Terrific Torbreck
When our drinks writer Tony Cox found out that Market Bistro was hosting a Torbreck Vintners lunch, he became a little nostalgic – and thirsty.
My time in Melbourne restaurants and independent wine retail in the 1990s saw me become well acquainted with Torbreck when their worldwide sales team consisted of just two people: one for Europe, one for the United States; and they split the home country of Australia between them.
A lot has transpired in that time but what hasn’t changed is Torbreck’s focus on making world-class Barossa Valley wines from Rhone Valley varietals: shiraz, grenache, mataro, marsanne, roussanne and viognier, among others.
With Chief Winemaker Ian Hongell heading to Maroochydore’s Market Bistro to host a wine lunch for our readers, it promises to be a brilliant event!
Prior to joining Torbreck Vintners in early 2017 Ian had spent almost twenty years at Barossa institution, Peter Lehmann Wines. This extensive time crafting Barossa wines has provided Ian with an intimate knowledge of the Barossa Valley vineyard patchwork and has made him the ideal person to take Torbreck Vintners to the next level.
From their entry level Woodcutters Shiraz – although entry level doesn’t quite do Woodcutters justice as many wineries would love to make a wine of this level as their flagship – right through to RunRig and The Laird, Torbreck’s red wines show beautiful perfume and an utterly seductive texture.
The whites don’t suffer in comparison with that traditional Barossa stalwart of semillon being joined in the lineup by the Rhone white varietals marsanne, roussanne and viognier. Whilst roussanne and viognier naturally feature a textural element via the presence of high levels of phenolics, the marsanne incurs barrel fermentation to provide mid-palate weight and texture.
Not to be outdone, any kitchen where Tony Kelly’s food is being served is one where I would gladly overindulge.
Food you just love to eat paired with wines just begging to be drunk. Make sure you book for this event – and prepare to linger for a special tasting, including the latest RunRig, with Ian and Market Wine Store’s resident expert Peter Marchant.
For a full preview of the menu and the wines, see page 44 of this edition.
HELLO SUNSHINE WINE LUNCH
Torbreck Wines lunch at Market Bistro
Three courses with matching wines
Date: Wednesday 23 June, noon-3pm
Cost: $89 per person
Bookings: 5412 1401
