Food Drink

Your guide to the Riverlation Wine and Food Festival

Now’s the chance to taste the fine wine, spirits and flavours of the Riverland, with our guide to this years Riverlation Wine and Food festival!

Image credit: Salena Estate

It’s a weekend that sees the Riverland transform into a vibrant celebration of the regions outstanding Food and Wine produce, with Riverlation Wine and Food kicking off this October 22 to 24.

With several events scattered across the Riverland, finding the perfect place to relax in the welcome summer sunshine can be tricky, with several venues hosting an array events across the weekend.

Luckily, here at Glam Adelaide, we’ve done the hard yards for you and created the ultimate guide to the Riverlation Wine and Food Festival, letting you can visit the stunning region for the festivities with an itinerary in hand.

The longstanding annual festival has undergone a makeover this year, re-branding as the Riverlation Wine and Food Festival, where an array of wineries and distilleries will open their doors for a weekend of wicked wine fun.

In a year full of firsts, the Riverland Wine Centre will transform into a bustling hub for creatives and wine connoisseur’s in the making across three days with the incarnation of Jac’s Corner. A marriage of the three Jac’s, the corner will offer Jachmann’s Apple Cider tastings, delightful tastings from the Centre’s resident wine expert Sonya Pfitzner (with her dog Jack) and a series of Paint and Sip workshops with Jac Art Co.

Friday | October 22

The weekend celebrating the flavours of the Riverland is kicking off with a bang, with the Riverland Wine Centre hosting a five-course degustation on Friday Night.

Dine on the riverbanks by candlelight and watch the sunset over the Mighty Murray at the inaugural Riverlation Gala Degustation. Each course is perfectly paired with a glass of award-winning wine from this years Riverland Wine Show, accompanied by a discussion from the makers themselves. The Riverlation Gala Degustation costs $185 per person.

Booking and ticket information can be found here.

Saturday | October 23

919 Wines – Taste!

Join the boutique winery on the Saturday afternoon for an afternoon of great wine and food. Teaming up with the culinary wonders from Riverland-based Salt & Pepper Catering, the 919 Wines will be hosting a wicked brunch for Riverlation-goers.

Graze on a delicious Bento Box created by Salt & Pepper, featuring an array of fresh local produce, including cheese, dried fruit, meat and nuts as you enjoy a glass of 919’s fine wine.

Tunes will be provided by the talented Acoustic Candy, who will be performing stripped-back covers of everyone’s favourite songs.

Tickets cost $5, with the wine and food fun starting at 10am. Can’t make the Saturday session? 919 Wines will be hosting their Taste event on the Sunday as well.

You can find 919 Wines 39 Hughes Road, Glossop, 5344. Booking and ticket information can be found here.  

Bassham Wines

Celebrate 100 years of Bassham Wines this Saturday, with the vineyard and cellar door hosting a sunny Saturday session. Relax under their gorgeous leafy trees and enjoy a drop of complimentary wine in your Riverlation glass as you listen to live acoustic tunes.

Indulge in an array of Vietnamese food, with Mishes Vietnamese Food Van parking its wheels at Bassham on the Saturday afternoon.  

No need to worry if wine isn’t your thing, Bassham will also be pouring beer on the Saturday as well!

Tickets cost $25 to the event, with the fun kicking off at 10am.

You can find Bassham Wines at 27 Bassham Road, Barmera, 5345. Booking and ticket information can be found here.

Salena Estate

Salena Estate will be holding two sessions on Saturday for guests and locals to taste their fine wine and food at Cucina 837. Salena Estate will be holding two day sessions on the Saturday for guests and locals to taste their fine wine and food at Cucina 837.

Kicking off the weekend fun will be a bottomless brunch session at Cucina 837, letting guests ease into the day ahead in style – mimosa in hand. For those not keen on a boozy breakfast, a brunch and coffee option is also available. Tickets are $70 for the bottomless brunch option, including a branded Riverlation keep-cup. The fun starts at 11am and concludes at 1pm

In the afternoon, sprawl out on Salena Estate’s gorgeous green lawns while you wine and dine your way into the evening. Treat yourself to an array of fine tipples from the Bookpurnong cellar door or a competitive game of FINSKA as live tunes play in the background. Tickets cost $5 for the afternoon session, which will grant you access to the event and a Riverlation glass.  

