Once again, we cleared out the sheds to host this annual event with pop up wine bar, band on stage and mobile food vendors. We were all glad for the shed space as the day was a cold blustery day in late June.
We had our most diverse range of food yet which pleased young and old. Popular Adelaide food truck Sneaky Pickle served up a tasting plate of a mini pulled pork bun and beef brisket burger with fried and fried pickles on the side. Alexandrina Cheese Company ?trekked all the way from Mt Compass to offer cheese tastings, platters and cheeses to take home. And for sweets, Little Dot Bake Shop returned after a successful outing at our 20th Anniversary celebration with divine sweet indulgences. There was also a stall selling quality dried stonefruit from the Riverland (the same used in our drunken fruits).
Music was provided by the local trio Finnigan who kept the crowd swaying with a good mix of folk and country with an Irish twang. Children were kept amused by a master animal balloon maker. There were two fortified workshops hosted by Ron to highlight the developing flavours of our four different grape varieties. A sensory skills quiz was prepared to match various odours with their descriptions.
Thanks to all who assisted with this huge event and to everyone who attended! It was fantastic to see so many new faces and to hear that people had travelled far and wide.
Liebichwein are putting the call out for the best home barrel blend. All amateur wine blenders around Australia are invited to submit their personal fortified wines for the chance to be crowned ‘best fortified blend’ in a competition organised by Barossa winery Liebichwein. The winner receives an engraved wooden dipstick trophy they can use to measure how much is in their barrel.
Fortified wines have a long history in the Barossa Valley and winemaker Ron Liebich certainly knows a thing or two about them. Ron has completed over 50 vintages growing and producing a range of wines with a special focus on fortifieds which have a widespread fan base across Australia.
Liebichwein cellar door offers varied fortified styles and blends made from red and white varietals including Muscat, Semillon, Frontignac and Grenache. Customers have been coming in regularly for refills of bulk fortifieds for aging and blending in their home barrel. Many bulk wine containers also get shipped across Australia.
Having a home barrel to age your own fortified blend is one of life’s little luxuries. By running this competition, Liebichwein aim to reward the patience in taking on this challenge. Budding winemakers blenders are encouraged to enter one or more samples of their own blend for professional evaluation by Ron and an experienced judging panel.
During judging, an experienced panel taste all wine samples in a blind tasting. Tasting notes are written and quality scores given for overall flavour and balance. Judges look for wines that are in balance and provide a good drink no matter how old the wine is or what stage of development it is. All entrants receive feedback from the panel and blending advice from Ron which we know is greatly appreciated.
The competition is being held in August-September. Entrants are required to submit a 200mL wine sample in a clean glass bottle or jar.
The winners will be announced by Liebichwein in mid September.
