Members and guests had a great night at The Marion for the 2023 Winemakers Dinner, with excellent food, interesting wines, a wonderful venue and great company.
Our MC, the urbane Ric Smith, opened by introducing President Nan Bak, who highlighted some of our achievements this year in supporting the young and disadvantaged. Nan explained that profits from the dinner would go directly to our 2023 Disability Awards, which will be presented at the Annual General Meeting later in the year. She thanked dinner organiser Keith Hardy and welcomed Sam Holden, who had brought nine staff from Inala Disability Services. Nan closed by introducing the winemaker, Stephanie Helm.
Stephanie introduced each of the wines beginning with the sparkling chardonnay and the wines to accompany the glazed salmon and duck and pork terrine entrées, an estate Riesling, and a dry Rosé. The main course of grass-fed sirloin or Cowra lamb rump was matched with a peppery Syrah. The desserts (vanilla pannacotta and sticky date pudding) were teamed with semi-sweet Riesling or a fortified Shiraz. Stephanie proved a bubbly and engaging speaker who obviously takes great pride in her wines and her descriptions were thoroughly enjoyable.
The evening was rounded out by Vice President Murray Radcliffe who thanked Stephanie and all the Taverners who attended. But one thing is for sure, everyone who came had a great evening.
