The Hunter Blackboard January 2014

HUNTER

THE

BLACKBOARD

JA N UA RY 2 0 14

The No.1 magazine for visitors to Hunter Valley Wine Co Country

Sizzling

THE

SUMMER WHITES

MEZE DINING

Summer Food to Share

ARTING AROUND IIn nW ine C ountry Wine Country

Shop ‘til you drop!

CHEESE PLEASE!

Match M t hY Your Wi Wine tto your Cheese

HunterValleyOnline.com.au

Summer Issue

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jan

15TH NOVEMBER UNTIL 26TH JANUARY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR at Hunter Valley Gardens. Open every night this is a magical event the whole family will enjoy! Exci ng new displays and over a million Christmas lights on show throughout designated areas of Hunter Valley Gardens. Including special guest Santa, entertainment with fes ve food and beverages available for purchase on-site. Also have your photo taken with Santa by a professional photographer. Village Shops and Cafes open late on selected evenings. Special night rates apply. For more informa on visit www.hvg.com.au

1ST TO 19TH JANUARY SCHOOL HOLIDAY PETTING ZOO at Hunter Valley Gardens.

Bring the family out to Hunter Valley Gardens during the January School Holidays and enjoy hands on fun with Hunter Valley Zoo. There will be lots of di erent farmyard and na ve animals plus rep les. Help feed and care for these animals including Goats, Guinea Pigs, Lambs, Kangaroos, Echidna, Snakes, Lizards, Baby Crocodile, Tortoise and more! Make a day of it by purchasing day + night ckets and enjoy the Pe ng Zoo during the day and return to the Christmas Lights in the evening. For more informa on and online ckets visit Hunter Valley Gardens website www.hvg.com.au or call 4998 4000

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SATURDAY 11TH & SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY 2014 TASTE OF THE WORLD BEER FESTIVAL at NEWCASTLE HARNESS RACING CLUB. Enjoy ne cra and bou que beers, Interna onal cuisine, award winning Hunter Valley wines and great local cheeses at the 2014 Taste Of The World (TOTW) Beer Fes val. Now in it’s 4th year, the TOTW Beer Fes val will be held at the Newcastle Harness Racing Club, located at the Interna onal Sport Centre Broadmeadow; the sports and entertainment hub of Newcastle. Saturday's event is from 5-10PM, and includes a fantas c night of harness racing. Sunday runs from noon ll 6pm. For more informa on: www.tasteo heworld.com.au

FRIDAY 18TH and FRIDAY 31ST JANUARY NEWCASTLE PERMANENT’S CINEMA UNDER THE STARS. By popular demand, Newcastle Permanent's Cinema Under the Stars has come back to Cessnock with a special screening of the family-friendly Despicable Me 2 at King Edward Park in Newcastle on January 18th, followed by Monsters University at Turner Park in Cessnock on January 31st. Entry is free so gather your friends and family and relax with a picnic as the sun sets and the screen lights up. Entertainment starts at 5.30pm and the movie will screen at sundown (approximately 8pm - depending on where you are). Visit the website for more informa on and movie previews: www.newcastlepermanent.com.au/cinema.

FRIDAY 18TH & SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY HISTORIC MORPETH CRUISE from Newcastle to Morpeth. Morpeth was once the gateway to inland Australia and one of the busiest trade ports in NSW. Re-live the historic voyage from Newcastle to Morpeth in modern day style and comfort with NOVA Cruises. Upon arrival wander down cobbled streets to nd colonial sandstone buildings occupied by modern and invi ng cafes, pubs, galleries, museums, bou ques, an que shops and local businesses.

For more informa on visit www.novacruises.com.au

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SPECIAL OFFERS AVAILABLE from 1st January 2014 until the 31st January 2014 inclusive or while stocks last.

SATURDAY 25TH JANUARY— CELEBRATE! at Gartelmann Wines.

Join all-Australian singer & performer Pat Drummond from 12 noon at Gartelmann Wines to celebrate the Cellar Door’s 15th Birthday! It’s also 60 years since local wine iden ty, Jorg Gartelmann arrived on our fair shores. Come and celebrate our milestones with some great music, fabulous Gartelmann wines and delicious, dis nctly Australian fare from The Deck Café.

Entry is free so come along and celebrate! Limited places are available on the deck so bookings are appreciated. Phone 4930-7113 or visit www.gartelmann.com.au.

AUSTRALIA DAY – SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 2014 THE NATIONAL MARITIME FESTIVAL IN NEWCASTLE. Newcastle's Australia Day Na onal Mari me Fes val is a one day spectacular event including cross harbour swims, ducks for dollars and a number of addi onal mari me ac vi es including jet ski racing, ski racing, a tug boat ballet and harbour tours.

Throughout the day live entertainment is provided for visitors alongside kids amusements, food stalls and a range of interes ng, informa ve and historical exhibits. Overhead aerial acroba c displays and ypasts compliment the water ac vi es into the early a ernoon as Australia Day celebra ons all over Newcastle conclude with the light of day.

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from the

EDITORS Welcome to 2014 and another year of ne wine, fabulous dining and loads of fun lled ac vi es throughout the Hunter Valley and throughout the pages of your favourite magazine, The Hunter Blackboard! We hope this is your best year yet!

Their hand made cheeses are a highlight of many a stay. January’s a great me to visit the sale and a Cellar Door (or two) then put together a cheese picnic using our great guide to wine and cheese matching on page 16.

THE summer ISSUE

Pat Drummond will also be making a quick trip to Wine Summer is well and truly Country this January when he upon us and as the buzz of stops in to perform at the the cicada’s in the bush Gartelmann Milestones Celebra on accompany our every waking on the 25th. For those who have seen moment, it’s me to get out there and Pat in ac on you know you’re in for an taste everything that’s on o er a ernoon of great music, lots of throughout Wine Country, from great laughs and some great wine. local produce at the growing number The Hunter Valley is fast becoming a of markets to the ne Summer fare popular shopping des na on and in served up on our restaurant tables. this issue we explore some of the “gems” we’ve discovered. Gi s and Nothing says Summer like seafood and matching wine to some seafood home wares, local produce, jewellery can be tricky. In this issue we give you and gemstones, fashion, books and fabulous art and cra are all on o er, a hand by matching di erent wine enabling visitors to take home that varie es to the great Aussie oyster. very special momento and locals to School holidays swing into ac on at shop local.

Hunter Valley Gardens, where you can Speaking of art, there are some s ll enjoy the Christmas Lights amazing galleries in the area that are Spectacular right up un l Australia well worth a visit this Summer with Day as well as some terri c school some local galleries also giving you the holiday ac vi es of the four legged opportunity to meet the ar st and kind. even take some lessons yourself. We January and February sees “Vintage” “Art Around” in wine country on page in the Hunter Valley and First Creek 12 of this issue.

Wines will be celebra ng by providing 2014 looks set to be a fabulous visitors with the opportunity to see Vintage and an equally inspiring year the wine produc on process rst hand before enjoying a fabulous feast for the Hunter Blackboard. We have great plans for 2014… look out for our at the winemakers table...this is easy to use map in every issue from certainly an experience you won’t February onwards, its just the start of want to miss. things to come. Enjoy!

Hunter Valley Cheese Company will also be launching it’s Summer Cheese Sale with great bargains each and LIKE US ON FACEBOOK every day.

Facebook.com/The Hunter Blackboard

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things to do in

JANUARY

WHAT’S ON SHOW? Vintage: the lost works of Max Dupain, is an exhibi on that brings together two glorious collec ons of forgo en images of wine grape vintages in the Hunter heart of Australia’s wine world in the mid 20th century by the legendary photographer Max Dupain.

Presented together the Mount Pleasant and Tulloch photographs reveal a li le known part of Australia’s farming past and the labours of love which produced some of the most memorable wines of the early 1950s.

Dupain took the photographs on commission as part of his commercial prac ce, and his skill in capturing the arcadian beauty of the everyday work of vignerons, grape harvesters and cellar hands represents a sublime encounter between the world of art and the world of wine.

Vintage runs un l 19th January, and will be followed from 23rd January

by An Open Secret: reposi oning abstrac on. An Open Secret presents works from the Pandora Group of female ar sts from the Lower Hunter.

