 2010 has been unveiled, and will include at least 40 public events for food, wine and beer lovers.

On the May 1-2 weekend a free event (the BankSA Feast for the Senses) will take over Elder Park on the banks of the Torrens River. This will include cooking shows and a chance for young chefs to work with the stars. Tasting Australia offers everyone who simply loves good food and wine the opportunity to enjoy the very best in South Australia while mixing with some of the world's culinary icons.

Rich & Lingering will be providing private tours for visitors, so they can get out into the regions to experience the best of the state and take full advantage of their visit to Tasting Australia.

Lance Armstrong's Wine Tour Down Under

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong helped expose five South Australian wine regions to a daily audience of more than 200 million people last week as viewers from around the world watched coverage of the Tour Down Under. The cycling race, which is the first event of the year on the International Union of Cyclists (ICU) Pro Tour calendar, attracted global television coverage which featured many South Australian wine regions.

The tour began with a Clare to Barossa Valley stage, traversed the Adelaide Hills on three days and passed through Langhorne Creek with the penultimate stage of Saturday covering McLaren Vale. Organisers estimate that almost one million people lined the route.

Leading industry figures have welcomed the international coverage, saying that the cycling event was helping to recognise Australia's wine regions. 'One of the big criticisms of Australian wine is that it's not wine from a place,' said the chairman of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association, Dudley Brown. 'We're now getting feedback from around the world from people who've seen the region.'

The Tour Down Under has attracted visitors from all over Australia and the rest of the world. Cycling being the main drawcard, (with Lance Armstrong, Cadel Evans, and many more international stars attending) along with South Australia's sensational food and wine, and diverse scenery.

Shaw & Smith's Michael Hill Smith said the event reaffirmed the face of Australia as a wine producer with very attractive wine regions. Launched 12 years ago, the event gained ICU status last year when the US's Lance Armstrong used it to start a comeback to cycling.

The Tour Down Under was won by Andre Greipel from team HTC Columbia . Lance Armstrong (Radioshack) came 25th in the General Classification, and sensational newcomer Arthur Vichot (Francaise de Jeux) came 48th.

Parker rates Grange

Penfolds Grange has again been recognised as one of the world's greatest wines, with influential US critic Robert Parker awarding its latest vintage a score of 99 out of 100. Parker was credited with lifting Grange to superstar status when he named the 1990 vintage the greatest red in the world, but even that wine was given only 94 points.

The 99 points he awarded to the latest release, the 2004 vintage, has been beaten only once -- by the 1976 vintage -- and equalled only by the 1986. "It will ultimately be seen as one of the greatest vintages of Grange," Parker wrote in his review of the 2004.

Andrew Caillard, auctioneer with wine auction house Langton's, said that although Parker was no longer as influential as he was during the 1990s, his seal of approval had the power to boost demand and therefore the price. "Grange is the most important Australian wine at auction and any of these types of endorsements just underpin its performance," Mr Caillard said.

Rich & Lingering can incorporate a Taste of Grange into their private tours in Barossa Valley. The current release of Grange 2004, can be enjoyed along with other iconic Penfolds lables, such as RWT and Bin707.