SUPPORTING ASSOCIATIONS Hunter Valley Wine Society Hunter Regional Tourism
Hunter Valley NEWS
THE CIRCUS IS COMING to Hunter Valley Gardens this School Holidays
Hunter Valley Gardens is calling all children and parents to visit during the coming School Holidays and join the Circus! From September 24th until October 9th, Circus Avalon will bring the complete circus experience to the Gardens.
Circus Skill Workshop and Roaming Characters: 10.00am-2.00pm (Daily) Kids, let your inner clown out as you learn how to juggle and hula hoop with the Circus Avalon workshops. Depending on your strength, there are also opportunities to learn how to use the aerial apparatus. During the day circus performers will roam around the gardens on jumping stilts and unicycles. Be sure to say hello!
Circus Avalon 2.00pm (Daily)Each day, Circus Avalon will perform breathtaking and thrilling acts! During the 30 minute performance you will be able to watch acts on the trapeze, aerial ring and aerial ladder. You won’t be able to contain your excitement while jugglers perform their magic and clowns show you how to hula hoop.
Circus Activities 10.00am-2.00pm (Daily) Children will have the opportunity to actually look the part of a circus performer, with circus themed face painting. They will also be able to take part in special circus themed craft activities.
Hunter Valley Gardens are also preparing to celebrate their 8th birthday, and would love for you to come and celebrate with them on the 8th and 9th of October.In addition to all the fun circus antics of the weekend, there will be a number of fun birthday activities including free pony rides, amusement rides, face painting and a jumping castle. Entry to the Gardens is $24.00 per adult, $20 for seniors, children aged 4 – 15 are $12, with children 3 years and under admitted free. For further information please call 02 4998 4000 or visit www.hvg.com.au.
NEW HUNTER GUIDEshowcasing Wine & Food
The Hunter Valleys reputation for excellence in wine is undisputed and as a perfect accompaniment a well established food industry has emerged with a growing number of local restaurants, cafes and gourmet food producers. Increasingly these restaurants are specialising in local cuisine and produce while farmers markets and gourmet produce trails are emerging across the Hunter - all serving to enhance the tourism experience and reinforce the Hunter's appeal.
Out now—this high-quality, glossy booklet is a unique publication for the Hunter - integrating the overall wine and food experience for the convenience of the reader, promoting wine and food events taking place each year as well as communicating the best of the Hunters food and wine experiences of today, and those innovative individuals leading the way.
Wine & Dine in the Hunter showcases the best of the Hunter's Wine and food producers demonstrating a diversity that exceeds any other wine region in Australia and perhaps the world. It makes the complete wine and food experience far more accessible to visitors to the Hunter than ever before by representing each of the 5 distinct wine regions making up the lower Hunter Valley, describing in detail, and with images, each of the wineries, restaurants and gourmet food providers within those regions and even includes a Food and Wine Trail Map for each of the 5 regions. There is also a fully interactive electronic version of the publication for online users all over the world visit www.thehunterblackboard.com for more information.
It's no surprise that some of the best cuisine in the world happens in some of the finest wine-growing regions and the Hunter is no different with Wine & Dine in the Hunter demonstrating the close relationship between wine and food with related articles on food and wine pairing, wine ageing, restaurant reviews and other similar topics.
Pick up your free copy Wine & Dine in the Hunter and then take the time to relax, indulge a little and enjoy your time in the Hunter whilst taking the time to explore the Hunters finest cellar doors, restaurants and gourmet food providers - confirmation that the Hunter Valley is not just the home of great Australian wine, but one of the finest, most authentic culinary destinations in Australia and the world.
BIMBADGEN & A DAY ON THE GREEN..A concert Season to remember...
Hosting the renowned 'A Day on the Green' concert season each year from October to March, Bimbadgen has brought a host of local & overseas talent to our picnic rugs and the 2011/12 season looks set to be the best yet…
MEATLOAF October 8th - Some people think big. Some people think huge. Then there’s MEAT LOAF. While other artists may have tried to match his scale and sound, so far none have come close.
Meat Loaf certainly requires no introduction; he burst onto the world music stage in 1977 with his landmark release Bat Out Of Hell, which transformed him from a stage actor into a rock ‘n’ roll icon. This album has sold more than 43 million copies worldwide and is the third biggest selling record of all time, selling in excess of 200,000 copies a year! Significantly, it is still the number one selling international album in Australia with 1,610,000 copies sold and has been awarded 23 x Platinum status and now Meat Loaf is preparing for the release of his brand new album, Hell In A Handbasket, due in October.