This exhibi on aims to posi on women as a signi cant force in new abstrac on, and features works by Sally Bourke, Helen Dunkerley, Annemarie Murland, Linda Swin eld, Lezlie Tilley and Patricia Wilson Adams.

Cessnock Regional Art Gallery is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 11AM un l 4PM daily. Entry to the gallery is free.

For more informa on visit the website www.crag.net.au.

Just add Romance A GOURMET EVENT AT CHEZ POK The country estate of Peppers Guesthouse sets the scene for a roman c gourmet weekend in the Hunter Valley. Just for the occasion there will be a Pop Up Cellar Door, serving famous Hunter Valley wines coupled with delicious canapés served on the verandah or in the guest lounge.

On Saturday join winemakers, local producers and Chez Pok Execu ve Chef Alexis Agapiou for a gourmet BBQ lunch hosted by Gourmet Traveller WINE writer, Nick Stock.

Nick Stock is one of Australia’s most proli c wine commentators whose involvement in wine stretches well beyond wri ng to radio and television broadcas ng, wine show judging, public speaking, educa ng and winemaking.

His frank and fearless style has made him one of the most popular and widely read Australian wine cri cs, culmina ng in his global recogni on as Best Drinks Journalist at the World Food Media Awards in 2007.

A er breakfast on Sunday morning, explore the culinary delights of the region using your Food Trail Map. Stop for a picnic on the way and enjoy your gourmet hamper in the beau ful Hunter Valley surrounds. Go home refreshed.

The package also includes 2 nights' accommoda on in a Vintage Room, breakfast daily and a gourmet hamper on arrival.

“From the Centre Squared” by Patricia Wilson Adams

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For more informa on phone Peppers Guesthouse on 4993 8999 or visit www.peppers.com.au.

leapin’ lizards!

Why not take the family out to Hunter Valley Gardens during the January School Holidays (1st—19th January) and enjoy hands on fun with Hunter Valley Zoo!

There will be lots of di erent farmyard and na ve animals plus rep les.

Help feed and care for these animals including Goats, Guinea Pigs, Lambs, Kangaroos, Echidna, Snakes, Lizards, a Baby Crocodile, Tortoise and more!

The Pe ng Zoo event runs daily from 10am – 2.00pm and is an experience children will love and remember. The great thing about Hunter Valley Zoo is that the handlers are very knowledgeable and passionate about all creatures and encourage everyone to learn more about these fabulous animals.

SCHOOL

HOLIDAY

Make a day of it and get back to nature. Spread over 60 acres it is a property that can be explored with something new and exci ng around every corner.

Action!

Christmas Lights Spectacular will con nue to dazzle every night un l Sunday 26th January. Now in its seventh year, the Christmas Lights Spectacular has the running tle of the largest Christmas lights display in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 1.5 million lights, as well as reworks on the opening night, the event is a guaranteed way to kick start the fes ve me of year for the whole family. Gates open nightly from 6.30pm, with pre lights entertainment and food stalls. The lights display commences at 7.30pm.

Entry to Christmas Lights Spectacular Adult $22.50 | Children (4 15 yrs) $17.50 Children 3 yrs & Under FREE. Each child will receive a FREE glow s ck.

Family (2adults +1 child) $55.00 Extra Child (with Family Pass) $15.00 Day Night Adult $40.00 Day + Night Child $20.00

Why not make the fun last by purchasing day and night ckets and enjoy the Pe ng Zoo during the day and return to the Christmas Lights in the evening. For more informa on and online ckets visit Hunter Valley Gardens website www.hvg.com.au or call 4998 4000.

In the event of wet weather, please visit the Hunter Valley Gardens Facebook or Twi er page or contact Hunter Valley Gardens to nd out if the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be open.

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more things to do in

JANUARY

top PICK

If you’ve ever wondered how your favourite drop came to be, then a visit to First Creek Wines during 2014 Vintage (January and February) is a must.

First Creek wines have been cra ing wines of excep onal regional quality since 1996. A talented and highly acclaimed team of winemakers led by Liz Jackson and Greg Silkman (who is also First Creek’s Managing Director) are regarded as amongst the best winemakers in Australia, so much so that over 25 wine companies in New South Wales also trust First Creek to make wine from a range of unique vineyards and microclimates within Australia.

Throughout this year’s vintage Greg Silkman will provide visitors with a behind the scenes look at Vintage 2014 – something never o ered before!

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Greg will lead you on a guided tour of Vintage 2014, and explain the processes involved in ge ng the wine from vine into bo le. Start at the crusher where the aromas of freshly crushed grapes ll the air, see the fruit as it is processed and learn about the fermenta on choices for di ering wine styles. Taste fermen ng wines direct from the tank and merely days old, before moving on to the bo ling line, where ‘hands on’ winemaking now enters the highly mechanised process of bo ling.

Then, join Greg at the Winemaker’s Table and enjoy a selec on of First Creek’s best wines expertly matched with some seriously good food from The Verandah Restaurant. Cost and booking details are above—we thoroughly recommend this event for both the novice and avid wine connoisseur alike.

A thousand welcomes’ AT HARRIGAN’S IRISH PUB From the moment you walk in, you know you're in a good place to be. Even the ceilings are decorated – by ar sts own in from Ireland with Irish sayings, like "Céad Mile Failtá", which means 'A hundred thousand wel comes'.

Once you've enjoyed a meal here, you will understand why Harrigan's has won Best Country Bistro. Daily chalkboard specials go quickly, with the Beef and Guinness Pie and tender, char grilled steaks heading the list.

Diners can eat indoors or in the fantas c outdoor area overlooking the vineyards, which is great for families.

Walk a li le further into the warm stone and gleaming wood of the Sports Bar and you'll nd a vast array of ne Irish beers, as well as the pick of the Every Wednesday visitors can enjoy “Curry in a Hurry” where diners choose Aussie beers, all on tap. Many a person has spent lively hours over a pint of from 4 delectable freshly made Indian curries, just $20 per person with a glass of house wine or a James Squire Indian Pale Ale. the good stu or a glass or more of the local Hunter wines!

And, like any good Sports Bar should, Harrigan's Irish Pub has a TAB, an ATM machine and gaming room.

Of course Harrigan’s is a great haunt for locals too. The “knock o , kick back and unwind” specials run Monday to Thursday from 4 6pm. Meet up with friends and relax a er a long hard day at Harrigan’s.

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With Summer temperatures reaching average temperatures of around 25 degrees (C), crisp, lower alcohol white wines are the answer to those sweltering days and evenings and they complement those typical Summer dishes such as salads, dips, cold meats and grilled sh.

As the warmer temperatures arrive and people slip into celebra on mode , it's me to stock up with wines for summer drinking and although it may have felt like Summer for some me already, the season's arrival has only just become o cial.

Riesling: It's a wine that has considerable avour and acidity without necessarily having a high alcohol content with avours ranging It's also the season to celebrate, so the ques on we should also be asking is from peach to melon and from honeydew to apricot. Riesling is mul talented when it comes to being paired with food ''what should we be toas ng with?'' Pu ng those refreshing lagers aside and goes well with pasta, pork, turkey, grilled sh and Chinese cuisine. The for a minute, there's a whole range of Summer white wines to consider more expensive Rieslings are dessert wines that are late harvested and can and it's a long list at that. be enjoyed on their own or a er a meal, but are o en paired with desserts.

Sparkling Wines: One of the most popular wines at this me of the year Gewurztraminer: Also known as Traminer is easy to recognise by its and a wine that is great on its own or coupled with appe zers or an heady, aroma c scent. It's versa lity and high natural sugar means it can be opening course in a meal. Sparkling wines pair well with raw or steamed shell sh, shrimp, salami, smoked salmon, stu ed mushrooms, Brie & Gouda made into a wine with a bone dry nish through to semi sweet or sweet wine styles. Highly perfumed and quite full bodied with an intense and cheese, sweet bread and mascarpone cheese and fruit based desserts. complex bouquet o ering an explosion of exo c fruits such as lychee, Semillon: Semillon is the most renowned white variety in the Hunter passion fruit, pineapple and mango characters. Pairs beau fully with spicy Valley and when young is renown for its crisp, fresh and zesty style with a dishes and strong cheeses. Also ideal with Asian foods such as Indian, natural acidity and lemony characters. These wines make wonderful Vietnamese, Malaysian. Smoked salmon is also a perfectly good match.

