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Adelaide Hills Wineries Break With Tradition At Oakbank This Easter

For the first time in its 139 year history, the Oakbank Racing Club will pour exclusively Adelaide Hills produced wines at its famed Easter Race event – the biggest picnic race meeting in the world.

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For the first time in its 139 year history, the Oakbank Racing Club will pour exclusively Adelaide Hills produced wines at its famed Easter Race event – the biggest picnic race meeting in the world.
In an approach led by Sidewood (who also led the initiative to serve Adelaide Hills wines at the Strathalbyn Cup in January), Golding and Somerled wines have teamed up to ensure the biggest event on the Adelaide Hills calendar serves wines made within kilometres of the race track.
The three wineries will have bars set up in the famous Paddock area as well as sell bottles and glasses of wine from bars around the venue.
“We have such a rich wine offering in this region, we want to really look at integrating Adelaide Hills events with regional wines.  Our first foray into this area of collaboration was the Strathalbyn Cup and now we’re thrilled to be involved with the biggest event in the Hills, Easter at Oakbank.  On average, 60,000 people attend this iconic event which presents an amazing opportunity for us to showcase our award winning wines” said Owen Inglis, owner Sidewood Estate.
Darren Golding concurred, “we are thrilled to be involved in this opportunity. As third generation Hills growers it is exciting for our family’s wine brand to be involved in such a famed race meeting, taking place in our own back yard. We are progressive in our outlook and welcome changes like this to Adelaide Hills events where regional producers are supported and celebrated”.
Somerled, owned by the Moody family (est 2001) has a close connection with Oakbank as its logo suggests.  The grandfather of winemaker Rob Moody (who previously worked with Penfolds and Wynns) rode a racehorse called Somerled to victory at the 1908 Oakbank Picnic Races. He won the Amateur Steeplechase by 20 lengths, and went to WW1 (never to return) a few years after.   In his memory, many of their varieties have Oakbank inspired names such as Steeplechase Chardonnay and the Picnic Races Tempranillo – both of which will be poured at Oakbank this year.
Lucy Moody from Somerled said “Oakbank is very much the heartland of Somerled, and the Moody’s are pretty thrilled to be working alongside Sidewood & Golding, and getting to know and work with the ORC this Easter”
Owen Inglis’ affiliation with racing and horses is long and prestigious extending throughout his family back to his grandfather who was one of the elite group of 300 voting members of the Hong Kong Jockey club.  Owen’s parents are successful race-horse owners as is Owen who currently has 40 horses (racing, breeding and retired) currently stabled at his Oakbank property.
“We’re excited to have these three innovative and progressive businesses involved with the Oakbank Racing Club” said ORC’s Chris Biggs.  “The Adelaide Hills has a fantastic reputation for producing some of the finest wines in the country and with these wineries on our doorstep, we’re happy to break with tradition and welcome them to our event.”

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