Meat Loaf’s ‘Guilty Pleasure’ tour promises to feature a stellar array of Meat Loaf hits, both past and present. It will be big! It will be dramatic! It will ROCK! Special guest support acts to be announced soon.
STEELY DAN AND STEVE WINWOOD October 22nd - After dazzling audiences with their first ever Australian shows in 2007, jazz rock icons STEELY DAN are returning for an encore tour. And in a real treat for music lovers, legendary British vocalist STEVE WINWOOD will be the special guest in his first visit here in more than two decades!
After recently completing a stellar 10th anniversary summer, the concert was the first to be announced for A Day on the Green’s 2011/12 series and offers visitors & locals the chance to see two of music’s most revered and multi-Grammy Award winning artists on one stage. A night not to be missed!
Steely Dan’s sold out concert at Bimbadgen Winery in September 2007 was the fastest selling ‘A Day on the Green’ concert ever held in the Hunter Valley at that time and is the second fastest in their entire 10 year history.
Steely Dan has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and helped define the soundtrack of the '70s with hits including ‘Do It Again’, ‘Reelin’ in the Years’, ‘Rikki Don't Lose That Number’, ‘F.M.’, ‘Peg’ and ‘Hey Nineteen’. They reunited in the early '90s and have toured throughout the decade and beyond, releasing the four time Grammy winner ‘Two Against Nature’ in 2000 and its acclaimed follow-up ‘Everything Must Go’ in 2003. Donald Fagen and Walter Becker will be joined by an awesome group of players, now dubbed the Miles High Big Band.
Steve Winwood was just a teenager when he rocketed into the international spotlight as the prodigious singer of the Spencer Davis Group. The blues and R&B-influenced rock of ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ and ‘I’m a Man’ had Winwood’s singing drawing comparisons to that of his idol Ray Charles - despite his tender age. Seeking a wider artistic palette, in the next decade Winwood formed Traffic with friends Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood and Dave Mason and then the “supergroup” Blind Faith with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Rick Grech, producing some of the most inventive and arresting music of the time. This will be his first Australian tour since 1990.
Acclaimed Melbourne band Oh Mercy will open the show. With Paul Kelly singing their praises and a new Triple J Album of The Week in ‘Great Barrier Grief’ produced in the US by Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Elvis Costello), their evocative acoustic pop makes them one of Australia’s most promising bands to watch.
COLD CHISEL ARE BACK! November 12th - Iconic rock band, COLD CHISEL have announced their biggest tour in nearly 30 years—The Light The Nitro Tour. After a decade of spectacular concerts, promoters Roundhouse Entertainment are thrilled to be presenting Cold Chisel at A Day on the Green for what will undoubtedly be one of THE most memorable concerts in Hunter Valley history.
"We can't wait to get back on the road together", said front-man, Jimmy Barnes. "Every day for years I've had at least one person come up and ask me when Cold Chisel are going to do a proper tour. I'm bloody glad to finally have something good to tell 'em!"
The tour announcement comes on a day that is already a huge one for Cold Chisel fans. At exactly the same time as the concerts were being announced at a Sydney press conference, all of the band's recordings were being unleashed digitally for the first time in a major online launch that included 56 rare and previously unreleased tracks. Meanwhile retailers were receiving the newly remastered and repackaged CD versions of all the classic Cold Chisel albums which are in store now (each of their studio albums now comes with a bonus DVD containing rare and unreleased footage from that era).
This massive catalogue rollout had already been hailed as the most extensive archival project in the history of Australian rock. Today's timely tour announcement should help focus even more attention on these special releases.
Jimmy Barnes revealed today that the original plans for all of this were actually hatched in secret nearly two years ago around the group's memorable one-off show to over 50,000 people at Sydney's Olympic Stadium.
"We got such a buzz from that gig that it made all of us really want to get our act together", he explains. "We wanted to do things properly though because we know this band means a lot to a lot of people - especially us! So we had to do it right. That meant taking time to find lots of cool unreleased stuff and getting the albums looking and sounding great. It also meant making all the music available everywhere that people might want to get it these days. Cold Chisel have promised to showcase "one or two" new tunes on the Light The Nitro Tour. The setlist will also feature more than 20 of their classic songs.