Summer wines and pair well with uncomplicated foods such as salads, most Verdelho: Verdelho is a great wine to be enjoyed on its own say for a late seafood grilled sh, prawns, oysters, simply cooked white eshed sh as a ernoon drink with friends. You can try Verdelho wine with tapas or well as semi hard cheeses. As an aged wine (10 or more years) with appe sers, or try it with couple of freshly shucked oysters. Verdelho wines mul ple layers of avours , it goes well with a wide range of foods that are su ciently adaptable to meet a number of food pairing op ons and are include baked dishes, creamy pastas, smoked trout or salmon and roast perfect for Summer or lunch me meals and pair well with seafood, lighter stu ed chicken. meats such as veal, pork, or chicken and hard cheeses. The drier styles of Sauvignon Blanc: A very versa le and food friendly wine that matches well Verdelho are beau fully matched to lighter Asian inspired dishes of veal, with most foods that include fresh salads, creamy pasta dishes, spicy Thai chicken and pork. food., fresh seafood, scallops and white sh especially when served with a garlic sauce. It is also known as one of the few wines that can pair well with Viognier: Viognier shows its nest colours when paired with food. The lighter more re ned styles suit seafood, par cularly prawns, lobster and sushi and is terri c with appe zers such as cheeses (especially Chevre ), mussels. Richer wines are well matched to spicy Thai cuisine, Chinese and dips and an pasto pla ers.

Mexican dishes, medium to strong and salty cheeses, strong avoured sh Semillon Sauvignon Blanc: A lovely Summer wine with avours and dishes, also pork and chicken based meals and fresh fruit. aromas that can include melon, pineapple, citrus, guava, passionfruit and herbal notes. It generally has a refreshingly intense and pure avour with a Chardonnay: Chardonnay is one of the most widely grown grape variety in tangy acidity. These wines pair well with seafood simple grilled sh, garlic the world, and can produce from medium to full bodied. For many casual prawns, char grilled squid also turkey, barbecued meats and goats cheeses drinkers, it is the quintessen al white wine and although it is a dry wine, it can posses much broader avours and a so , fruit driven style than many and Asian cuisine. other whites. The last 20 years has seen a shi in style moving from deep Pinot Gris / Pinot Grigio: An excellent partner to food due to its good golden, heavy rich style chardonnay with melon and oily bu erscotch palate weight and subtle varietal character. The fresh lighter styles go well avours to lighter, paler acidic chardonnays with greater structure and with oysters, shell sh, mixed fried seafood or an pas and garden salads notes of white fruity essences. and is also su ciently versa le to go with seafood pasta dishes or with Chardonnay has the poten al to be paired with a wide range of food types tomato and basil based pasta sauces whereas the richer full bodied styles and is most commonly matched with roast chicken, turkey and other game are well matched with roast chicken, pork or veal and even many seafood birds, pasta dishes in cream sauce, poached salmon and Thai cuisine. dishes.

Chardonnay is also great with creamy so brie or camembert cheeses.

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SHOP ‘TIL YOU

With the season for giving now behind us ... January is the season for shopping. You just may pick up that bargain you’ve been looking for!

Finally, when you are all shopped out, take Thankfully, shopping in the Hunter Valley goes way beyond the typical large and overcrowded mall where you frustra ngly spend half your me some personal me to pamper yourself at Zen Hair Skin Body. looking for that elusive parking spot before having to wrestle your way Pokolbin Village with its charming and friendly 'Village' atmosphere is through crowds of shoppers. another popular des na on for shoppers. Here you will nd a deligh ul range of bou que specialty shops and a convenient on site restaurant Instead, shopping in the Hunter Valley is an enriching hassle free experi ence full of adventure and even be er when spent with friends, a partner Vi orio's Restaurant, which serves some of the best co ee around. Just or family. Work your way through these di erent and truly unique experi next door to Vi orio's is Tempt Hunter Valley a charming store o ering a ences all within close proximity to each other and discover why shopping in wonderful selec on of art, jewellery, gi ware, home wares, mirrors, lamps and furniture. Adjacent to Tempt is Vixen the sister store to Tempt where the Hunter Valley can be so rewarding and fun. you will nd a fabulous selec on of handbags, jewellery, gloves, hats, belts, For the ul mate shopping experience that is packed with discovery take a glasses and scarves at surprisingly reasonable prices and just ideal for that trip to Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village located en route and a short perfect nishing touch to complete an ou it or if you just want to spoil walk to the world famous gardens themselves. As Pokolbin's town centre, yourself or someone else. D'Vine in the Hunter also provides women's Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village is extraordinary tranquil, pictur jewellery and fashion accessories basically "everything a girl wants in the esque and with its own charm. Here you will nd a variety (23 in all) of one store and more"! galleries, fashion stores, home ware, gi shops and other bou que special Also on Broke road and just past Harrigans Irish Pub, you will discover a ity shops to choose from as well as the other a rac ons that include the quaint group of shops known as Peppers Creek . It is here that you will beau ful Chapel, mini golf and an aqua golf driving range. And just when discover the renowned Australian Alpaca Barn which has a second store you need a break there is a choice of 5 restaurants and cafes where you located in the historic town of Morpeth. These wonderful and friendly can enjoy a much needed co ee, tea or a delicious meal. shops specialise in high quality Australian alpaca fashion products and ac Browse your way through a mix of ten jewellery, gi , candle, gem, home cessories all luxuriously so and warm and perfect for any me of the furnishing , kitchenware, book and fashion shops. For that unique gi or year. wedding present with a di erence make sure you visit the extraordinary Wine Glass Gallery or The Twig or the very unique Christmas in the Vines. Of course you cannot visit the Hunter Valley without tas ng and buying the Pop into Australia's most famous bou que candle store Candelabra or very best local produce it has become famous for. Take your choice of re stock up on kitchenware and barware at The Waiters Friend. Sa sfy your gional foods that include jams, preserves, fudge from The Australian Re paper cravings at Pulp Addic on with their extensive and intriguing range gional Food Store at the Small Winemaker Centre on McDonalds Rd and a of designer sta onery. For those with an interest in fashion, take a peek in large variety of delicious local hand made cheeses from the Hunter Valley Wilson & Hunter. It doesn't end there as you can always head towards Cheese Factory located across the road at McGuigans Cellars. If you love Gems4U to view a range of gemstones, minerals, fossils and beads and farm fresh olives, oils and tapenades then look no further than Pokolbin even buy a current release next door at Village Books. Buy wine, beer and Estate on McDonalds Rd and Adina Vineyard in Lovedale. even schnapps at the Gardens Cellars and right next door at the Hunter Finally, if you nd yourself in the Hunter over a weekend then take the Valley Cookie Co you will nd the best and tas est hand made cookies me to experience a truly unique skill by visi ng Ogishi Cra Centre which around. is only open on weekends and where you will nd individually hand blown

glass products in every colour. Perfect for that ultra unique gi .

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TWENTY-3TWENTY

NOW OPEN 2320 BROKE ROAD

JANUARY 2014 | 11 thb

ARTING AROUND In Wine Country

Background image courtesy Twine Restaurant

With the region’s unique natural beauty and stunning landscapes as inspira on, it not surprising that the Hunter Valley is home to some of our most talented ar sts and that the region has many local art galleries exhibi ng a range of contemporary and tradi onal arts and cra work.

Art is part of the Hunter Valley lifestyle and art galleries and cra centres can be found in every town invi ng locals and visitors to browse and select a piece that captures their heart and imagina on.

Studios throughout the region o er the chance to visit ar sans at work and many local wineries, cafes, restaurants and retail outlets feature permanent and touring exhibi ons, merging the pleasures of food, wine and the arts.

Whether you are a collector, or someone looking for that special piece to adorn your walls or garden at home, discovering the art trails of the Further down Wilderness Rd, at Hunter Valley could help you to Emmas Co age Vineyard Gallery, unearth that "special and art lovers can mix their unique" piece of art to be apprecia on of art with wine treasured. tas ng and even a meal while browsing through the gallery.