You can find Salena Estate and Cucina 837 at 837 Bookpurnong Road, Bookpurnong, 5333

Booking and ticket information for the brunch session can be found here, and further information about the noon session here.  

23rd Street Distillery

Step behind the bar on Saturday afternoon and learn the tricks of the bartending trade at 23rd Street Distillery’s Cocktail Masterclass.

23rd Street Distillery will be shaking up Riverlation-goers Saturday, with the interactive class teaching guests how to make two of their signature cocktails with the award-winning spirits.

Whether you like it shaken or stirred, there will be something for everyone at this evening soiree. Indulge an array of nibbles after the masterclass fun as you enjoy your own cocktail creations amongst friends. Tickets cost $55, with the 23rd Street Masterclass kicking off at 5:30pm.

You can find 23rd Street Distillery on Twentythird Street, Renmark, 5341. Booking and ticket information can be found here.

Sunday | October 24

Bassham Wines

Round out your weekend of fun with a trip to Bassham Wines on Sunday afternoon, and enjoy an array of cheeseboards, live tunes and of course – wine! 

For those a little weary from Saturday, Sassy Brews will be parking their iconic camper van at Bassham’s cellar door, serving up delicious coffees, milkshakes and bacon and egg rolls. 

Tickets cost $25, which grants you entry to the cellar door, a complimentary glass of wine as well as a branded Riverlation wine glass. 

Taking home two runner-up awards from this years Riverland Wine Show, it’s safe to say Bassham Wines know a thing or two about wine. 

You can find Bassham Wines at 27 Bassham Road, Barmera, 5345. Booking and ticket information can be found here

23rd Street Distillery

Head down to Renmark and join the Gin guns at 23rd Street Distillery in a blending on the Sunday of the Riverlation festival. Immerse yourself in the world of gin and you learn the secrets behind the distilling craft and how 23rd Street make their award-winning spirits.

Tickets to the 1.5-hour event include a tour of the distillery, the history and a take home bottle of your own uniquely blended gin. Tickets cost $85, with the gin-centric experience starting at 11am.

You can find 23rd Street Distillery on Twentythird Street, Renmark, 5341. Booking and ticket information can be found here.  

Mallee Estate

Indulge in a Mediterranean feast on the Sunday, with Mallee Estate hosting a long lunch in collaboration with Greek restaurant Eleni’s. Grab your friends for an afternoon of fun, food and wine, with the Greek spread perfectly paired with the Estate’s award-winning tipples.

Relax in the welcome summertime sunshine and enjoy live music as the weekend of Riverlation fun comes to a close. Tickets cost $5 to the Mallee Estate event, which kicks off at 12:30pm

You can find Mallee Estate Wines at 20055 Renmark Avenue, Renmark South, 5341. Booking and ticket information can be found here.

Transportation

With the Riverland’s wine and food festival now spread across several venues, figuring out transportation is key to a successful weekend. Luckily, Riverlation has planned ahead for those keen to enjoy a glass (or two) of fine wine at each of their chosen destinations.

All aboard the Riverlation bus loop! Now there’s no need to worry about finding a route between the line-up of wineries on Saturday and Sunday, or being stuck as the designated driver.

The hop-on-hop-off bus travels in two directions, aptly named the Durif and Vermentino route, allowing guests to traverse between several venues throughout the day. Both routes overlap as well, so you’ll always find your way back home (or to the nearest taxi rank).

Durif Route: Renmark, Monash, Berri, Pike River Loop

Vermentino Route: Berri, Monash, Loxton Loop

You can find out more about Riverlation’s hop-on-hop-off bus here.

Set to be a weekend of good food, wine and great friends the inaugural Riverlation Wine and Food Festival is one to pencil in your diaries.

Find out more about the Riverlation Wine and Food Festival here.

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