Australia’s renowned Aboriginal chef, Mark Olive, and esteemed wine judge, journalist, and author Tony Love, are to lead a trade mission to New Zealand this month.
Professionals in food, drink and hospitality are invited to meet with wine, food and beer producers when they touch down at Auckland’s Morningside Glasshouse on Tuesday, 31st October.
This is the second Tasting South Australia event in as many years and gives local food and beverage service professionals and buyers a chance to meet some of the legends of South Australian food and drink while sampling their products. This is a taste of good things to come, as each producer is looking to establish their sales channels in New Zealand.
Chef Mark Olive
Attendees to last year’s event may recall the kangaroo sliders and Barossa Shiraz Gin sour cocktails. This year attendees will be able to try products from 18 producers, including Cape Jaffa Pet Nat, Tscharke Stonewell Grenache and Metala William Formby Cabernet Sauvignon. Food to explore includes Casarosa Almonds, The Prep House range of stocks and tasty offerings from South Australian powerhouse The Yogurt Shop. All this can be washed down with traditional and fruited wild ales from Loophole Brewing Co.
Mark Olive, also known as the “The Black Olive”, is Australia’s most celebrated Aboriginal chef, appearing frequently on television over the past 30 years. Olive has made a name for himself, fusing native food and culture with contemporary lifestyle cooking and has recently opened his new restaurant “Midden by Mark Olive” at the Sydney Opera House. Attendees to Tasting South Australia will be able to meet Olive, who is coming across to prepare a collaborative lunch with Māori chef Monique Fiso, blending the indigenous food cultures of Australia and New Zealand for a select group of guests. During the Tasting South Australia Showcase in the afternoon, Olive and Fiso will give their commentary on the similarities and differences between the two cuisines.
Another expert in his field is Adelaide-based wine journalist Tony Love, who will be in attendance to share his knowledge and passion for South Australian wine. Spoilt for choice, Love’s hometown Adelaide is officially one of the 12 Great Wine Capitals of the World, alongside Bordeaux and Napa Valley. The state produces over half of the entire output of Australian wine, with more than 700 wineries and 500 cellar doors across eighteen sub-regions. With a huge range of varietals to suit different tastes, Love is a particular expert on South Australian Grenache, which has been making a resurgence with growers capitalising on the beauty of the ripe, spicy, cherry and raspberry-scented characteristics that Grenache can yield. Being a grape that is seldom grown in New Zealand, the Tasting South Australia event gives wine professionals and distributors a chance to delve deep into this wine style, which is growing in popularity across Tasman.
Producers attending the Tasting South Australia showcase include 919 Wines, Altschwager Kenneally Wines, Bec Hardy Wines, Brockenchack Wines, Cape Jaffa Wines, Claymore Wines, Mallee Estate, Metala Wines, Otherness Wines, Paulett Wines, Seppeltsfield Wines, Soul Growers, Tscharke Wines, and Utopos Vineyards. The Yoghurt Shop and Casarosa Almonds will showcase their culinary offerings, whilst Loophole Brewing Co. will showcase its portfolio of beer.