So many great songs. One great band. Seeing is believing - so don't miss your chance to experience the legendary Cold Chisel live! For more information about all concerts visit www.bimbadgen.com.au.
CHARDONNAYBack by popular demand!
The time has come to re-establish Chardonnay firmly on the dining room table.
Chardonnay is coming back in a big way with retailers and sommeliers suggesting that Chardonnay sales are improving and that NZ Sauvignon Blanc, while still popular is experiencing a decline in popularity.
The year 1971 saw the first commercial bottling of Chardonnay - an event that sparked the beginning of the Australian Chardonnay craze. By the late 1980s and 1990s, Chardonnay became very fashionable as the stereotypical drink of young socially aware men and women throughout Australia.
But then it all changed and very quickly too... This peak in popularity in the late 1980 and early 1990's gave way to a change in tastes. The market was drinking more red wine and there was a backlash from consumers disenfranchised by high level of oak used in these wines. Another reason for the backlash was that Chardonnay was seen as a symbol of the globalization of wine which saw local varieties around the world being replaced by the more popular and profitable Chardonnay grape. Chardonnay sales declined and consumers turned towards lighter wines such as Pinot Grigio and the crisp, juicy cool-climate Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand.
Despite this setback Chardonnay remained one of the most widely-planted grape varieties worldwide and an important component of many sparkling wines around the world, including Champagne.
In 2009 the Sauvignon Blanc overtook Chardonnay as the largest selling white variety and in 2010, Oyster Bay in NZ claimed its Sauvignon Blanc wine was the top selling bottled wine in Australia.
Now Australian winemakers are directly confronting the Sauvignon Blanc phenomenon by offering Chardonnay styles that are not as heavy as the past but instead lighter and more elegant in an attempt to attract drinkers away from the New Zealand imports. The resulting wines are tighter, leaner, a little more subtle and of course have a little less oak. And its working... after several years of exile, sales of Chardonnay wines have begun to rise again.
A grape offering this kind of variety and quality was never going to be eclipsed for long and with Spring around the corner, it is a great time for wine consumers to revive this interest in what is considered to be one of the world's great wines.
It is not only good value in these tough times but due to its wide range of styles, Chardonnay has the potential to be paired with a wide range of food types and is most commonly matched with roast chicken, turkey and other game birds, pasta dishes in cream sauce, poached salmon and Thai cuisine. Chardonnay is also great with creamy soft brie or camembert cheeses.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING more about wine?
Then maybe a wine tour of the Hunter Valley is exactly what you need! The Hunter Valley is the oldest wine producing region in Australia and boasts almost 150 wineries/cellar doors each offering a wide variety of wines. With so much to choose from and experience it may be difficult to navigate your way around.
With a wine tour this predicament is resolved and everyone can begin the process of learning about wine and how to taste wine at their own pace and in their own style with a knowledgeable guide and a group of others to share the experience with.
While some of you will become swept up in the passion and excitement of the world of fine wine, others will prefer to go slowly, simply enjoying wine occasionally. Either way, it only takes a bit of introduction to get you started and feeling comfortable about tasting and assessing, discussing, and serving wine and this is exactly what a wine tour will give you.
Bruce Hall of Best Tours specialises in wine tours of the smaller more “boutique” wineries in the Hunter Valley. “Smaller boutique wineries are often family owned and very often the owner is the person behind the cellar door counter. This gives the wine-taster the added experience of talking to the person who has the passion for the wine they produce” Bruce says.
Michael Stanley owns and operates All Hunter Wine Tours and provides visitors with a highly personalised experience. Perhaps you’ve heard rave reviews about a Hunter Valley wine producer—or you had a bottle of wine that you particularly liked at a restaurant and would like to try more—Michael will structure the tour to the needs of his passengers.
The best wine tours of the Hunter Valley depend very much on having a well informed, experienced and informative guide. Both Bruce and Michael will provide you with a fun day out, the chance to learn about wine in a relaxed unpressured environment and perhaps a a love of wine that will live with you for the rest of your life. Contact Best Tours on 0437-149-612 or All Hunter Wine Tours on 0400-427-050 or visit www.thehunterblackboard.com/tours.
FINDING YOUR WAY AROUNDwith the Where To Guide...
