Covid restrictions have meant much less wine and food festival fun, but great news – this year the Clare Valley Virtual Gourmet weekend goes online!
We’ve all had to go without such a lot in recent times, as we collectively try to get through the health crisis inflicted by Covid 19. Hospitality and tourism has been particularly impacted, and that’s a double whammy if you happen to be a food or wine business in a regional area.
Here in South Australia, we love a good food and wine festival, but because of Covid restrictions – and for the first time in it’s 36 year history – the Clare Valley has had to cancel its famous Gourmet weekend. However, country folk are nothing if not resourceful, and the clever food and wine producers of the Clare Valley have come up with a way for us to enjoy the fruits of the region, while staying safely at home – welcome to the Clare Valley Virtual Gourmet Weekend online!
Noted Clare Valley winemakers and chefs have collaborated to provide a fantastic selection of online experiences so that we can have a virtual Gourmet Weekend this year. Just check out the program and select the wine and/or food experiences you prefer, then sign up to pre-order selections and to book into the tasting sessions. Wine selections will be delivered, or can be purchased at nominated locations, food menus, recipes and ingredients will be listed after purchase of the session.
Totally getting into the swing of things, Marnie Roberts, winemaker/owner from Matriarch and Rogue Wines and Kerri Thompson, winemaker/owner from Wines by KT have joined forces to bring a Virtual game of Options via live feeds on social media to celebrate the Clare Valley Virtual Gourmet 2020.
Kerri and Marnie are offering to send out four wines that will be wrapped for you to taste blind and, in true WINES OPTIONS style, leave you to guess the vintage, variety and Clare Sub-region while interacting with the winemakers online. Its an opportunity to ask any questions, have fun guessing with no pressure, taste and enjoy delicious wines – all from the comfort of your own home. In your pyjamas, if that’s how you’re rolling. There’s no dress code.
To create the feel of gourmet, along with stunning wines you absolutely need food. Marnie and Kelly are also offering a live cooking demonstration from Guy Parkinson, head chef/owner of Seed Street in Clare Valley. You’ll get a chance to chat to Guy on his passion for Clare, food and future plans for Seed post Covid – all while he creates a beautiful dish.
Visit either Marnie’s or Kerry’s website to pre-order your packs, which include four wines that will be covered in paper and numbered, tasting notes for the wines, in an envelope to open after the wine is revealed, and a recipe sheet from Guy with a list of ingredients that you can get if you want to cook along with him.
The Clare Valley Virtual Gourmet sessions are spaced out over the weekend, and range from simple tastings to a fully fun Fri-Yay Frock-Up Fiesta – just take your pick from the program. It’s the perfect way to break up the iso boredom, and help to support one of South Australia’s valuable food and wine regions.
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