Resident ar st Megan Barrass started her art life as a graphic ar st before conver ng to producing ne art 15 years ago. Megan's art now adorns the private and corporate art collec ons of people all over the world. For more info visit www.emmasco age.com.au

Apart from having some of the most highly awarded wines, Mistletoe Winery on Hermitage Rd is also home to the Mistletoe Sculpture Garden The Cessnock Regional Art Gallery plays host to an ever changing variety of and Pokolbin Gallery where you can see limited edi on prints, pain ngs in all media, ceramics and exclusive hand made jewellery. The Sculpture local and touring exhibi ons and through an exci ng and contemporary program across all forms of the visual arts, aims to inspire local residents, Garden is currently exhibi ng over 30 external works in materials such as stainless steel, copper, ceramic, granite and concrete. Visit to showcase Hunter Valley ar sts and to add a new dimension to the www.mistletoewines.com.au cultural life in the Cessnock area. For informa on about current and upcoming exhibi ons see page 4 of this issue or visit www.crag.net.au Also on the art trail and just outside Wollombi, is the De ance Sculpture Park at The Gate Gallery a permanent sculpture park celebra ng the Morpeth Gallery in Morpeth includes an excellent selec on of ne wealth of talent in Australian sculpture. Fi y outdoor works by prominent tradi onal Australian landscape and wildlife art. For twenty years the and emerging Australian and Interna onal sculptors may be viewed gallery has specialised in selling only Tradi onal Australian Art – throughout twenty acres of beau ful gardens surrounding The Gate landscapes, seascapes & wildlife, by many of Australia’s most renowned Gallery. Visitors and collectors can enjoy the works all year round and all ar sts. The art gallery specialises in investment art with sta present to assist in any selec on of pain ngs that will not only enhance any home or works are for sale. See www.de ancegallery.com for more informa on. o ce but will also appreciate in value over me. Morpeth Gallery is A visit to Wollombi can also include a tour of Sculpture in the Vineyards located at 5 Green St Morpeth and open Thursday to Sunday or by an annual exhibi on of large scale outdoor sculptures along the Wollombi appointment. Visit www.morpethgallery.com Valley Wine Trail. Now in its 11th year, this free to public exhibi on features over 100 works by emerging and established ar sts Australia Another favourite des na on amongst art lovers is Setsuko Ogishi Art wide. This month long event runs throughout the month of November and Glass Studio in Lovedale one of only a few glassblowing studios in although the “o cial” part of the exhibi on is now over, many works are Australia, and the only one in the Hunter Valley open to the public. no doubt s ll available for viewing when visi ng the local wineries in Setsuko has been working with glass for over twenty years, exhibi ng Wollombi. Visit www.sculptureinthevineyards.com.au. throughout Australia and interna onally and has won numerous Awards for excellence in her cra . For those wan ng to explore this fascina ng For those who appreciate the ne cra smanship and skills involved in skill, Setsuko provides glass blowing lessons during the months of April, working and designing with wood, the Australian Woodwork Gallery has June, July, October, November and December as well as cra workshops been purpose built to showcase the beauty and diversity of Australian where you can learn to make your own cheese pla er from a wine bo le. mber and the crea vity and skill of the cra smen using tradi onal Visitors are welcome to visit and see a real glass ar st's studio and browse techniques but with modern technology. Works of some of Australia's through the gallery. Gi vouchers are also available. Visit leading designer/makers are on show with woodcra that includes, www.ogishi.com.au furniture, home wares, kitchenware, personal accessories, musical instruments and ne art woodcra . Visit www.australianwoodwork.com.au

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In the Vineyard {January}

What's happening at this me of the year in the Vineyard?

With the start of Summer, bunches of grapes become very obvious on the vine although s ll green and hard with very li le sugar and high in organic acids.

The vi culturists and vineyard managers are predominantly concerned with vine and fruit protec on at this me of the year protec ng the grapes from birds and insects.

This is the period when véraison, or berry coloura on and so ening typically begins and the grower starts to es mate the total amount of fruit for the current vintage. The winemaker then uses this informa on to calculate how much tank and barrel space will be needed once the grapes are harvested. .

In January the grapes are lling out as they ripen and develop full colour. Sugars are gradually building and vi culturists start to taste and monitor the grapes for sugar content and acid level in prepara on for harvest. This is me when harvest and crush equipment is tested for problems and pickers employed. New barrels are soaked in prepara on for the new harvest.

The period January to February is when harves ng of the fruit typically occurs with the winemaker and vineyard manager working closely to determine the op mum me to pick the fruit to ensure the best wine quality.

The decision to harvest grapes is typically made by the winemaker and determined by the level of sugar (called “Brix”) and acidity of the grapes.

Other considera ons include phenological ripeness, berry avor, tannin development (seed colour and taste) and of course the overall condi on of the grapevine and weather forecasts are always taken into account as well.

Here in the Hunter Valley because of our warmer condi ons vintage can commence very early in January with grapes for Semillon being the rst variety to be picked being low alcohol (between 10.5% and 11.5% alcohol). Chardonnay is also picked around the same me.

Harves ng may con nue into March for late picked wine varie es and depending on the temperatures and how the vintage year developed over the summer period.

Once harvested, the ripe grapes are conveyed to the de stemmer and crusher where the leaves and stems are removed before the grapes are crushed. The wines then go to the fermenter for primary fermenta on (conver ng of sugar to alcohol and CO²) before then going to the press to separate the wine from the grape skins and seeds. Most white wines are pressed prior to fermenta on. The wine is then se led in large stainless steel tanks or upright oak tanks for se ling before then being transferred into smaller oak barrels for ageing.

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14 | JANUARY 2014

JANUARY 2014 | 15 thb

CHEESE PLEASE! Is there anything be er to serve with wine than cheese? They are two of life's great culinary pleasures and have a strong a nity going back thousands of years.

Both are fermented products and require pa ence, care and moderate temperatures to mature naturally. Although a highly subjec ve topic, matching cheese and wine can be a great deal of fun and also one of the most di cult things to get right.

If you must match a red wine with these cheeses, choose one that's very high in acid, like a Merlot or a Pinot Noir.

Goats Cheese: This cheese can be very tangy, quite salty and have an intense avour. The tang of the cheese and the sal ness of it requires a high acid white wine as it would clash with a red wine or other type of wine. The perfect wine for pairing with goats cheese is Riesling, Chenin Blanc or Sauvignon Blanc.

Let’s start with the more obvious ones. Perhaps the best method to pair wines with cheeses is to go by the same simple standard that applies to all regional cuisine and wine pairing – loca on. The connec on between the food of a region and the wine therein is a strong one and one that has been Mild Cheeses (Mozzarella, Monterey Jack and some milder Cheddar): created over many hundreds of years. O en the wine from a par cular These cheeses have some avour to them, but are not par cularly pungent area re ects the style, weight, avours and aromas of the local diet, and and go well with a variety of wines due to their texture and mild avour. vice versa.

The best wines to serve with these cheeses are full bodied white wines.

The white wines that can stand up to the avour of the cheese and make a Another method of matching a delicious bo le of wine to one of these good match include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and creamy gourmet delights is to weigh the style of the cheese. Fresh and Viognier. If you'd like to match a red wine with a mild cheese, make sure creamy cheeses that would otherwise be overshadowed by a heavy red with lots of tannins needs the crisp acidity of white wines to bring out their you s ck to a lighter type of red wine so it does not overpower the cheese. full range of avours. On the other hand, the harder a cheese is the be er Medium Cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, Edam , Gouda). All cheeses of it will react to a wine full of tannins. moderate avour intensity. A dry white Riesling or even a Pinot Gris are a good match, as well as light and moderate red wines such as Merlot, Pinot While there are no hard and fast rules to wine and cheese matching, the Noir, and even Shiraz. following ''rules of thumb'' tend to work well:

x Match white wines with so cheeses and those with stronger avours Pungent Cheeses (Blue Cheese, Parmesan, mature aged Cheddar ): These cheeses have very dis nct and strong avours and demand a full, tannic x Match red wines with hard cheeses and those with milder avours red, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Merlot, or Shiraz that x Fruity, sweet wines and dessert wines work well with a wide range of

cheeses and therefore the safest op on when presented with a cheese will stand up to a strong avoured cheese. Port is the classic accompaniment to most cheese, and goes par cularly well with strongly pla er

avoured ones. One of the most classic of pairings is that of English S lton x The more pungent the cheese the sweeter the wine should be and Port wine, both vintage and tawny. Dessert Wines are also a good

match for these cheese types.