Pokolbin North, Lovedale, Mount View, Broke, Wollombi, Pokolbin Central….it can all be a bit confusing for visitors...where does one even begin to navigate their way around the different wine trails? Now visitors to the Hunter Valley can easily self-tour the region using the most comprehensive, up-to-date and complete Wine Trail Maps that focus on each of the 5 different wine regions that make up Hunter Valley Wine Country.
These maps are unique, easy to use and are available for FREE in the 2011 edition of the WHERE TO Guide to the Hunter Valley. The handy fold-out section at the back of the booklet divides wine country into the 5 most popular touring “trails” and lists every cellar door and winery that can be found along that route, making a self-tour both simple and enjoyable (no more arguments about directions!) On your travels you’ll find it is ultimately the people that make the Hunter Valley such a great area to explore. Visit a cellar door and, chances are, you’ll be greeted by the owners themselves, eager to share a yarn and impart their passion for the wines they have created.
To collect your free Wine Trail Maps pick up a copy of the WHERE TO Guide to the Hunter Valley from leading accommodators, wineries, shops, attractions and the Hunter Valley Wine Society at the Visitor Information Centre—or get them on-line at www.wheretoaustralia.com.
Now in its third issue, The WHERE TO GUIDE to the Hunter Valley is a quick, useful and practical source of information, listing local businesses according to their selected services and is considered to be the most comprehensive and most referenced tourist information guide available - assisting tens of thousands of locals and visitors to the Hunter Valley find exactly what they are looking for just when they need it. Pick up your copy or download it at www.wheretoaustralia.com.
Considered to be one of the fastest growing trends in Australian wine, demand for Australian organic and biodynamic wine has continued to increase in 2010 despite the Australian wine industry experiencing one of the largest surpluses in history.As wine industry bodies declare the current crisis the worst in twenty years, many organic and biodynamic wine producers have reported record sales in the past year and have received international acclaim from the world’s top wine critics.
Australia’s largest certified organic wine producer Tamburlaine, has seen a 70% increase this financial year in exports for its organic and biodynamic wine in both Australia and overseas. Production in 2010 was around 80,000 cases, 30% of which went to customers in 12 countries.“In Tamburlaine’s largest export markets, including Sweden, China and the USA, there has been strong sales growth and interest in our entire range of organic wines,” says Mark Davidson, chief winemaker and managing director at Tamburlaine.
“It’s rewarding to see so many people appreciating wine that is made from organically-grown grapes. Organic viticulture means grapes are grown without the use of synthetic chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. As a consequence, our wine contains no residues of these synthetic products and represents the true flavours of where it is grown. “Before we fully converted our vineyards to organic growing, we tested and tasted the results. In all cases, we found our organic grapes produced brighter, more vibrant wines, which seemed to carry a little bit more flavour” Davidson said.
Tamburlaine is the only certified organic producer in Australia to receive a five red-star rating for three years in a row by wine commentator James Halliday. The practice of biodynamics in viticulture (grape growing) - a form of organic farming using techniques to optimise natural systems, has also become popular in recent years in several growing regions, including France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Australia, Chile, South Africa, Canada, and the United States.
In 2006, Macquariedale Estate was the first vineyard in the region to receive biodynamic certification. According to Ross McDonald of Macquariedale “The resulting produce grown naturally the way nature intended, regains its fullness of flavour, richness of colour and diversity of aromas. By practicing biodynamic viticulture, we secure a better and healthier future for our land, our plants, ourselves and our customers.”
True to the growing trend – De Bortoli Wines vineyard in the Hunter Valley now also farms organically with the vineyard now certified in conversion. "Our new philosophy is driven by our desire to leave a legacy for future generations, an idea that has resonance for any family-owned company" – The De Bortoli Family.
Organic? Biodynamic? What’s THE BUZZ?
Organics/Biodynamics is a hot topic of conversation in the Australian wine community and indeed across agricultural communities in general—but what does it all mean? And more importantly—can you taste it?
