Tags: Local clubs and groups Bribie Island
Last September the 35th International Beefsteak and Burgundy Convention was held in Australia’s Coonawarra wine region. A long way to drive, however, the four members of the Bribie- Pumicestone Club #283 who attended the 3-day meeting were very happy they had made the effort to go. The weekend of 9-11 September began on Friday afternoon with an informal, complimentary tasting as an Introduction to Wine in Coonawarra. This was followed in the evening by a meet and greet of members at the Welcome Dinner held in the Katnook Estate Barrel Shed.
A herculean effort by Katnook staff to remove the barrels so that the 250+ attending members could comfortably fit in! The canapés and 3-course meal were well matched by mainly Merlot and Shiraz wines. Saturday saw members travelling on a Garden Tour (the roses in Coonawarra/Penola are spectacular), or a History Tour which included the St. Mary MacKillop Interpretive Centre, further tastings at the 8+ local vineyards ,enjoying the shop and coffee spots of near-by Penola or learning more about wine at the Wine Masterclass at Brand’s Liara, Coonawarra.
That night’s Black Tie Formal Dinner, again at Katnook’s, was another feast of South Australian produce: seafood, fowl and beef matched with a variety of Cabernet Sauvignons, for which the region is well known. The weekend was wrapped up with a Sunday Brunch in the very pleasant garden surrounding Rymill’s Coonawarra Winery. Picks of the weekend: 2008 Balnaves of Coonawarra ‘The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon’; 2008 Wynn’s Select Vineyard V&A Lane and 2017 Bowen Estate Coonawarra Chardonnay.
Richard and Ellen Fell of Woorim and Lyn and Geoff Boucaut of Banksia Beach (pictured) felt that the weekend truly reflected the Beefsteak & Burgundy motto, “Good Wine, Good Food and Good Fellowship”. Enquiries on joining our local club are welcome. Contact the Secretary on 3408 4196.