Images: The Smelly Cheese Co. by Henry Trumble
Champagne and cheese? Yes please! This December The Smelly Cheese Co. is teaming up with premium beverage curators Mind Spirits & Co. for two sparkling Friday nights of fabulous cheese, wine, music and company.
On December 12th and 19th, from 5pm to 9pm, the Gouger Dining area at the Adelaide Central Market will transform into a pop-up Champagne bar, complete with French Champagne, sparkling wine, Kir Royale, Crémant and exclusive cheese offers that are sure to keep any foodie or wine lover happy.
“It’s like a tradition at the Central Market! Friday nights are the nights to be at the market,” shared Smelly Cheese Co. owner, Valérie Henbest. “It’s always quite buzzing and musical, and there’s always something happening. It’s a real destination for people from South Australia. Christmas is the biggest season for us by far, so of course, we add bubbles. What would Christmas be without bubbles?”
As we head into the festive season, this December’s Champagne nights continue that tradition, bringing together a selection of curated cheeses with premium Champagne and sparkling selections poured by Mind Spirits & Co. Known for championing world-class maisons and small craft producers, Mind Spirits & Co. imports an impressive portfolio of spirits, wines and bubbles, from boutique French Champagnes to award-winning South Australian distilleries. Their mission is to support the brands of tomorrow, prioritising quality, sustainability and craftsmanship, which makes them a perfect match for the ethos behind The Smelly Cheese Co.
As they team up, they’re delivering a market experience that’s relaxed, social and unmistakably European-inspired. Sip Champagne under the market lights, enjoy expertly matched cheeses, chat with friends, and ease into the weekend the French way.
“We’re also going to introduce, for the first time ever, the rouge frais, a type of chilled red wine,” said Valérie. “Apparently, last summer in France, it was the trend. Rouge frais means fresh red, chilled red. It’s light and fabulous for hot days. I think everybody in France will have a rouge frais all summer.”
Of course, there will also be lots of cheese. “on the bar we have what we believe is the best pairing ever, Champagne with triple cream and strawberries.”
For more than two decades, The Smelly Cheese Co. has been one of the Central Market’s greatest hidden treasures. Launched back in 2001, the company was founded by the incomparable Valérie, also known as one of Adelaide’s very own Queens of Cheese. Born and raised in Normandy, Valérie brought her lifelong passion for cheese to South Australia, introducing locals to boutique French producers and rare European flavours that had been proving difficult for her to find here at the time.
What started as a humble market stall quickly became a destination for curious cheese lovers, now stocking more than 300 cheeses alongside smallgoods, accompaniments, and cheese-focused merchandise. But more than that, Valérie built a community of cheese devotees, combining education with storytelling.
Today, The Smelly Cheese Co. is celebrated not just for its incredible range of cheese, but also for the masterclasses it hosts around the country, a cult-favourite cheese subscription box, and a team that genuinely loves sharing the tales and techniques behind every wheel, wedge and whiff. With a commitment to helping South Australians explore the world of cheese, over the decades, The Smelly Cheese Co. has become a cult fave for locals and the ultimate spot to stock up on cheese, especially around this time of year.
So if you’re looking for Friday kick-ons that are effortlessly chic, with a touch of indulgence and full of festive style, then this pop-up bar promises all that and more. Plus, this festive season, there’s plenty on at the markets. On December 16th, there’s gingerbread decorating by Hilton Adelaide and Larissa Sewell, on the 18th and 19th, there’s a free Christmas Craft Workshop, and from the 19th to the 24th, there will be roving Christmas elves and live music.
Cheers, or should we say Santé, to that!
Smelly Cheese Co. Pop-Up Champagne Bar
When: Friday, December 12th and Friday, December 19th, 5pm to 9pm
Where: Gouger Dining – Adelaide Central Market
For more information, click here.
For what’s on at the Central Markets, click here.
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