A humid summer’s eve set the perfect scene for the Rob Roy’s Annual Sparkling & Champagne Showcase on Wednesday 6th December.
As a (very) amateur wine drinker, I had little idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised as I was greeted at the function room door with a delightfully nimble rosé by The Lane Vineyard aptly named ‘Lois’ which was accompanied by a fluffy damper scone topped with pink river-salted butter.
Once the crowd was seated at the U-shaped table, wait staff began bringing out the starter—Vietnamese sweet and sour, coriander-infused South Australian whiting topped with shaved cucumber and served in a ceramic, Asian-style soup spoon—while By Jingo! Wines showcased their peachy Nastro d’Argento.
South Australian whiting and By Jingo! Wines’ Nastro d’Argento
An easy-going sparkling chardonnay, the Nastro d’Argento’s fruity overtones contrasted fabulously with the kick of the coriander in the whiting.
Next up we were treated to chargrilled kangaroo fillet on a bed of sweet potato puree with pomegranate syrup, paired with Kersbrook Hill’s Premium Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée.
With the aforementioned amateurism, I have never found myself drawn in by a sparkling red, but there was something almost nostalgic way the Kersbrook settled on the palate with a hint of Christmas cherry and, credit to the kitchen, it could not have been paired more perfectly with a dish.
Chargrilled kangaroo fillet and Kersbrook Hill’s Premium Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée
A palate cleanser of prosciutto-wrapped watermelon made its way around the chic function room shortly after the delicious red, along with what is now the most popular sparkling in the world ahead of champagne: prosecco.
Topped with a fusion of Persian fetta, mint floss, crushed walnuts and drizzled with orange balsamic, the watermelon and prosciutto combination was an absolute hit, and it was nothing but complemented by the Italian Zuccolo prosecco’s sweet yet not sickly savour.
Prosciutto-wrapped watermelon and Italian Zuccolo Prosecco
The main event, though, was a masterpiece; conga mashed potato, golden cauliflower and a chilled pea mousse made the perfect accompaniments for the pumpkin, ricotta and cranberry-stuffed chicken breast.
Two wonderful sparkling whites were paired with the main course – the first being The Lane’s second drop for the evening: the Cuvée Helen, boasting rich hints of ginger nut and roast almond.
The second, however, was the slightly more playful Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve, perfect for washing down the flavoursome chicken and its embellishments with a crisp, dry yet still fragrant flavour.
Cranberry-stuffed chicken breast, The Lane’s Cuvée Helen and the Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve
After a short break to let the splendour of the main course fully sink in, the dessert appeared.
A light vanilla bean panna cotta with kiwifruit coulis, raspberry and coconut water was rounded out by the fresh zest of Bera’s Moscato d’Asti.
The dainty, relaxed final course was the perfect end to an evening filled with fine food, wonderful wine and an excellent atmosphere at the Rob Roy.
