EVERY couple of years, I head to Burgundy for the Grand Jours, a five day exhibition of the best that Burgundy has to offer. One of the events is the Salon de Jeunes Vignerons, an event showcasing exclusively wines from up and coming young wine makers. And is it exciting stuff! Attention to detail, and [...]
BOTH our climate and the beauty of the surrounding area encourage people to enjoy the outdoors. Two of the most popular areas used by walkers and cyclists all year are along the Murray River and up on the Nail Can Hill. After the beautiful rains we have had, there has been a marked increase in [...]
WITH over 40 years combined restaurant experience, owner Allan Parker and his Chef Sean Ford make a formidable team. Both have classical training so Italian and French influences abound, with sous vide a popular technique in their kitchen. Crafting their own butter, roasting coffee beans, making sour dough, pasta, sauces and Coppa Colo (salami) could [...]
THROUGHOUT history, wine has been a social lubricant, stimulating conversation, stimulating good feelings and inevitably laughter. And so it is no surprise that wine and humour are natural “bedfellows”. So let’s forget wine education for now – this week you should lighten up a little and (I hope) enjoy a good laugh – it’s good [...]
HYDRANGEAS are like violets to most people. They remind us of our grandparents. They are a plant which have always been in older gardens, forming an under-planting in shaded areas. Their popularity is again increasing, after many gardeners found it too difficult to keep them during the drought years. There are several different forms of [...]
WHEN Dr Christopher Penfold purchased the Magill Estate in 1844, he would have never envisaged the footprint he would leave on the Australian wine trade. A century later, Penfolds became the “play thing” of the big corporates including Adelaide’s Steamship Company and then Southcorp (now part of Treasury Wine Estates). Although Penfolds focused on fortified [...]
WHETHER it’s green, purple or white, now is the time to enjoy freshly cut Aussie asparagus. It’s a unique, versatile and nutritious vegetable and is a good source of folate, vitamins A,C and E, and dietary fibre. Asparagus – now an everyday vegetable As recently as the early 2000s Australians considered fresh asparagus a “gourmet” [...]
PLANTS that make a statement, either as a result of clipping or have a naturally striking form, have a place in every garden, no matter what sort of style or design the gardener has adopted. They can enhance either a formal or informal design by adding constructional elements to the garden planting. The trick is [...]
THIS week we look at clearing up a few wine conundrums for you. My son has just been born – what wine should I put down for his 21st? Firstly, make sure it’s not an Aussie Chardonnay or sparkling wine! The wines with the best track records are classic Australian reds (Grange, Hill of Grace [...]
WE live in almost the ideal climate for herbs, and there are many reasons for growing them. They add to the appearance of your garden as many have attractive foliage and very pretty flowers. Also of course, their scent is lovely. They are such an asset in the kitchen, adding greatly to flavour in so [...]