Another handy p is to consider the texture, colour or avour of the cheese when choosing a wine. A sparkling white wine for example goes Smoked Cheese: The salty, bacon taste of smoked cheese is so dis nc ve well with a Brie or Rico a, fruity avours in cheese go well with fruity that it is very di cult to nd a wine that can live up to it, without altering wines, weigh er cheeses match well with weigh er wines and the whiter the avour of the wine. An Australian Shiraz would be the most preferred and fresher the cheese, the whiter and crispier the wine choice should be. match here which is richer than many others. A sweet dessert wine (Sauternes) will withstand the smoky avour.

Below is a rough guide of the most common cheese and wine pairings.

These are just a few examples of the hundreds of wonderful pairings Cream and So Cheeses (Brie, Camembert and Rico a): Because these between wine and cheese. Cheese comes in all shapes and sizes and can be cheeses can be very rich, and mouth coa ng, they need to be paired with a hard, so , smoked, poached or cured. The very nature of cheese makes it a wine that is high in acidity. When it comes to the white wines for Brie and perfect partner with the myriad of di erent styles of wine. While some Camembert, Chardonnay is a good bet, as is a Sparkling White Wine and versions may work be er than others, each is at the very least unique. So Pinot Gris (or Pinot Grigio). A Semillon Sauvignon Blanc or a Sauvignon don't hesitate to experiment as there are plenty of exo c and interes ng Blanc is amazing, as is a nice Riesling. cheeses out there just wai ng for a glass of wine and a pale e to play with.

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16 | JANUARY 2014

JANUARY 2014 | 17 thb

ERNEST HILL

GARTELMANN WINES

GUNDOG WINES

2013 Cyril Semillon

2013 Jessica Verdelho

2013 Wild Semillon

A family owned winery, the philosophy at Ernest Hill is to produce premium estate grown Hunter Valley wines. This wine is a classic Hunter white – winning double gold at the 2013 China Wine Awards and gold at the Bou que Wine Awards in 2013!

From fruit hand picked in late January, this wine is showing a lovely ght tangy acid structure with an abundance of strong lemon lime characters.

Best consumed on hot days accompanied by 1kg of fresh Crystal Bay king prawns.

Gartelmann Wines have a reputa on for producing some of the Hunters best wines that have gone on to achieve a range of accolades. The 2013 Gartelmann Jessica Verdelho a Winestate Top 40 Best Buy is a refreshing, vibrant, fruit driven wine, made from 100% Verdelho.

Pale straw in colour, the nose shows li ed citrus blossom layered over ripe melons, grapefruit and musk.

The palate is textured with layers of white peach and delicate Muscat characters.

Enjoy with seafood, spicy foods or just on its own.

Enjoy this wine whilst young and zesty or cellar for up to 7 years.

CALAIS ESTATE 2013 Verdelho A stunning Hunter Verdelho from the 2013 vintage. In keeping with the extremely popular 2012 Verdelho, this wine shows a purity of varietal character. Li ed tropical fruits and citrus blossom aromas hit the nose with a twinge of spice.

The palate is similarly concentrated with punchy tropical fruit avours, balanced with a zippy fresh acidity. A touch of natural residual sweetness complements a wider array of cuisine.

The perfect accompaniment to a hot summer day! Cellar for up to 12 months and enjoy when s ll young and fresh.

TAMBURLAINE ORGANIC WINES 2013 Wine Lovers Verdelho A wonderful wine, intense in

avour and richness. A por on of the grapes were picked early to capture the crisp acidity and a light spiciness while the remaining fruit was allowed to ripen to allow the tropical fruit avours to fully develop.

The bouquet has orange blossom, passionfruit and apricot aromas and a palate of fresh, tropical fruit

avours of pineapple and passionfruit with a zesty citrus nish.

This wine is an excellent accompaniment to full

avoured spicy, aroma c dishes, par cularly foods of Asian in uence. Cellar for up to 5 years.

This is Hunter Semillon, but not as you know it! With the Wild Semillon, Gundog push the boundaries of conven onal winemaking by fermen ng a por on of the wine on skins (like a red wine) using natural or “indigenous” yeast. The aim is to create a very textural and complex style of Semillon that showcases another side of this great wine grape. The 2013 Wild Semillon is very aroma c, o ering lemongrass, peach and some herbal tea leaf notes.

The palate is bright and

eshy with some residual sweetness to o set phenolics (tannin) and acidity. A fantas c companion to Asian inspired seafood dishes!

ADINA VINEYARD 2013 Verdelho A superb well rounded, fruity, crisp white wine displaying aromas of intense sweet tropical fruit with li ed stone fruit characters and a palate of rich tropical fruits and honey

avours, further complimented by banana and overtones of peach and honey dew.

The natural high acidity of this wine ensures that it is best consumed when young but will con nue to be appreciated for the next 4 years.

Perfect with sh, veal and chicken dishes – especially when tried with a chilli skewer and black pepper on the BBQ.

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JANUARY 2014 | 19 thb

HUNTER VALLEY

Verdelho

Milestone Celebration At Gartlemann Wines “My wine philosophy is simple: I only produce wines that I would like to drink – and that means immediately approachable and with balance.”

Verdelho is one of Australia's niche white wine varie es. It is a typically fresh, and avoursome wine, with a lovely balanced palate of fruit.

Verdelho is also a popular alterna ve to the market dominant Sauvignon Blanc and while usually sold as a straight varietal, also blends well with Chardonnay and Semillon.

Verdelho wine comes from Verdelho grapes small, hard, gold coloured and thick skinned grapes that were rst cul vated in Portugal in the 1400’s, and planted mostly on the island of Madeira, which lends its name to 4 main types of Madeira wine. The grape is used to make either a dry table white wine or a sweet, for ed wine.

The rst Australian plan ngs of Verdelho were thought to have been in Camden, southwest of Sydney but since then many other wine regions including the Hunter Valley have been producing very dis nc ve styles of wine, with Verdelho from the Hunter Valley displaying a spiciness, both on the nose and the palate. The characteris cs of Verdelho varies signi cantly according to the climate, growing condi ons, and the wine maker’s art as well as when the grape is picked. From cool to warm climates the varietal character will change from herbaceous, grassy and spice through to the more tropical avours of pineapple, melon, guava and fruit salad.

These fruity white wines are also su ciently adaptable to meet a number of food pairing op ons and are perfect for summer or lunch me meals pairing well with seafood, lighter meats such as veal, pork, or chicken and hard cheeses. The spicy varie es of Verdelho work well with roasted vegetables and pesto, while sweeter varie es go nicely with more Asian in uenced dishes.

Verdelho is also ideal without food, say for a late a ernoon drink with friends. You can try Verdelho wine with tapas or appe sers, say a couple of freshly shucked oysters.

So if you are looking for a avoursome, everyday drinking wine that goes well with a wide variety of food, look no further than Verdelho.

PICK OF THE CROP FIRST CREEK WINES | 2013 VERDELHO First Creek Wines have been cra ing wines of excep onal quality since 1996 – producing a great diversity of wine styles from the Hunter Valley as well as examples from other regions.

The 2013 Verdelho was harvested in the cool of the night to prevent oxida on. This premium Verdelho from the Hunter Valley was then crushed, pressed and cold se led before fermenta on in stainless steel with neutral yeast to allow natural fruit expression.

Minimal handling to bo ling allowed the natural CO2 to linger giving the wine a zesty nish.

This Verdelho is bright straw green in colour with li ed tropical and citrus aromas with hints of spice and a medium bodied palate with layers of ripe tropical fruits and melon, nishing with a zippy acidity. Perfectly matched to Asian or lightly spiced foods.

