Food Drink

10 Reasons Why Food And Wine Lovers Shouldn’t Miss Cellar Door Fest

If you love gin, cheese, wine, food and free tastings, we’ve got some incredible reasons why you shouldn’t miss this weekend’s Cellar Door Fest.

If you love gin, cheese, wine, food and free tastings, we’ve got some incredible reasons why you shouldn’t miss this weekend’s Cellar Door Fest.

Held right in the city at the Adelaide Convention Centre from Friday March 15 – Sunday March 17, Cellar Door Fest is three big days with some of South Australia’s top wine, beers, spirits and food producers all in the one place.

Here are 10 reasons you should make it a must-do this weekend:

1. Tastings galore

Get that tasting glass ready. You can meet, taste and discover 150 of South Australia’s finest producers – all in the one place. This year’s event has producers from across 17 regions, including Clare Valley, Riverland, Coonawarra and Limestone Coast. You can also discover something new at the Emerging Winemakers Zone, or some of the state’s emerging craft brewers and distillers in the Wintulichs Beer Garden and the Distillery District.

2. Jacob’s Creek Long Table Dining

Kick off Cellar Door Fest on Friday night with the Jacob’s Creek Long Table Dinner. Hosted by Jacob’s Creek red winemaker Ben Thoman, the three-course menu is paired with the winery’s limited release range and cellar door wines. Get tickets here.

3. Cheese, cheese and more cheese

Cheese lovers are more than catered for with SA favourites Udder Delights and Woodside Cheese Wrights both exhibiting, plus Milkless’ hand crafted vegan cheeses. There’s also an exclusive Cheese + Wine masterclass on Sunday from 2pm, where you can learn all about pairing cheese and wine (and taste plenty of both in the process).

4. Free Master Classes

Visit the Great Wine Capitals Discovery Space and experience why Adelaide is ranked alongside some of the best wine growing regions in the world. They’re shining a spotlight on some of the Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Award winners, with free masterclasses and tastings from places like Chapel Hill Winery, Whistling Kite Wines, Penfolds, d’Arenberg, Elderton and Hentley Farm Wines.

5. Gin Blending

Join Settlers Spirits’ owner and head distiller Rowland Short on Saturday at 2pm for an interactive lesson in blending your own gin. Learn all about the different tastes, flavours and combinations of the 12 different botanicals used by Settlers Spirits while creating your own unique gin recipes – and you’ll leave the event with a 200ml bottle of your own creation.

6. Cooking demos in Jessie’s Kitchen

Swing by Jessie’s Kitchen on Saturday and Sunday for a series of free, live cooking demonstrations. Hosted by the talented Jessie Spiby, the stage will be jam-packed with local producers sampling, spruiking and demonstrating their delicious products, and you can learn how to whip up some unique dishes at home.

7. Riedel Sensory Workshops

Did you know that the shape and size of your glass can impact your wine experience? Join Riedel for a sensory workshop on Saturday or Sunday to learn how to increase flavour and aroma, and bring even more enjoyment to your favourite bottles. You’ll leave with four glasses from Riedel’s Extreme range valued at $120.

8.     Dude Food in the Beer Garden

Join Dougal McFuzzlebutt from McFuzzlebutt’s Manchen and a swag of legendary lads in the Wintulichs Beer Garden on Saturday and Sunday for an arvo of brews and chews, perfect pairs, and free lessons in grilling and searing as they create burgers, tacos, hot dogs, steaks and more. And don’t forget Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day. Swap the Guinness for some of SA’s best craft brews and celebrate in the Wintulichs Beer Garden.

9. Wine Blending 

Try your hand at winemaking at an exclusive pinot noir blending master class hosted by Tomich Wines on Sunday. In the hands-on experience, you’ll learn how winemakers blend batches behind the scenes, the importance of fermentation and oak ageing and unlock the secret behind some of Adelaide Hills’ best rated wines, while you blend your own Pinot Noir from different barrel samples.

10. Jump aboard the Festival Bus

And if you need to take time out, jump aboard the double-decker Festival Bus, which will be parked at the heart of the festival and provide a birds’ eye view of all the action. Enjoy a cheese plate and glass of wine or beer while you decide which region to visit next.

Cellar Door Fest is on March 15-17. Grab your tickets online at cellardoorfestival.com or at the door.

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