The Clare Valley SCA Gourmet Week, Australia’s premier food and wine festival, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The festival, renowned for showcasing the best of Clare Valley’s culinary and viticultural offerings, has announced a program filled with over 85 events, honouring this significant milestone.
Nick Ryan, Gourmet Ambassador and one of Australia’s leading wine writers, expressed his admiration for the festival and the Clare Valley region. “I spend my life travelling to the greatest wine regions across the globe, and there is only one that I choose to call home. The Clare Valley is quintessentially Australian and a special part of the world. The wineries here consistently deliver phenomenal wine and Gourmet Week is a great opportunity to experience everything this region has to offer, and I can guarantee you will have a great time doing it,” he said.
The festival’s 10-day program from 17th to 26th May is divided into three main parts: Festival Weekend, Breathe It In, and Land of the Long Lunch. Each segment offers a unique way to experience the festival, catering to those who wish to attend for a day, a weekend, or the entire week.
Festival Weekend starts the celebrations with new events alongside returning favourites. Highlights include Fire and Wines at Skillogalee Estate, featuring a feast prepared by Africola Sound System’s Duncan Welgemoed, and Sip, Savour, Celebrate at Pikes Wines’ Slate Restaurant, which offers a five-course journey through the past four decades of Gourmet. Another key event is the official 50th birthday party for Knappstein Wines, the VinoVibe Fest, promising a blend of flavours, music, and festive atmosphere.
Midweek events focus on wine education and appreciation, featuring back vintage and hard-to-find wines. Notable events include Campfire Conversations with Winemaker Will Shields at Sevenhill Cellars and Explore Kilikanoon Shiraz, an opportunity to compare different Shiraz bottles.
The week concludes with The Land of the Long Lunch, offering extended lunches that showcase regional produce and wine in collaboration with local and interstate food personalities. Noteworthy events include the Knappstein Wines Vineyard Long Lunch and the Burning of the Barrels at Eldredge Wines, providing a fitting end to the festival with an epic bonfire and gourmet BBQ.
This year’s festival coincides with the 50th anniversaries of Knappstein Wines and Mitchell Wines, adding an extra layer of celebration. A Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at O’Leary Walker Wines will induct new members into the Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame, recognising contributions to the region’s wine industry.
Supported by principal partner Southern Cross Austereo and other sponsors, the festival aims to offer an accessible and enriching experience for visitors. Shuttle buses will link festival events, facilitating easy travel throughout the region.
For detailed information and to plan your visit, the festival’s website here.
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