Barossa Gourmet Weekend 2014: Just Desserts & Fortified

Sunday 17th August 2014

We were excited to be hosting this intimate indulgent treat as part of Barossa Gourmet Weekend.?A?sell-out crowd were taken behind the scenes of the world of fortified wine covering the grape varieties, barrel ageing, food matching and most importantly the sensory experience.

Guests enjoyed an afternoon master class hosted by Ron Liebich and his daughter Briony.

The Tasting

A series of Grenache-based tawnys of different ages were compared to show how varietal flavours and woody flavours integrate and develop into complex liqueur wines. We tasted Ruby Grenache (1 year old), Classic Old Barossa (10 years), 20th Anniversary Tawny (20 years).

Matching Fortified with Desserts

Briony works as a Sensory Analyst and provided insights into basic taste interactions and why we love sweet flavours. The desserts were prepared by local chef Kate Harbison using as many local ingredients as possible. The desserts inspired by French cuisine as Ron and Janet had the privilege of visiting France this year.

Here are the wines and desserts served as complementary pairings:

Pairing #1

Classic Muscat ?- Apricot Frangipane Tart with Jersey cream

Pairing #2

Classic Frontignac ? Wine-spiced poached pear with cinnamon quince glaze

Pairing #3

Classic Semillon ? Cr?me brulee cheesecake with vanilla-infused orange slice

Pairing #4

Grand Tawny ? Choux puffs and port-soaked prune creme anglaise with dark chocolate sauce

Thanks to everyone who attended and assisted with this true sweet indulgence!

BG14 event 4a S Facebook (10) pear dish S BG14 event 3a S Facebook (23) apricot dish S

Winter: Chocolate Truffle & Wine Tasting

fortified tray choc 1 SJoin us for a flight of warming fortified wines matched to handmade chocolate truffles. This indulgent, hands-on experience is available for small groups.

Be taken on a journey of flavour through four varieties of premium fortified wines ranging from two to twenty years old. A rare treat!

Truffle pairings:
Apricot & Nutty Milk Chocolate – Muscat
Orange & White Chocolate – Frontignac
Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate – Semillon
Cranberry & Tawny Dark Chocolate – Tawny

When Sunday 27 July?& Sunday 31 August?2014?

Cost?$15 per person (includes discount on bottled wine purchases)

Bookings are essential. Please allow at least 30 minutes to enjoy the experience.

Read about similar events

Recipe: Apricot and Nut Truffles

These are so simple to make and match perfectly with Classic Muscat.fruit coconut truffle balls

Makes approximately 30 truffle balls if you can help yourself from tucking in while you make them.

Ingredients

1 cup whole, unsalted, roasted nuts (almonds, macadamias or pecans)
2 cups dried apricots
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp honey (strongly flavoured)
? cup desiccated coconut

Method

  1. Combine the?first five ingredients in a food processor and combine until mixture forms a dough-like ball.
  2. Using your hands, firmly roll into small balls, then roll the balls in the desiccated coconut.

Alternatively, dip the rolled balls into melted milk or dark?chocolate for richer flavours.

Special Chocolate Truffle and Fortified Tasting

Liebich_truffle_tasting 1 SEvery weekend since?October we have?been?hosting guests for a special fortified and chocolate truffle tasting.

Janet has been busy in the kitchen whipping up delicious truffles with flavours to match each grape variety of fortified we make.

Guests are served?a homemade truffle with each of?our four different varieties of fortified wines – both as youthful wines and?the complex aged styles.

The truffles will change as Janet makes new flavour discoveries, but here?are the current wine and chocolate truffle pairings:

Apricot & Nut Truffles?-?Muscat

Orange & White Chocolate Truffles?-?Frontignac

Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles?-?Semillon

?Cranberry, Port & Dark Chocolate Truffles?-?Tawny

Customers have been delighted by the tasting and appreciate the homemade touch. Expect us to hold more of these events in the New Year.

We were thrilled to see?this feedback on our Facebook page:

?Thank you for a wonderful chocolate truffle and fortified tasting experience! It was so delicious we couldn’t help but take home 10L of your port, some of the Rare museum tawny, and a bottle of the Lofty Cab Sav so we can continue enjoying it at home!? Lashan