What is Organic? Organic wine is wine made from grapes grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fungicides and artificial fertilisers on the farm and without unnatural wine additives which can end up in the wine as residues. For Mark Davidson of Tamburlaine Organic Wines, switching to organic was a logical progression from the eco-friendly viticulture practices he had always pursued. “In the winery it’s relatively easy to make our organic fruit into organic wine” Mark says. “Yeast ferments are much easier to achieve without the effects of agrichemical sprays used in non-organic vineyards. Natural fining agents like milk and egg are perfectly acceptable in organic wine production. And be not confused - sulphur dioxide is allowed in organic products. High sulphurs were once some level of insurance against random oxidation under cork seals but the movement to screw caps means lower sulphur additions & therefore reduced risk of health issues like allergies, headaches and asthma – if you tend to open young whites in particular, you should notice a positive difference”.
Many people confuse "organic" with "preservative-free" wine. The former is always made with organic grapes using organic methods, whereas the latter has a radically reduced amount of sulphur dioxide, and is not always made with organically grown grapes.
Biodynamic on the other hand is simply a form of organic farming using techniques to optimise natural systems. Biodynamic growers put a greater emphasis on the vines and since they believe that plants respond to all the various forces of nature they also time their activities with the cycles of the moon, planets and stars. In 2006 Macquariedale Estate was the first vineyard in the region to receive biodynamic certification. According to Ross McDonald of Macquariedale “The resulting produce, grown naturally the way nature intended, regains its fullness of flavour, richness of colour and diversity of aromas. By practicing biodynamic viticulture, we secure a better and healthier future for our land, our plants, ourselves and our customers.”
With an increasing number of producers turning to organic farming, De Bortoli Wines, with its 34 hectare property, is the Hunter Valleys newest organic producer of fine table wines.
So that’s the Buzz! Oh—and to answer the question of whether you can taste it or not—you’ll need to find that one out for yourself!
CHOCOLATE...mankind's gift to the world.
Chocolate represents so many things to so many people all over the world - romantic memories, love, childhood, happiness and, above all, pleasure.
It is a joy to give and a joy to receive and each of us has an intensely personal history with this sweet substance.
The earliest record of chocolate was over fifteen hundred years ago in the Central American rain forests, where the Cacao Tree was worshipped by the Mayan civilisation of Central America and Southern Mexico, who believed it to be of divine origin.
In more recent times, chocolate which is high in cocoa solids is also recognised as having many qualities that are beneficial to health. For example: Cocoa is known to have the highest natural source for Magnesium and Magnesium deficiency is linked with hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension. Chocolate also contains essential trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium and potassium, and vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E.
But we are in Wine Country so what of Chocolate and Wine?
Chocolate is also known to be a good match to wine and pairing the right chocolate with the right wine can be a match made in heaven - but there are a few pairing tips to keep in mind. When experimenting, the best approach to take is to pair lighter chocolates with lighter wines and darker chocolates with more full-bodied wines.
White Chocolate Wine Suggestions: The mellow and buttery flavours in white chocolate make it an ideal match for a Sherry, a Moscato or an Orange Muscat.
Milk Chocolate Wine Suggestions: Pinot Noir or a lighter-bodied Merlot will complement any bar of milk chocolate, a creamy chocolate mousse or chocolate cheesecake. Rieslings, Sauvignon Blanc Muscats or even dessert wines tend to be positive combinations with mild milk chocolates. Also consider a sparkling wine for pairing with milk chocolate dipped strawberries.
Dark Chocolate Wine Suggestions: Dark, bittersweet or semisweet chocolates need a wine that presents a slightly robust flavor. Cabernets are an excellent match to dark chocolates.
A Cabernet Sauvignon will more than satisfy any chocolate pairing expectations as will a Pinot Noir, Shiraz or a Merlot. Finally, a Tawny or Vintage Port coupled with a dark chocolate dessert or truffle will provide the perfect end to any meal.
EXPERIENCE WINE COUNTRY ....from the air!
Getting to experience the beauty of the Hunter Valley by air with its endless vineyards, panoramic views, spectacular valleys and waterways is something few people will get to enjoy in their lifetime.Not only is it a fun, exhilarating and even romantic experience, it is also a beautiful and free way to travel allowing you to cover a wide geographic area in a relatively short amount of time.
Make that birthday, anniversary or marriage proposal a day to remember, impress a client or just do it because you can. Whatever it may be, Hunter Wine Helicopters are in position and ready to provide you with that unforgettable experience. Hunter Wine Helicopters is a family owned and operated company, located at Cessnock Airport, operating scenic flights around the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Port Stephens area. The pilots are friendly and attentive as they provide commentary and share their knowledge of the region with you while you get to enjoy a birds eye view of the Hunter.
