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Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend Turns 30!

More than 5,000 visitors are expected to flock to the region to commemorate this milestone and enjoy award-winning wines, sensational entertainment and delicious regional food.

Clare Gourmet Weekend South Australia Saturday 19th May 2012

South Australia’s Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend will celebrate its 30th Anniversary in 2014, declaring it Australia’s oldest Food and Wine Festival. More than 5,000 visitors are expected to flock to the region to commemorate this milestone and enjoy award-winning wines, sensational entertainment and delicious regional food.

The 2014 Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend will be held over the evening of Friday 16 May, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 2014, and will feature a variety of new additions and special events to the program. In particular, the ‘Black Tie & PearlsGala Dinner incorporating the inaugural ‘Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame’ Awards will kick-start the weekend on Friday 16 May 2014, at the Clare Showgrounds at 7.00pm.

As pearls are associated with 30-year anniversaries, and pearls come from oysters, and oysters are perfectly matched to the region’s most renowned wine variety Riesling, the theme for this year’s event is; ‘the Clare Valley, the Pearl of the Australian Wine Industry”.

Highlights for the 30-year event continue with the addition of The Gourmet Hub, to be located at the Clare Showgrounds throughout the weekend, plus a Twilight Market to launch the event on the evening of Anzac Day, Friday 25 April 2014, also at the Clare Showgrounds.

Chair of the Clare Valley Winemakers Incorporated, Neil Paulett said the 2014 Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend will be a memorable occasion, and one that is not to be missed.

“As we celebrate 30 years in 2014, this event will be particularly special,” Neil said. “Just like the 1984 Gourmet Weekend, which was created to celebrate the end of vintage, we will showcase the very best the region has to offer, with exceptional wines, culinary delights, heritage charm and spectacular entertainment. We also have some unique events on the program, including the inaugural ‘Black Tie & Pearls’ Gala Dinner incorporating the “Clare Valley Wine Hall of Fame Awards,” he said.

South Australian acclaimed chef, Simon Bryant will be the official Gourmet Weekend Ambassador for the event, directing the Black Tie & Pearls Gala Dinner menu, participating in cooking demonstrations, and visiting wineries throughout the weekend.

Simon recently stated; “Clare is a picturesque, authentic wine region and the Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend is a wonderful draw card on the calendar. It is also the oldest festival of its type in Australia and 30 years is such an important milestone. To be offered the opportunity to cook at the Black Tie & Pearls Gala Dinner is both slightly terrifying and a privilege, but the pressure of expectation is something I’ve grown accustomed to.”

Clare Valley Winemakers Incorporated Executive Officer Tania Matz said there will be more than 30 wineries involved in the 2014 event, plus a number of smaller special events for visitors to enjoy.

“We are aiming to make this the best Gourmet Weekend ever, with a large number of wineries getting behind the occasion,” Tania said.

“The festival offers visitors the chance to enjoy the best in wine, food, entertainment and hospitality the region has to offer, plus the opportunity to meet the winemakers and learn first-hand what makes our wines and the region so unique.”

The 2014 Clare Valley Gourmet Weekend will be held on Saturday 17- Sunday 18 May 2014, with the ‘Black Tie & Pearls’ Gala Dinner on Friday 16 May 2014. For buses and transport information, programs, and additional information, please visit the website here.

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