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Gartelmann Wines have much to celebrate a er 15 years of producing some of the Hunter Valleys nest and most awarded wines and it being 60 years since Jorg Gartelmann’s arrival in Australia.

In 1953 Jorg, his siblings, his mother and his stepfather migrated to Australia from Bremen in North Germany via the SS Anna Saleen where Jorg later carved out a successful career in the computer industry.

In 1996, a er Jorg su ered a heart a ack and underwent bypass surgery, he and wife Jan quit the computer business and Sydney to move to the Hunter Valley where they bought a rundown vineyard in the Lovedale area. The vineyard, planted in 1970 and known as George Hunter Estate, o ered enormous poten al and in 1997 Jorg commenced making a limited amount of wine under the Gartelmann label before moving into full produc on in 1998 specialising in the classic Hunter Valley varie es of Semillon and Shiraz while also producing Verdelho, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet, and Liqueur Muscat.

A er ten years of hard work, some major improvements and winning numerous medals and trophies, Jorg and Jan were approached to sell the vineyard but retained the property on Lovedale Rd on which the cellar door is located.

With the sale of the vineyard, Jorg decided to adopt the ways of the French and become a ‘negociant’ buying especially selected, high quality grapes to produce wine under his label. Jorg also oversees everything from grape selec on and produc on to when the wine is eventually bo led ensuring the Gartelmann quality and style is retained in every bo le.

The awards have not stopped with the Gartelmann 2009 Benjamin Semillon being among one of four class trophy winning wines that made Australia the top na on of the 2013 Six Na ons Wine Challenge.

Gartelmann Wines also received a gold medal for their 2010 Rylstone Cabernet Sauvignon at the 2013 Bou que Wine Awards. Other accolades for this wine include 4½ Stars Winestate Magazine and 93/100 James Halliday.

On Saturday 25th January Gartelmann Wines will be celebra ng its 15th Birthday with live entertainment on the deck from all Australian singer Pat Drummond. Join Jan and Jorg as they celebrate with some great music, fabulous wines and delicious food from The Deck Café.

JANUARY 2014 | 21 thb

BEHIND THE

In January the grapes are lling out as they ripen and develop full colour.

Sugar levels are gradually building and the grapes are monitored for sugar content and acid level in prepara on for harvest. The period January to February is when harves ng of the fruit typically occurs with the winemaker and vineyard manager working closely to determine the op mum me to pick the fruit to ensure the best wine quality.

Here are some of the latest happenings on the local Wine & Beer Scene.

Ernest Hill Wines gain interna onal recogni on: Following on from earlier successes, Ernest Hill submi ed wines to four pres gious interna onal wine shows with the following results:

x AWC Vienna: 1 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze (8 wines submi ed) x Interna onal Wine and Spirits Compe on London: 3 silver (3 wines submi ed)

x China Wine and Spirits Awards Hong Kong: 1 double gold, 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze (6 wines submi ed)

x New Zealand Interna onal Wine Show: 3 silver, 3 bronze (6 wines submi ed) Awards for Excellence: Hunter regional venues were well represented at the recent AHA NSW awards for excellence with Harrigans Irish Pub in Pokolbin taking out the award for Best Retail Liquor Outlet and Po er Hotel & Brewery in Nulkaba winning the award for Best Pub TAB Country Pokolbin Estate – Tops for Semillon: Pokolbin Estate have won Winestate Australasian Semillon of the year 4 mes in 8 years and Top 5 Semillon in Australasia for 2013!

Na onal Wine Show Awards: At the recent Na onal Wine Show Awards McWilliam’s Wines took out the Best Semillon Trophy for their 2007 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon. Gold awards went to Bimbadgen Winery for their 2013 Semillon and Tyrrell's Vineyards for their 2012 Belford Semillon and the 2005 Vat 1 Semillon. Australian Vintage also won gold for their 2005 McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon as did Thomas Wines for the 2011 Kiss Shiraz.

New Cellar Door for Pokolbin. Moon Mountain Vineyard is now open on Broke Rd in Pokolbin World Beer Fes val in Newcastle on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th January: Enjoy ne cra and bou que beers, interna onal cuisine, award winning Hunter Valley wines and great local cheeses at the 2014 Taste Of The World (TOTW) Beer Fes val. Now in its 4th year the TOTW Beer Fes val will be held at the Newcastle Harness Racing Club in Broadmeadow. Visit www.tasteo heworld.com.au Lindeman's to bring back regional wines. Lindeman’s is to focus on wines from the Hunter Valley as part of a drive to push the more premium, regional wines in its por olio. Lindeman's are also aiming to get more bo le aged Hunter wines back on the market – a style with which Lindeman’s used to dominate the tas ng circuit For a comprehensive list of local wineries, top drops and food and wine trail maps for each of the 5 key wine growing areas see the latest issue of Wine & Dine Hunter Valley.

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How much wine does one vine produce?

It depends on many factors such as the vine's age, the variety being grown, the growing condi ons, the style of wine being made and, importantly, the quality of the wine. The volume of fruit harvested is determined by many natural factors as well as by the winemaker who decides just how many bunches should remain on the vine during the growing season. Deciding on bunch numbers assists in the management of yields and the overall quality of the wine and is o en based on a leaf to fruit ra o.

As a rule of thumb, it takes just over a kilo of grapes to produce enough juice for one bo le of wine, but depending on the factors men oned above, one vine might produce enough fruit for just a single bo le of high quality wine, or enough for several bo les.

JANUARY 2014 | 23 thb

SUMMERDecadence Match your Wine to your Oyster A er all the rich ea ng over the Christmas period, is there anything more en cing than a full plate of oysters and a glass of crisp white wine?

Finding a wine to match the briny richness of oysters is easier than you may think. There are numerous types of oysters with varying avours and nishes leaving a wide range of wine op ons to pair with these tasty li le molluscs.

The most classic pairing with oysters is, of course, Sparkling Wine or Champagne. The crisp zziness of these wines marries nicely with the

avour of most oysters cu ng through the richness and enhancing the subtler avours and especially good when the oysters and the Sparkling Wine are both served chilled.

For me, a bone dry Riesling, Hunter Semillon or Chardonnay are a good match to the dis nc ve seaweed, salty and mineral tastes that these wines have to compete with. Chardonnay may not always be considered the ideal choice for raw oysters but can be superb when paired with cooked oysters and especially when served in a creamy sauce or chowder.

Sauvignon Blanc o ers another lean and focused, mineral driven choice and the brisk acidity and citrus tartness of these wines go well with raw oysters. Taking a sip of a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc can be like a fresh squeeze of lemon as both tend to cut through the rich, succulent texture of the oyster preparing the palate for another.

Sauvignon Blanc also works par cularly well when served with Asian

avours as they o en are in Australia.

Another exci ng op on is a Pinot Grigio which follows the northern Italian winemaking styles and tends to have crisp, bracing acidity and a focus more on minerality than on frui ness There are many wines to choose from out there, but as long as you choose something light with a tart edge, it should pair well with oysters.

Wine isn’t the only op on you have when searching for the right accompaniment for oysters. A good smooth and malty cra beer can really complement the avour of oysters as well.

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24 | JANUARY 2014

At Twine Restaurant at Wynwood Estate, the “Oyster Plate done 6 di erent Ways” (pictured above) is the perfect opportunity to match your wine to your oyster! Twine only use the freshest oysters sourced from Port Stephens Holbert Oyster Farm. They are plump oysters and as Holberts deliver fresh direct from the farm they always receive the cream of the oyster crop.

The Twine Oyster Plate includes an oyster created in each of the following ways, served on a bed of sea salt….

x Oyster in shell with cucumber & chilli sorbet x Oyster in shell with smoked salmon crème fraiche and salmon caviar x Oyster in shell with tomato gazpacho x Oyster in shell with tru ed thyme and prosciu o crumbed with parmesan cream

x Oyster in shell wrapped in pance a

JANUARY 2014 | 25 thb

FOCUS ON

WHAT’S NEW IN FOOD

GEORGE FRANCISCO EXECUTIVE CHEF | ROBERTS CIRCA 1876

With January comes warmer Summer days and nights ideal for late morning breakfasts or brunch and dining outside under the stars at one of the many local restaurants and cafes do ed around the Hunter Valley.