Hunter Wine Helicopters offer a variety of packages from winery tours, Heli-lunches, romantic picnic escapes, luxurious day spa packages, airport, wedding and accommodation transfers.Arrive in style! If you are looking for a fast and efficient way to travel to the Hunter Valley from Newcastle or Sydney, they can get you there and drop you directly at your accommodation. Hunter Wine Helicopters take pride in providing quality services to all their passengers, and cater to every need, no matter what the occasion. “Our only limit is your imagination…”!
Hunter Wine Helicopters is now offering a 10% discount* off their range of flights & packages to readers of The Hunter Blackboard. *Packages must be booked direct through the team at Hunter Wine Helicopters. Conditions may apply
DELIVERING AUTHENTIC SPANISH TAPASto the Hunter Valley
Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetisers in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). In select bars in Spain tapas has evolved into an entire, and sometimes sophisticated, cuisine. In Spain, patrons of tapas can order many different tapas and combine them to make a full meal.
Never one to sit still, Matt Dillow (owner of The Verandah Restaurant) scoured Spain during a recent family holiday, looking for new ideas to incorporate into his already delectable Tapas menu and uncovered the ….TAPAS TOWER!
The Tapas Tower is a unique way of serving a variety of tapas meals where the meals are “stacked” on plates on top of each other. The beauty of this method of presentation is that it is portable—diners can take the tower to a location of their choice to dine on at their leisure. Available from September 1st, the Tapas Tower is set to become a truly different dining experience. To book phone 4998 -7231. The tower is $80, serves 2 people and includes:
House made dips with crisp flat breads
Orange and spiced mixed olives
Charred red capsicum filled with house made labna
Rocket and parmesan salad..Rockmelon wrapped prosciutto
Grilled haloumi with rhubarb compote
Cumin and cayenne baby calamari with lime aioli
Spanish croquettas..Grilled chorizo
Rosemary and orange chicken skewers
Asian style pork belly
Crispy chat potatoes with garlic….yum!
BLACK - NOT JUST A COLOUR - A WAY OF LIFE IN THE HUNTER VALLEY
Coal - in a place like Cessnock it is underfoot, in the blood and even on the lungs. It is omnipresent in our way of life and ever present in our local peripheral vision. 'River of Black Gold,' a celebration initiated by the Cessnock City Council and in particular the exhibition 'BLACK, a coal case' at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery, celebrates 125 years of coal production from the South Maitland Coalfields.
'BLACK, a coal case' considers the past, present and future of coal in the region through showcasing historical artefacts alongside the works of contemporary artists who dissect the delicate relationships between coal, the environment, industry and community.
One such artist, Sarah Smuts-Kennedy plays with our ideas of value, creating delicate ‘trophies’ adorned with coal, sometimes covered in gold leaf referencing the ubiquitous footy trophy on every family mantelpiece. Is this what coal means to you? Or is it big trucks; freight trains; a secure income; or dust and concerns with environmental issues? This exhibition explores all these aspects of coal through art and objects including old union banners, paintings of the coalfields and sculptures of pit ponies to name but a few.
Branxton artist Steve James has been working in his favourite medium, charcoal, to develop works that celebrate the brashness and “blokiness” of the coal fields such as ‘Bloody Big Truck’, while local painter Col Harrison and young Newcastle painter Liam Power have both worked in oils to deliver evocative images of the pits, the mine-heads, the smelters and the coal loaders that have been an ever-present part of their upbringing in the coalfields.
David Hampton is a digital media artist who has created a video work based on a project with Richmond Vale Rail Museum. David has worked with Richmond Vale to take a 10 class loco, ‘Marjory’ and decorate her in the style popular in the 19th C to celebrate various festivities. Marjory has been beribboned and decked out in images that describe the journey coal takes from pit to ship, filmed and the images developed into a new artwork to be unveiled at the gallery.
The show promises to be an eclectic mix of memorabilia, traditional and contemporary art held together by memory, a fascination with the industrial processes of the past and a fresh look at an important base to our local economy.
The exhibition will be held at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery from August 11th through to September 18th—with the official opening on Saturday August 13th an event open to all. For further information, contact the gallery on 4991-6619 or visit www.crag.net.au.
