Perth turned it on for hordes of people who quenched their thirst on a perfect 34 degree summer day at Sunset Wine 2017, under near cloudless blue skies, overlooking glistening ocean views and with plenty of beverages and food to indulge in. Under those circumstances, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, than at the beach.
I took my complimentary wine glass and scoured the stalls for my first tasting. Once inside you could sample as many drinks as you liked. Thorny Devil craft beer added their own marketing!
The food stalls looked amazing and by far the most tempting dish was the paella by Ole Paella. It was a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Use them as caterers for your next event by checking out their website www.olepaellacatering.com.au
I love the southwest wineries but apparently so does everyone else so I waited patiently for the crowd to disperse so I could slide in (slide being the operative word as did I mention how HOT it was that day?) and sample an icy-cold Clown Fish Chardonnay. I could have stayed here all day but I sensed people would become annoyed so I moved on. If you’d like uninterrupted wine tasting, visit their Cowaramup Winery.
There’s nothing quite like a pizza to accompany a cold beverage, and the Tapas Queens proved very popular with people walking around the event, balancing their glass and meal. It’s amazing how adept we become at not spilling anything!
I generally drink red wine at dinner but of course anytime’s a good time, really, so I chose to sample the House of Cards Cabernet Sauvignon, and I was not disappointed. I was drawn to the label and the oversize deck of cards - great marketing ploy - at least it worked on me! Pay them a visit in Margaret River or check out their website www.houseofcardswine.com.au
For those who didn’t want to juggle plates and glasses then the hand-held pork and apple slaw roll from the Chocolate Chilli Pork Company was the answer. The food on offer there looked delicious and appeared to be generous servings. To find out more about their products visit www.chocolatechilliporkcompany.com
If you were after something a little different then this Espresso Martini from Cocktail Gastronomy looked interesting. Just watching it being made was entertainment in itself. A very visual experience. Book them for your next celebration online at cocktailgastronomy.com.au
Saigon Eats had a variety of dishes to choose from. Grilled prawns and slaw on prawn crackers; lamb cutlets on slaw; marinated chargrilled pork on skewers; fried rice noodles with crispy roast pork and Vietnamese rolls with grilled pork and salad. Follow Saigon Eats on facebook to find out where they’ll be next.
As it was so hot I decided a nice cold beer would cool me down. I asked for the Gage Road Little Dove Pale Ale but it was already empty! Obviously a crowd favourite so I opted for the Single Fin Ale instead. It was very refreshing. Purchase your favourite from your nearest Dan Murphy’s store.
I buy an Arancini ball and a Lamb and Vegetable Pie from Creative Catering and I am pleasantly surprised that it took less than two minutes from payment to taking to my first bite. Both items were not just shells with a token bit of food inside them, they were stuffed with fillings and full of flavour. A wise decision on my part to stop here. I wiped the crumbs off my outfit and ventured further into the crowd. Book them for your wedding, birthday, or when you can’t be bothered to cook creativecateringperth.com
I am partial to a whisky now and then, and am again drawn to the vibrant labels on these bottles. Absinthe Bitters sounds dangerously toxic and it’s green, so I declined to taste it and just watched others down their shots. No complaints!
I am full but I cannot resist stopping at Shakshuka to admire their signature dish. Such a vibrant red. From previous events I know it tastes as good as it looks! Every Friday night through summer you can find their stall in the city at the Twilight Hawkers’ Markets from 4.30pm - 9.30pm or on a Saturday morning 8am -12pm at Subiaco and the South Fremantle Farmers’ Markets. Read more about Shakshuka in my foodie cravings post here.
The sun hadn’t quite set but it was time for me to go. Well, after I tried the Redgate Semillon, Chapman Grove Sauvignon Blanc and finished with another House of Cards Cabernet Sauvignon. Cheers!
Sunset Wine is an annual event and was held 18th and 19th February 2017 at Brighton Reserve, Scarborough.