Here are some of the latest happenings on the local Food Scene.

Winner ''Best Restaurant Country'' For the second year in a row, 221 Restaurant & Bar at the Royal Oak Hotel, Cessnock has won "Best Restaurant Country" at the Australian Hotel Associa on NSW Awards for Excellence. ''Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Kitchen''. Jan Molenaar from Two Fat Blokes Gourmet Tours is to open his new gourmet kitchen and Euro Deli at De Iuliis Winery on Broke Rd in Pokolbin. The restaurant / cafe will have an all day menu o ering wine and food matching, charcuterie pla ers, daily specials on fresh foods, pasta, seafood, streak and chicken. The Euro deli will also have an outstanding range of local and interna onal deli products. Open 7 days with breakfast served on Saturday and Sunday Fireside Sundays at Twine Restaurant: Put a li le spark in your Sunday with Fireside Sundays at Twine Restaurant and celebrate Summer Treats throughout January. Sunday night reside dining is about cooking over an open re to create a unique casual dining experience. It starts with a house made mezze plate followed by the reside dinner (Summer Treats) and a tantalizing dessert. Every Sunday at Twine Restaurant from 5:30pm last bookings 7:30pm. Cost: $45 pp (kids under 12 eat free). Ph: 4998 7449 Locals Night at Roberts Circa 1876 Tuesdays and Wednesdays BYO No Corkage. Ph: 4998 4998.

Next Locals Night at The Verandah Restaurant is on Sunday the 2nd of February with the theme “Verandah Favourites Night”. The evening starts at 6:30pm with complimentary canapés and bubbles, followed by a 5 coarse Tapas Style degusta on. $60 per person BYO (no corkage). Ph: 4998 7231 Emerson's Cafe & Restaurant now at Adina Vineyard in Lovedale is introducing a new and exci ng way to dine with his ''Chef's Table Dinner'' an exclusive opportunity to dine right in the middle of all the ac on in Emerson's kitchen. To enquire about the Chef's Table phone 4930 7029.

Latest Sweet Spot to Open in the Hunter: Twenty Three Twenty located at 2320 Broke Rd Pokolbin is the latest addi on to the Hunter Valley Chocolate Co's stable of retail outlets. The new outlet features a large co ee lounge, a terri c range of gelato and frozen yoghurt and a wine tas ng area. There is also a large viewing window where the fudge makers and chocola ers can be seen making the chocolate and fudge for the 4 retail outlets. Not to be missed!

Things were always going to get interes ng when Execu ve Chef George Francisco joined Roberts Restaurant Circa 1876 and set about de ning a new culinary direc on for the landmark restaurant.

Now diners at Roberts Circa 1876 get to experience the culinary delights created by this chef who has been awarded no less than 7 hats in the 12 years he has been in Australia.

George started his career in 1980, working under renowned chef, Marcel Desaulniers and working at some of the best restaurants on the US West Coast including working at San Francisco's Star’s under Jeremiah Tower and Mark Franz followed by his rst head chef role at the now famous Café Claude before moving to the Miyako Hotel as Execu ve Chef of YoYo Bistro. George then later went back to work for Chef Mark Franz as Chef de Cuisine of the very famous and s ll opera ng, Farallon Restaurant in San Francisco.

George then made the decision to move to Australia in 2001 rm in the belief that Sydney had incredible poten al for being ''a major force in the world's food scene."

Upon arriving in Australia George was the Execu ve Chef at Wild re Restaurant at Circular Quay in Sydney before establishing his own restaurant the cri cally acclaimed Dish in Sydney’s Northern Beaches which earned 3 chefs hats over a 3 year period. George then joined Jonah’s at Whale Beach where he was the Execu ve Chef for 5 years earning 4 hats in that me.

George’s modern Australian style of cooking has a de nite French in uence, but it is his passion for loca ng and using the best and freshest local produce that ensures diners at Roberts Circa 1876 are treated to a truly memorable dining experience. But George claims that his food is not all about France, instead it's about using French techniques coupled with local produce and seasonal ingredients.

Since arriving in the Hunter, George has put his own personal stamp on Roberts Circa 1876 refurbishing the restaurant and redesigning the menu to which he has added some of his signature dishes. One of his latest projects has been to team up with hor culturalist Elisa Fitzpatrick to establish a spectacular organic market garden which drives the restaurants menu and adds to the self su ciency of the property.

Best Burgers in Town Umami Flavour: Tuk Tuk Hunter Valley Burger Company at the Tempus Two complex is all the craze at the moment serving burgers with a di erence and that di erence is the Umami

avour.... Great views sensa onal burgers, hotdogs, skewers ands rolls at great prices. Ph: 4998 6980.

The garden is testament to his love for growing things and his passion for food and has enabled George to live out a career long dream of se ng up a sustainable restaurant which also includes harves ng his own honey.

The garden is also home to a charisma c bunch of chickens all named a er English Chefs that parade up and down the garden fer lizing the soil as they go and supplying the kitchen with eggs.

For a comprehensive list of local restaurants, dining reviews and food and wine trail maps for each of the 5 key wine growing areas see the latest issue of Wine & Dine in the Hunter.

With George as the chef, Roberts Circa 1876 is now one of the most popular restaurants around and with its unique se ng amongst the vineyards in a Na onal Trust slab co age dated 1876, the restaurant o ers diners elegance and a sense of history coupled with a most memorable dining experience.

When not in his kitchen or organic garden, George can be found caring for his own garden at home, sur ng at Anna Bay or at spending me with his partner and two children.

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JANUARY 2014 | 27 thb

Image courtesy Ridgeview Restaurant

Perfect to Share!

Convenient, easy to eat and quick to serve, meze (or mezedhes), have made their way from the bars and restaurants of Greece, Cyprus and the Balkans to gradually capture the a en on and appe tes of diners all over the world and are a joy to share with family and friends.

Meze is a word with its roots steeped in an quity. The word and its usage came to Greece from Turkey and is a dish hot or cold, spicy or savoury, o en salty that is served, alone or with other mezedhes, as a separate ea ng experience.

A meze is a big part of the dining experience in Eastern Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Arab countries. The word "meze" means "taste" and/ or "snack" and the concept is very similar to the tapas of Spain, but with di erent ingredients. When served with alcohol like anise avoured liqueurs such as raki, ouzo or wine, a meze is a main meal and the perfect addi on to any group gathering.

Popular meze dishes include Babaghanoush or eggplant (aubergine) mashed and mixed with seasonings; Halloumi cheese served sliced and grilled or fried; Afelia consis ng of diced pork marinated in wine with coriander seed and then stewed and Souvlakia which is diced meat cubes (normally lamb), grilled on a skewer over charcoal. Seafood dishes such as grilled octopus, may also be included, along with salads, sliced hard boiled eggs, garlic bread, Kalamata olives, fava beans, fried vegetables and fresh Greek goat or cow cheeses. Other dishes may include fried sausages and meatballs like ke ĂŠdes.

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Unlike appe zers which are intended to whet the appe te for the meal to come, it is common for groups of family and friends to gather or go out for mezedhes and share several of these deligh ul dishes which not only provide a wonderful variety of avour and texture sensa ons, but also creates the kind of happy and even noisy atmosphere for which Greeks are renowned for.

Here in the Hunter Valley, RidgeView Restaurant and Execu ve Chef Donna Hollis have introduced a refreshingly di erent style of dining with a menu that includes tradi onal and contemporary Middle Eastern and Mediterranean in uenced dishes all complemented by an excellent selec on of wines. There is a real emphasis on fresh local produce with much of the vegetables, herbs and salads grown in the kitchen garden. Like most Mediterranean in uenced cuisine, the avours change with the season and the menus change accordingly to match the seasons and seasonal produce.

A popular choice at RidgeView is the Cypriot Meze a four course banquet meal (Meze Feast) made up of many small dishes and designed to be shared. For the not so hungry RidgeView have now expanded their menu to include a selec on of mezedhes small tasty dishes similar to the dishes that make up the Meze Feast.