CREATING A LITTLE BIT OF Portugal in the Hunter Valley
Portugal is a country of sights, but also a country of many flavours. You won’t find another country with such a rich traditional cuisine and when it comes to a Portuguese meal, a dessert (or sobremesa) is always present. Portugal has an extensive love affair with sugar since it first imported sugar cane from Brazil, in the 15th century. Five hundred years later and Portuguese desserts are quite famous all over Europe, and are now also very popular in Australia with the Portuguese Chocolate Mousse being a popular choice at restaurants and family gatherings.
When it comes to Portuguese Chocolate Mousse, the Antao family can trace their family recipe back to approximately 60 years to a little village known as Poeares da Regua located in the Northern part of Portugal around 400 km from Lisbon where chocolate was a luxury. Chocolate Mousse was considered a treat and only made for family gatherings and special occasions.
The Antao family (Fernando and Renata), until recently had a pizzeria in Pyrmont where they would make this chocolate mousse dessert in the traditional way (the Portuguese do not use cream to make their mousse) and using their grandmothers recipe handed down through the family. The chocolate mousse was so popular amongst customers that they sold the pizzeria and began to make the mousse to sell in gourmet delicatessens and at markets, later expanding the range to include different flavoured mousse and also rice pudding.
Now, after holidaying in the Hunter Valley several times per year, the Antao family have decided to call it home and move to their new property on Wilderness Rd in Lovedale (adjacent to the historic Gillies Bridge) where they have refurbished the original cellar door to create SABOR in the HUNTER - a dessert bar offering a range of classical and seasonal desserts paired with wines, dessert wines and Ports from the Hunter. They also offer a gluten free range and, light means and barista made coffee.
SABOR in the HUNTER will officially open on the 13th of August and can be found at 319 Wilderness Rd - Lovedale.
THE HUNTER VALLEY on horseback...
Horse riding is not only a great way to stay in shape and enjoy yourself at the same time, but there is no better way to relax, experience the local countryside and see the local wildlife in their natural environment.
Is there anything more enjoyable than rising early, saddling your horse, and watching the sun rise as you and your horse move through the quiet of the morning or an early evening romantic ride with your partner enjoying each other’s company as you watch the sun set behind the mountain range just ahead of you? Life just does not get better than that...
These are just a few of the many examples of the pleasure of riding. If you have never ridden a horse before, you are missing out on a truly wonderful experience. It is a great way of leaving a frustrating day behind you or starting a new one. Once you mount your horse you forget about everything, relax and let your mind wander.
Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures provides you with the best and most fulfilling horse-riding experience in the Hunter Valley. Situated on over 300 acres of natural bushland you can go kangaroo spotting and even try your hand cattle mustering. With glorious views of the Watagans, Brokenback Range and even Barrington Tops - you get to experience the Hunter Valley at its natural best.
Catering for the beginner rider to the more experienced - Hunter Valley Horse Riding & Adventures offers pony rides, family rides, personalised rides, winery rides and for the romantics sunset rides. To make a booking contact Margaret on 4930 7111.
LOCALLY BREWED BEERand the worlds best porter!
Beer is part of the Australian culture and is going through a renaissance experienced by the wine industry just 20 years ago - with an increasing number of microbreweries fast emerging to satisfy beer drinker's thirst for new, innovative and interesting beers.
In many ways Australia is very quickly catching up with America and the rest of the world in terms of craft brewing - with people becoming increasingly educated about beer and more aware of boutique producers, non-mainstream brands and the different flavours in beer. In many ways, the beer market is following the same trend as most other food products, where people are tending to focus on flavour first, the result being that there is a move away from industrial mainstream beer to premium boutique beers, including the hand-crafted varieties.
Think of the expression ''boutique beer'' and you immediately associate it with high quality beer coupled with a finely tuned production process. Boutique beer producers claim that their product is not only of consistent quality and superb taste, but also possesses a ''new energy'' as brew masters try to avoid any type of pasteurisation in order to offer beer lovers the most original and natural taste. These beers are also being seen as a viable match for food, following the popularity of wine and food matching.
The Hunter Beer Company at Potters Hotel, Brewery and Resort is one such brewery. As the Hunter Valley's first established microbrewery, it is a true beer haven - and situated right here in Wine Country.
