Events

Champagne Masterclass

- Alex 1 Comment

Champagne
photo by Tiny Tall

date:  31 August 2011

A couple of weeks ago the Champagne Bureau hosted its annual Adelaide masterclass.  Every year, the Bureau runs a series of classes throughout Australia to promote Champagne.  Now, you probably think that Champagne doesn’t really need any promoting but then again, how many times have you heard someone refer to their glass of Champagne when it turns out to be anything from a bargain basement wine to a premium Australian sparkling?

This is actually one of my (many) pet hates.  It sets my teeth on edge.  For a start, if it’s a premium Australian sparkling, we don’t need to gussy it up and call it “Champagne” – it’s good enough to stand on its own, for exactly what it is.  And if it’s a cheapie (and the cheapest I could find on a well known national retailer’s website was around $4 a bottle) then it’s nothing short of devaluing the Champagne brand.

Champagne is sparkling wine that comes from a very particular area of France.  And it’s not just a very particular area – it’s a very particular set of vineyards in that area.  And the wine has to be made in a very particular way.  I’m not going to go into the details – for many people that would be boring, verging on tedious.  Just trust me – if it doesn’t say Champagne on the bottle, it’s not Champagne.

Rant over.

The masterclass was held at Apothecary 1878 on Hindley Street and the speakers for the session were James Smith, Jane Bromley and Dr Patrick Iland, all previous winners of the Vin de Champagne Award.  The ten wines tasted were broken into four brackets:  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rosés and Rare.

As always, it was really interesting to line up ten different wines and have the opportunity to compare them. Given the expense associated with Champagne, this is a very thing (for me, at least). At my end of the table, the first wine of the Pinot bracket caused plenty of discussion. It was the André Beaufort Grand Cru Ambonnay Brut 2004. It was a very savoury, spicy wine with a lot going on that perhaps you might not typically associate with Champagne. There was debate about whether or not the wine was faulty and whether or not it was best looked at as a wine first, Champagne second or vice versa. I actually really enjoyed the spiciness but certainly recognise that this is atypical and may not be everyone’s cup of tea.

The Rosé bracket was also a real eye opener. Rosé Champagnes tend to be more expensive than their white counterparts and I rarely drink them. The Louis Roederer 2006 and Veuve Clicquot 2004 wines were my favourites, with more complexity than the one non vintage rosé that we tried and some very pronounced strawberries and cream type flavours.

We wrapped up with the Mumm Cuvée René Lalou 1999. A subtle wine but with a ton of complexity – which you’d hope for as it had spent 10 years on lees. Of course, if you can find this wine in Australia you can expect to pay in excess of $300 for the privilege …

The sole downer of the night was that the manpower required to pour 10 Champagnes for 30-40 people had been grossly underestimated. The wines were very slow in coming out which really hampered the flow of presentation and discussion. This meant the event ran over time which caused a few participants logistical issues (the lady next to me had to rush off because the car park was closing!).

Wines tasted (in order):
Henriot Blanc de Blancs NV
Pascal Doquet Grand Cru le Mesnil sur Oger Blanc de Blancs NV
André Beaufort Grand Cru Ambonnay Brut 2004
Veuve A Devaux Cuvée D NV
Veuve A Devaux Blanc de Noirs NV
Louis Roederer Rosé 2006
Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé NV
Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé 2004
Pol Roger Brut Rosé 2000
GH Mumm Cuvée R Lalou 1999

Hendricks Gin

- Alex Leave a comment

DSC00119

Disclaimer: Hendricks‘ PR people invited me along to the Courtship Clinic and I received a Hendricks gift bag. I didn’t plan to post about this but had such fun, I couldn’t not!

Over the weekend Hendricks Gin held its final “Refined Courtship Clinic” here in Adelaide. The pop-up clinic had already visited Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and couldn’t have chosen a better weekend to open its doors at the end of Rundle Street.

Pop ups don’t seem to be such a big thing in Adelaide (or is that even Australia?) but Hendricks used this as a very natty piece of promotion. Patrons were lured in with the promise of a complimentary G&T (really, what’s not to like?) and if you were so inclined you could participate in a session where you could learn the language of fans and other hints on etiquette and courting from the Victorian age.

I, however, was quite happy to sit on the lovely red sofa, enjoy my G&T (served in a tea cup, no less – this is a gem of an idea which I plan to exploit in future!) and have a chat with a couple of other patrons.

Hendricks gin is lovely (I am an enthusiastic gin drinker in warm weather). It’s only been available in Australia this year but I had it quite a few times when I lived in England. I don’t want to get too technical, but gin is flavoured by a mix of what is known as ‘botanicals’ (that’s plants and herbs, to you and me). However, for it to be gin, it must be juniper dominant. Hendricks adds the twist of including cucumber and rose in the mix, making it more floral than other gins. At the clinic, the G&T was served with a slice of cucumber and crushed ice (another idea I’ll be appropriating – so much more civilised than cubes!).

Unfortunately, the clinic has finished its journey around Australia. This means you will have to check out Hendricks at your favourite bar, or dive in and splash out on a whole bottle.

Good Food and Wine Show

- Alex 2 Comments

 

 

Friday week ago I was out in the sun enjoying some nibbles and chatting to Amanda from Lambs’ Ears and Honey, as a guest at the launch of the Adelaide incarnation of the Good Food and Wine Show.

The afternoon began in Rundle Mall, under the canopy at Gawler Place, where we sampled tasty tidbits from South Australian producers such as Beerenberg, Cocolat, Barossa Fine Foods and Carême. I was particularly taken with the Carême chicken pithivier because it’s never occurred to me to make a savoury one. Actually, it’s never occurred to me to make one because my mum makes an awesome traditional one, with a frangipane filling … anyway, that’s an idea to keep stashed away for future reference.

After a bit of banter in the open air, we headed to the Hotel Richmond for drinks and dessert and the launch proper (that’s the speeches!). Alastair McLeod (of Brett’s Wharf in Brisbane, and of Ready, Steady, Cook fame) did the honours and there was a run through of the major sponsors as well as the celebrity chefs who will be present – the star billing this year going to Ainsley Harriott*.

The Good Food & Wine Show also features wine and cheese classes if you fancy something away from the celebrity chefs.

This year’s show runs from 7-9 October at the Showground. Tickets are $20 (that doesn’t include entry ot the Reidel Decanter Bar, which is $55 but does include show entry). I do have 5 vouchers for $5 off entry which I’m happy to post out to the first 5 commenters who have managed to read this far!

* Even if you’re not a fan of his on-screen persona, Harriott’s recipes tend to be very reliable. They’re usually quick, easy and tasty. I’m a fan!