House Wine Wines of Australia Tasting

It’s wine tasting season in Vancouver, an annual occurrence as the fall weather sets in and the local grape harvest is underway. On October 1 the house wine ladies, two of my favourite local wine educators and writers, hosted Dishing Up With Australia at the Vancouver Museum.

Actually Michelle Bouffard, half the house wine team, was away, so I suppose it was really hosted by house wine lady, Michaela Morris. (I somehow neglected to get her photo and that of some of the dishes, perhaps I should spit more than sip next time.)

This tasting tour of Australia featured wines in categories such as crisp whites, rich whites, Pinot Noirs, Cabernet’s and blends and was paired with Chef Dino Renaerts fantastic cuisine. It was just the thing for a Saturday night, proving to offer just the right amount of wine to manageably taste most of within 2 and a half hours without losing complete control of oneself (although as mentioned above, enough that I did lose some focus).

Seared albacore tuna with cucumber maki and ponzu 2009 Skillogalee Riesling, Clare Valley $25

Beet and chèvre salad with toasted hazelnut and arugula pesto 2009 Shaw + Smith, Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide Hills $30

Crab salad with mango and pineapple 2009 Evans & Tate, ‘Metricup Road’ Chardonnay, Margaret River $20

Braised beef slider with bbq sauce 2008 Chapel Hill, Bush Vine Grenache, McLaren Vale $30

Minted lamb kofka skewers with dill yogurt 2009 Fraser Gallop, Cabernet Merlot, Margaret River $28

Orange crème with figs and almond crunch n/v Buller Victoria Tawny Port $25

Missed pics

Oyama venison sausage with huckleberry compote
2007 Greenstone Vineyard, Shiraz, Heathcote $35

Wild mushroom crostini with fresh thyme
2009 Josef Chromy, Pinot Noir, Tasmania $30