There's plenty to like about meze dining so if you're in the mood for a fun and social meal with a loved one or a group of friends then RidgeView Restaurant on Sweetwater Rd will not disappoint. They serve breakfasts Friday to Sunday but lunch and dinner is available Thursday to Sunday Bookings are a must ph: 6574 7332.

JANUARY 2014 | 29 thb

COMING UP SATURDAY 1ST FEBRUARY 2014—HUNTERS & COLLECTORS at Bimbadgen Estate From their beginnings back in 1981, Hunters & Collectors were always something of an anomaly. In their earliest forms the band was a loose, ambi ous musical collec ve who, in the words of Rolling Stone, " lled an art rock void in Melbourne". Their rise from cult status to suburban beer barn favourites through to the top of the charts was gradual and decisive. Throughout their career, the only thing that remained constant with the band was their insistence that they would do things their own way, in their own good me.

The mighty Hunters & Collectors are back.

This powerhouse Australian ou it is once again set to enthral and thrill not only devotees from the past, but also a whole new genera on of music lovers. Hunters & Collectors will be joined at Bimbadgen Winery by You Am I, Something For Kate and Bri sh India.

For more informa on and cket sales visit www.adayonthegreen.com.au

Photocredit: Mar n Philbey

18TH TO 23RD FEBRUARY—SURFEST 2014 Merewether Beach Newcastle Reigning ASP World Champion surfer Joel Parkinson will compete in the 2014 Surfest program for the much covet ed Mark Richards trophy as well as a share of the $US155,000 prize pool. Also con rmed for the 2014 Surfest program is elite women’s surfer, Dimity Stoyle, who will defend her 2013 crown in the $40,000 Hunter Ports Women’s Classic. This is great news not only for Newcastle but also for our sur ng community. For more informa on visit www.surfest.com.

Photocredit: RedMonkey Photography Newcastle

SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2014 DOLLY PARTON at Hope Estate Iconic singer, songwriter, musician, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton returns to Australia a er a widely successful 2011 tour. "Australia, here I come again. We have a lot of new and exci ng things for the show and can't wait to share it with you. I love my fans in that part of the world. You've been so very good to me for so many years and I know that we're gonna have a wonderful me. It's a long way from home in your part of the world, but I always feel like I'm right at home. So Australia, I'm coming home. Wait up!" .For more informa on and cket sales visit Ticketek.

feb markets

SUNDAY FEB 2ND Broke Village Markets.

This li le market is a must see.

Set in the beau ful, sheltered park in the main street of Broke, the market is a relaxing way to add to all that Broke Fordwich has for visitors and locals.

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30 | JANUARY 2014

SATURDAY 22ND AND SUNDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 2014 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN at Hope Estate A er delivering in March 2013 what many cri cs and fans declared the ‘greatest rock and roll show on earth,’ Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are headed back to Australia in February for their most extensive tour of our shores to date. Springsteen and the E Street Band’s marathon performances, infec ous energy and ability to cap vate audiences did not go unno ced with the Wrecking Ball tour being awarded the 2013 Helpmann Award for ‘Best Interna onal Contemporary Concert’ and both fans and cri cs heralding it as the tour of the year. For more informa on and cket sales visit Ticketek.

SATURDAY FEB 15TH AND SAT/SUN FEB 22ND/23RD Hand Made in the Hunter Markets. a mixed market of ar sts, growers, Everything at these popular markets po ers, handmade and other eclec c is hand made by the person selling stalls with live music, cafe and wine it—making it the most unique tas ng. Take some me to wander around, enjoy lunch at the Brickworks markets held in wine country.

Brasserie or take a tour of the brewery Generally held most Saturdays (and at Hunter Beer Co. Wine Country Drive the occasional Sunday) at Kevin Sobels Wines. Visit the facebook (Cnr Fleming St), Nulkaba page for stall and weather info.

SUNDAY 9TH FEB Wine Country Markets at Potters

SUNDAY FEB 16TH Sacred Tree Markets.

Boasting over 100 stalls, these markets are the fastest growing in the valley. The markets are held at the Old St Brigids School Grounds on the corner of Station Street & the New England Hwy at Branxton. For further information visit www.sacredtreemarkets.com.au.

morpethhuntervalley.com.au It must be Morpeth

Disc ver HunterValleyShopping.com.au

Shop BEAUTIFUL

THINGS An exquisite array of spectacular jewellery, stylish watches, amazing giftware and home wares. Gifts for all ages and occasions collected from all corners of the world.

CANDELABRA One of Australia's most famous boutique candle stores—the stunning fragrances, colour and endless variety of product is truly amazing.

CHRISTMAS IN THE VINES Where it is Christmas every day. Come on in to our little cottage, and see the great Christmas bargains in store.

GEMS4U Visit Gems4u and select from a wonderful range of amazing and unique pieces—Gemstones, Minerals, Fossils, Beading and Gift Certificates.

PULP ADDICTION Satisfy your paper cravings with our delightful range of designer stationery which is guaranteed to intrigue and delight.

Dine AND THE WINNER IS OSCARS Serving tasty gourmet picnics, fish, sandwiches, our famous gourmet pies, pizza and pasta, there is truly something for all tastes and pockets! Phone 4998-7355.

THE VILLAGE CAFÉ Relax and enjoy a delicious light meal or sweet treat and a blissful cup of coffee.

Phone 4998-6700.

TASTE OF THE COUNTRY Experience a Taste of the Country in this award winning café and retail outlet.

This popular café is like walking into an old fashioned, country kitchen. Phone 4998-6605.

THE CELLAR RESTAURANT Rustic Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed, friendly environment. Open for lunch and dinner Monday to Saturday. Bookings recommended. Phone 4998 7584.

Pamper

THE TWIG A gorgeous selection of home furnishings

Savour HUNTER VALLEY CHOCOLATE COMPANY Established more than ten years ago the ORIGINAL Hunter Valley Chocolate Company & Fudge Factory is one of the premier attractions in the area.

HUNTER VALLEY COOKIES Hand-made premium cookies in designer gourmet flavours.

Cookie tastings daily, delicious coffee and gluten free cookies.

HUNTER VALLEY LIQUEURS & BAERAMI OLIVES Extra virgin olive oils, infused olive oils, vinegars and a large range of specialty liqueurs and an impressive array of bottles to customize your selection.

THE BRITISH LOLLY SHOP The largest range of imported English Confectionary. All your old favourites, humbugs, sherbet lemon, come in and sample our hospitality.

THE GARDEN CELLARS Mount Eyre/Three Ponds Cellar Door. See the Tunnel Of Beer or taste 17 flavoured organic vodkas.

and personal giftware unlike anything else on offer in the ZEN HAIR SKIN BODY A full Hairdressing Salon valley. and Beauty Spa in one location, innovative & deluxe THE WAITERS FRIEND A great selection of quality treatments in an environmentally friendly setting, the salon can cater to any need. Phone 4998-6844. kitchenware and barware and some of the best prices anywhere in Australia.

AQUA GOLF & PUTT PUTT If you fancy a bit of action then visit our Aqua Golf and VILLAGE BOOKS A fantastic range of fiction, nonPutt Putt Golf Course—fun for the whole family! Win fiction, and children’s books and a unique collection of cash & prizes! Phone 4998-7896. quality toys, games, souvenirs and gifts.

POKOLBIN CONVENIENCE STORE In the heart WILSON & HUNTER Summer is heating up at Wilson of the village is a genuine general store servicing the and Hunter with a burst of colour. The latest from Camilla, Pokolbin area with everything you might need while Mela Purdie, Verge, Katherine, Samantha Wills, Metalicus, visiting the Wine Country.

Bleu Blanc Rouge,Tilly Rose,Tolani and more…

POKOLBIN VILLAGE PHARMACY Offering you WINE GLASS GALLERY An extraordinary gift gallery friendly, professional service as well as a wide range of BROKE ROAD, stocking unique colourful wine glasses, original artworks, products: full PBS prescription service, medicines, POKOLBIN homewares, $20 summer hats, jewellery, shot glasses, vitamins, skin care, cosmetics, hair care, fragrances, OPEN 7 DAYS magnets, souvenirs & much more. sunglasses and much more. Phone 4998 6677 FROM 10AM

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