By John Rozentals.
Mudgee will celebrate one of the country’s longest-running wine-and-food festivals with the 2019 Mudgee Wine + Food Festival to be held from September 7 to October 7.
The festival was established in 1979 when a small band of visionary winemakers saw the opportunity in banding together to showcase the region’s unique wine quality.
Since then, the festival has continued to grow and expand, and now encompasses the entire month of September and the October long weekend, bringing together not only the winegrowers but the region’s best produce, chefs and cooks to share the Mudgee experience.
The 2019 Mudgee Wine + Food Festival will be officially launched on Saturday, September 7 with a 6pm Ruby event in the Craigmoor Pavilion.
This will be a cocktail-style event with a number of tasting ‘stations’ with current vintage and museum wines being presented by the region’s winemakers.
Guests can also get up close and personal with Mudgee’s winemakers at the Trophy Dinner to be held at 6.30pm at Putta Bucca House on Friday, September 13.
Mudgee’s best wines will be announced and tasted with matching dishes prepared by the region’s renowned chefs.
Visit www.visitmudgeeregion.com.au.
WINE REVIEWS
Bremerton 2019 Racy Rosé ($18): A blend of cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, this rosé is indeed both dry and racy. I like the style very much and reckon it’s the sort of wine we should be drinking probably year round in Queensland and at least in warmer months elsewhere. Partner with fresh salads, especially of the Greek Mediterranean style.
Gartelmann 2015 Joey Merlot ($30): I like the way that the Gartelmanns give their wines personality by naming them after family members. From coolish Orange, this merlot is named after Jan Gartelmann’s grandson. It’s a dry red so earthy that it’s almost gritty on the palate. Drink for the next few years with something like osso bucco or rich red-sauced pasta.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Bremerton 2017 Special Release Malbec ($24): The red darling of the Argentinean wine industry and a variety that has gained fame in Australia’s Clare Valley as a blending partner for cabernet sauvignon, malbec also performs well in Cahors, in western France, and in the South Australian district of Langhorne Creek. This dry red has a spicy, brambly side to it. Do as the Argentines would do and have it with a fine, rare, char-grilled steak.
