Food Drink

A Look At Last Weekend’s Anderson Hill Spanish Degustation

By Lucy Budzynska

Posted on January 30, 2018

Crush Festival 2018 started out with a bang Friday night at Anderson Hill Winery, as the newly renovated cellar door and restaurant held a Spanish Degustation night. Here’s our write up.

Crush Festival 2018 started out with a bang Friday night at Anderson Hill Winery. Although they had the cancel their Saturday and Sunday Mexican Fiesta due to extreme heat, their evening plans were complimented with a perfect warm summers night. The newly renovated cellar door and restaurant held a Spanish Degustation night, hosted by owners Clare and Peter Anderson. The renovations are a big change from the Anderson Hill you once knew, the site now features a massive dining hall that acts as a restaurant and a venue for functions and events, in particular weddings.

The night was held on Anderson Hill’s newly built deck, set out on top of the hill overlooking the scenic vineyards and wider Lenswood. We were told the vineyard is the second highest in the state, and though we understand this is more for the grapes, it also gives goers something beautiful to look out to and a gorgeous setting to watch the sunset over a glass of wine and dinner. (Also a clear winner for all your Instagram snaps and boomerangs).

Friday night’s Spanish menu was the creation of head chef Bradley Perrott (also Magill Estate Kitchen). The six-course degustation was an impressive example of what Bradley and the restaurant have to offer. Dishes included croquette with jamón and manchego, a deconstructed tarlete with chorizo, caramelized onion and goats cheese, and eye fillet with mashed cauliflower and Shepard’s breadcrumbs. However, the standout of the night was Bradley’s dessert, ‘Nimiedad tradicional’, a Spanish take on a trifle. The dessert took inspiration from Melbourne’s popular Movida and was crafted over three days by Bradley.

The menu was expertly paired with Anderson Hill’s outstanding cool climate wines. A nice touch was winemaker Tyrone White being on hand to talk all things wine. The wine list included 2017 ‘Polliwog’ Sauvignon Blanc and a 2015 ‘Sticks and Stones’ Pinot Noir. A surprising standout wine was the 2013 ‘Lila Agars’ Chardonnay, traditionally fermented creating a soft fruitful wine. Let go of all preconceived ideas of Chardonnay and definitely give this one a try. The evening was sweetly ended with Pedro Ximenez Sherry.