When England’s first Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley, was swooning his way around Queen Elizabeth I’s court in the 1500s; it’s unlikely he foresaw his legacy travelling over generations and seas to a quaint British-themed hotel in a country (Australia) that hadn’t yet been discovered, in a city named after a Queen (Adelaide) who reigned approximately 230 years after he died.
No doubt, he would’ve been delighted to discover his name and likeness (along with that of a look-alike dog) upon the walls of South Australia’s popular Earl of Leicester Hotel amid Parkside’s leafy streets.
Now, 400+ years later, on Friday, October 25th, The Earl of Leicester (The Earl) will be celebrating its British heritage, along with Bremerton Wines, for the “Bremerton Wine Lunch,” a British-inspired degustation created by The Earl’s Head Chef Steve Webster and hosted by Bremerton’s Cellar Door and Marketing Manager, Lucy Willson.
Five courses will be paired with five Bremerton wines, each pairing discussed by Lucy Willson, while Steve will curate the dishes for the event, ensuring a perfect marriage of flavours and textures from glass to plate.
You and your fellow guests will enjoy exclusive access to their private dining room upstairs, ensuring an intimate and immersive experience.
With an English owner (Chris Farmer), an English Manager (Bernard Kulwazi), and Irish Head Chef Steve, the British vibes are steeped in The Earl’s Victorian-era architecture, bluestone walls, wood log fire, old Britannia aesthetics, and love of traditional British flavours.
Alongside their hearty British pub menu is a Modern Mains menu that speaks to The Earl’s ethos of keeping loved, old traditions alive while embracing new ideas, flavours, and approaches.
Bernard shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming Bremerton Wine Dinner, saying, “We’re excited to host yet another dinner, continuing the tradition we began with our Lark Whiskey dinner. These events not only showcase our chefs’ incredible skills and our winery partnerships but also bring the community together in a fun, welcoming way. Our aim is to remind people that the Earl is a venue rich with history—a place where Brits and visitors alike can step in and feel as though they’ve been transported to the UK.”
When Bernard discovered that his friends at Bremerton Wines also celebrated their British roots upon their wines’ labels, the idea for the next iteration of The Earl’s much-beloved wine and food dining series was sparked.
Langhorne Creek’s Bremerton Wines and Bremerton Vineyards are owned and run by the Willson family. They bottled their inaugural wine, a Cabernet Sauvignon, in 1988 and have been growing and innovating ever since, with up to 18 wines in their range. Sisters Rebecca (Chief Winemaker) and Lucy have continued the family’s success, securing the James Halliday 5-star winery rating for the last 17 years, placing them amid the pinnacle of Australian Wineries.
Sharing their story is as much a part of their wines as their grapes, naming a few of their wines in honour of their grandmothers’ English heritage.
While their “Mollie and Merle” Verdelho honours both their grandmothers, Mollie Willson (nee Tamblyn) and Merle “Dulcie” Spry, their Cab/Shiraz/Malbec/Merlot “Tamblyn” is in recognition of Mollie’s ancestors who migrated to SA from Cornwall, England.
Their “Coulthard Cabernet” pays homage to their ancestor, Merle Coulthard, who travelled from England to South Australia with her husband William as a Free Settler upon the HMS Buffalo in 1836. They then built Nuriootpa’s historic Coulthard House in 1855, 31 years before The Earl of Leicester first swung its doors open to the public in 1886.
During the dinner, you’ll learn much more about Bremerton and the Earl of Leicester’s joint connections to England and their dual passion for blending sublime flavours. But to be a part of it, you must book your seats before they sell out. All the details you need are at the base of the page.
If the event’s already sold out by the time you jump onto their website, fear not; they have a lot of events coming up, including Jazz nights and more curated dinner events within their private dining spaces for you to enjoy (watch this space, we’ll be sharing the events with you as they roll out).
Jolly good!
All you need to know about the Bremerton Wine Lunch
What: Bremerton Wine Lunch at the Earl of Leicester Hotel
Date: Friday, October 25th
Time: 12.30pm
Includes: A degustation including five courses and five wines, created by the head chef at the Earl of Leicester, hosted by Bremerton wine maker Lucy Willson
Cost: $140 per person
Tickets: Bremerton Wine Lunch via Seven Rooms Bookings
Address: Earl of Leicester Hotel, 85 Leicester Street, Parkside, South Australia.
Earl of Leicester email: [email protected]
Earl of Leicester phone: (08) 8271 5700
Visit The Earl of Leicester’s website | Instagram | Facebook
Visit Bremerton Wines’ website | Instagram | Facebook
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