Since it was first established in 2003, the Hunter Beer Company has been brewing a unique range of hand crafted beers onsite at their premises in Nulkaba, with all beers brewed from 100% natural ingredients and no preservatives used. Hops used in the brewing process are sourced from the best hop growing regions around the world and selected true to the style of beers brewed. The Hunter Beer Company has also started growing their own hops.
For the discerning and even adventurous, the Hunter Beer Company offers a wide selection of multi-award winning beers. From the bold American style Pale Ale, the dark German styled Bock, the ever popular style full strength Lager - through to the refreshing Kolsch, the pale yet light flavoured Belgian Witbier and the deliciously crisp Ginger Beer. There are also low alcohol beers and seasonals that vary on a regular basis.
The brewing team at Hunter Beer Company, led by Head Brewer Keith Grice are thrilled with the recognition and awards their beers have been getting - winning the Gold medal and the prestigious Champion Porter trophy at the 2010 Australian International Beer Awards with their flavoursome Chocolate Porter beer and silver medals for all beers on tap at both the 2010 and 2011 Australian International Beer Awards. The hard to pronounce ''Hefeweizen'' beer (also called Banana Beer) also won a bronze medal as did Jess the Brewery Assistant with her seasonal Christmas Beer known as ''Christmas Cheer'' - described by Jess as tasting like ''liquefied Christmas pudding''.
Now after years of planning, the Hunter Beer Company have recently opened their spacious ''beer bar'' (above right) where the public can see and experience first-hand just how a micro-brewery functions, talk to the brewer and taste the wide selection of beers on tap. Open 7 days a week and until late on Fridays.
Bella Vista at St Clements Estate - The Hunters newest winery...
The brand new Cellar Door at St Clements Estate in Lovedale boasts one of the most beautiful views of the Hunter Valley and Broken Back Range, but it’s the view to the future that has owner Luigi Pinna excited.
“Our vision is not only to attract visitors to our beautiful cellar door and our exclusive wines but also to introduce a little piece of Italy into the area with a “Bar Pizzeria” offering Neapolitan style pizzas and on-tap Italian & Australian Beer to visitors” said Luigi.
“We also cater for small Weddings (up to 80 people) with on-site ceremonies and cocktails on the rooftop”.
Now open for tastings, St Clements Estate offers 2 Semillons, 2 Shiraz followed by Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Verdehlo and a unique Rosé made from Grenache. Also offered is the 2009 Premium Red which is a blend of Barbera, Nebiolo and Grenache (a very special European blend available only at St Clements).
To complete the Italian experience St Clements also produce their very own Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Wine Vinegar and preserved olives.
Visit www.stclementsestates.com or phone 0439 307 900.
HUNTER VALLEY WINE RELEASE
Legendary Wines Made By Legends
Exclusive wines crafted by Hunter Valley Legends drawing on their many years of experience….
Not only is the Hunter Valley Australia’s oldest wine region, but it is also recognised for producing some of world’s most exceptional and distinctive wines. The most recognised is the Hunter Valley Semillon and the Hunter Valley Shiraz - the regions two signature grape varieties.
It is therefore no surprise that it is these two varieties that were specially selected to produce the 2010 Legends Hunter Valley Semillon and the 2009 Legends Hunter Valley Shiraz. Both of these wines are produced from premium grapes donated by leading Hunter growers and then vinified and matured by the "Hunter Valley Legends'' including Brian Walsh, John Tulloch, Karl Stockhausen, Max Drayton, Perc McGuigan, Brian McGuigan, Bruce Tyrrell, Jay Tulloch, Fay McGuigan, Phil Ryan, and Christopher Barnes.
Together this group, made up of some of the most respected and experienced members of the wine industry, represents hundreds of years of wine making experience, a deep knowledge of the local area, climate and the regions unique soil and grape varieties that make these two special wines true examples of just what the Hunter Valley is renown for.
In making these two new releases, the Hunter Valley Legends have also embraced sustainable viticulture and have even taken sustainability to the next step by bottling these wines in lightweight, environmentally friendly ‘Lean+Green’ bottles.
The Legends Hunter Valley Semillon and Legends Hunter Valley Shiraz are exclusive to Wine Selectors. To purchase or have the opportunity to taste these two great wines visit the Hunter Valley Wine Society at the Visitor Information Centre located at 455 Wine Country Drive, Pokolbin or call 1300 735 984 to order or visit www.wineselectors.com.au/legends.
