Tea smoked salmon in pancetta and 1998 Tyrells Vat 47 Chardonnay

Tonight we enjoyed wonderful hospitality at Yering Station’s restaurant in the Yarra Valley.  The ‘Master Of Wine’ dinner celebrated some great wines and we welcomed Gordon Gebbie from Yering Station, Ed Carr from Constellation, Tim Kirk from Clonakilla, Bruce Tyrrell  from Tyrrell’s, Justine Henschke from Henschke and James Halliday to share their stories with the participants.

Discoveries of the night included the fact that Australia hosts the oldest Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Semillon and Shiraz vines in the world. (And for those contributing from the sofa at home, I believe Grenache and Cabernet should also be added to the list!)  There were some great stories and I recorded my personal favourite from Bruce Tyrrell posted below.

Menu:
Sesame tuna balls with wasabi mayo
Rabbit and mushroom pies
Fried tortellini with caramelized onion, blue cheese

Tea smoked salmon wrapped in pancetta, oyster beignets and sauce gribiche

Rack of lamb with mushroom tarte fine, marinated artichokes and chanterelle foam

Salted caramel ice cream with feuilletine plus popcorn dust

Wines:
2001 Yering Station Yarrabank Late Disgorged Chardonnay/ Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley/Mornington Peninsula
1998 Tyrells Vat 47 Chardonnay, Hunter Valley
2009 The Lane RG Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills
2005 Giaconda Pinot Noir, Beechworth
2002 Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz, Eden Valley
2004 Tahbilk 1860 Shiraz, Nagambie Lakes
2007 Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz, McLaren Vale
NV Domaine Chandon Cuvee Riche

Welcome 2010 Participants!

 As the recent winner of Gourmet Traveller’s Best Restaurant of the Year Award, and one of Melbourne (and Australia’s) best new restaurants, Cutler & Co was the perfect location to introduce our international guests to the pick of Australia’s fine wine, cuisine and service.

After much anticipation and hard work – from both tutors and scholars alike – the starting line is well and truly upon us for the 2010 Landmark Australia Tutorial.  The participants joined the three tutors (Dr Tony Jordan, Andrew Caillard MW & Paul Henry) at fabulous Cutler & Co in Melbourne’s Fitzroy for a welcome dinner that aimed to set the bar high for the week ahead.

Matt Skinner (sommelier and wine writer) selected the wines for the evening, choosing some hand-picked favourites as a scene-setter for the week ahead.  Here’s the menu and wine list, along with a few words from Matt himself:

Menu
King George whiting, prawn vinaigrette , broccolini  & guanciale
Wood grilled beef strip loin, corned cheek, potato & smoked eggplant
Australian cheese

Wines
2005 Ocean Eight ‘3gms’ Sparkling Cuvee Pinot Meunier Pinot Noir Chardonnay, Mornington Peninsula
2010 de Bortoli Yarra Valley Reserve Release Riesling
2009 S.C Pannell Pronto Bianco Sauvignon Blanc/ Riesling/ Pinot Gris, Adelaide Hills
2008 Shadowfax Macedon Chardonnay, Macedon Ranges
2009 Arrivo Rosato Di Nebbiolo Rose, Adelaide Hills
2010 William Downie Gippsland Pinot Noir
2009 Jamsheed Garden Gully Shiraz, Great Western
2009 Chalmers Nero d’Avola
2005 Freeman Secco Rondinella Corvina, Hilltops
2007 Massena The Looting Duke Shiraz, Barossa Valley