The Plus Ones were invited to the eighth annual Urban Winery Project to celebrate our deep love of wine by stomping on wine grapes at Three Blue Ducks, Rosebery.
The Urban Winery Project began in 2012 by Adelaide Hills winemaker, Vinteloper. Their pop-ups are immersive events that focus on wine, food, and education. However, there was no lecture about tannins, oak barrels, soil contents, and varietals. This was an evening of good fun, good grub, and good grog. Held at the Three Blue Ducks, an inspired choice for this event as it creates a country feel in an urban space.
Pop-up events like Vinteloper’s Urban Winery Project are the perfect way for wine-lovers to become wine-savants without having to make a trip to a winery for a weekend. Plus, who doesn’t love squishing a vat of wine grapes with their feet?
We were greeted with canapés of tempura eggplant fritters with wasabi mayo and pork rillettes with shaved pear. A nice diversion from the typical pâté or goats cheese tarts. Both paired perfectly with the chilled glass of Pinot Gris.
For our mains, we enjoyed coal-roasted whole lamb with spiced sumac yoghurt and wood-roasted whole barramundi. The wines which accompanied our meal included a surprisingly fruit-forward Pinot Noir Rosé; a perfectly balanced white blend of Pinot Gris, Gewurz, and Riesling; and finally, a classic Shiraz – as no feast is complete without a stunning Shiraz.
All wines served on the night were produced by last year’s Urban Winery Project attendees. All the grapes that we pressed will be matured in oak barrels for the next 11 months to be released at next year’s event. This, of course, encourages everyone who attends to re-visit and try to procure a bottle and taste the fruits of their labour.
For dessert, we indulged in a decadent chocolate mousse with hazelnut crunch and parsnip cream that honestly tasted bizarre on its own. However, when paired with the chocolate mousse, the parsnip cream filled out the flavours for a more well-rounded taste.
The wine-pressing is the big draw here. There’s something about being barefoot and dripping grape juice that made us all feel like giddy teens again. Thankfully no one fell in or ruined their shorts and everyone got an Instagram story that undoubtedly was the envy of their followers!
Although many were there for the wine pressing, the food was fantastic and the wine was truly scrumptious. It’s almost a shame that the vintage is now used up. But that just means that I’ll have to try to attend next year’s event to find the wine I helped produce. Will I see you there?
– Orlaith
F&B Specialist. Usually seen with a flat white in hand or on her way to a whiskey tasting. Needs to stop buying books and start reading them.
The Urban Winery Project is an annual event held in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Check out their website for more details on upcoming events: www.urbanwineryproject.com and www.vinteloper.com.au
