The Perfect Riesling to be at Cellar Door Fest this Weekend

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February 28, 2018

You’ve been caught in Clipsal traffic all week; or maybe you’ve taken your crying, screaming children to a few too many Fringe shows are you’re tired; maybe your friends, neighbours, sisters pet budgie died… regardless of the reason, let’s just assume you’ve had a tough week and it’s time to uncork and relax. This is all the more riesling to find someone to watch the kids, un wine and take time to smell the rosés at Cellar Door Fest this weekend! Yes we did just fit 3 wine puns into once sentence.

All puns aside South Australia’s most awarded food and beverage festival, Cellar Door Fest, returns to the Adelaide Convention Centre, 2 – 4 March, shining a spotlight on many of state’s leading wineries, breweries, distilleries and food producers.

Celebrating its eighth year in 2018, the popular festival brings the regions to the City for three days of
tastings, long table dining, master classes, intimate “DIY” workshops and more. This festival is set
to the biggest Cellar Door Fest to date, featuring 180 producers from 17 South Australian regions. 180 producers, that’s a lot of wine tastings…. wine not?

“Cellar Door Fest is a fantastic showcase of South Australia’s vibrant food, wine, beer and spirits scene –
it’s all about bringing the State’s best to the heart of the City,” comments Simon Burgess, General
Manager, Adelaide Convention Centre, hosts of the annual Cellar Door Fest.

“To think the event started as an experiment in 2011 and is now not only a permanent fixture on the State’s festival calendar, but also South Australia’s most awarded food and beverage festival, speaks to its strong and enduring consumer
appeal.”

SPOTLIGHT ON EMERGING WINEMAKERS

South Australia’s global reputation as a ‘Great Wine Capital’ will again be on show at Cellar Door Fest, with
a fantastic representation of the state’s principal wineries in attendance. New in 2018, the event will shine a
special spotlight on a new wave of winemakers hitting the South Australian wine scene. Presented as a
dedicated zone within the Festival, the ‘Emerging Winemakers’ area will highlight 20 wineries that have
only been in the industry for three years or less, providing opportunity for guests to discover some great
new drops.

As part of the event’s celebration of new winemaker talent, local wine hero and Cellar Door Fest 2018 Wine
Ambassador, Paul Henry, will host the ‘Emerging Winemakers Kitchen Table’ – a free festival feature
across the event – offering in-depth insight into the state’s latest emerging winemakers, and of course,
providing opportunity to sample their wines.

WHAT’S ON

THE BEER GARDEN AND DISTILLERY DISTRICT

Cellar Door Fest is not however just about wine. In recent years the Festival has expanded to showcase
the state’s budding craft brewing and distillery industries, both of which will also be well represented.
The Beer Garden returns in 2018 complemented by a series of new events specially crafted for the beer
enthusiast. There will be everything from live brewing demonstrations to a ‘Battle of the Brewers’ long lunch
and ‘Beer Geek versus Brewer’ sessions, pitting enthusiasts against professionals in a blind tasting
showdown.

The Distillery district also returns to highlight the state’s great handcrafted gins and whiskies. For the gin-
lovers, the program includes an interactive gin-blending masterclass and “DIY” workshop. With whisky
growing in popularity and tipped by some as the ‘next big thing’ in the spirits world, the McLaren Vale
Distillery Long Table Lunch is surely one not to be missed.

The three-day Festival will also see the return of Fest favourites, including exquisite long table dining and
informative master classes, as well as introduce a series of exciting new elements, including:

THE DIY SERIES

Cellar Door Fest expands its commitment to food and wine education in 2018 with the introduction of an all-new ‘DIY series’. From making feta cheese to gin-blending and whipping up Italian favourites such as pasta and tiramisu, participants will learn the tricks of the trade from industry experts via a series of intimate workshops.

FOOD, BOOZE + DANCING SHOES

Another exciting new addition to the 2018 program, Food Booze + Dancing Shoes will be Cellar Door Fest’s official Friday night after party. A lively concoction of local produce, ‘booze’ and music, this new addition is all about bringing winery vibes to the City. The event will be a spirited collaboration between Jessie Spiby (ex-Masterchef, Jessie Does Food), the Porch Sessions, Alpha Box and Dice, Mismatch Brewing Co., Hills Cider, Adelaide Hills Distillery and Sunlight Liquor. Food Booze + Dancing Shoes will provide a great kick-start to the weekend’s program, running
8pm – midnight on the opening day, Friday, 2 March.

TOMICH WINES LONG TABLE SUNDAY BRUNCH

Cellar Door Fest’s popular long table dining series expands in 2018 to include a special long table Sunday brunch on 4 March. Providing the perfect start to Sunday at Cellar Door Fest, diners will indulge in a delectable menu paired with a selection of Tomich Wines before doors to the Fest officially open. The Sunday Brunch will be held in the
Convention Centre’s stunning Gilbert Suite, which offers superlative views of the Adelaide riverbank.
The Cellar Door Fest team extends its thanks to its 2018 event ambassadors Jessie Spiby (Food), Paul
Henry (Wine), Mark Reginato (Spirits) and Matt King (Beer), as well as its key sponsors, PIRSA, Brand SA
and RAA.

Key Details: Cellar Door Fest 2018
Dates & times: Friday, 2 March, 2018, 5pm – 9pm
Saturday, 3 March 2018, 11am – 6pm
Sunday, 4 March, 2018, 11am – 6pm