A weekend was spent celebrating the wines and food of the Young region starting with the annual Hilltops Wine Dinner on Saturday night, followed by sumptuous lunches at some of the district’s wineries on Sunday.
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With a four course menu of Greek food designed by renowned Australian chef, author and television personality Lyndey Milan and prepared by local chefs Susie Forrest, Kerry and Rob Provan, 140 guests gathered first to try wine and then wine with food, all of it local produce.
Entertainment and commentary came in the form of special guests - wine writer Tyson Stelzer and Tim Kirk of Clonakilla Winery at Murrumbateman. Mr Kirk, according to Hilltops Harvest NSW chairman Brian Mullany, was full of praise for the Hilltops winemakers, the wine of the region and encouragement for them to keep going.
Simon Robertson — son of the late Peter Robertson a local winemaker who started Barwang Winery in the sixties, selling it to the McWilliam family in 1988 —also spoke at the dinner.
He related the story of his father who flew bombers in the Second World War alongside a chap by the name of Seppelt, of the South Australian wine-making family. According to legend it was wine received from the Seppelts that instilled in Peter Robertson a love of wine and his commitment to producing his own.
Highlight of the night was presentation of the inaugural Peter Robertson Trophy for the Hilltops Wine Of The Year to Jason and Alecia Brown of Moppity Vineyard for their newly released Lock & Key Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which has, according to Jason, literally gone from the bottling line to the podium.
Mr Mullany said it was a fantastic result for the vineyard.
Festivities continued the following day at a series of long lunches hosted by various vineyards – French-themed at Chalkers Crossing, Indian at Grove Estate, Ballinaclash had the best of the Irish and Freemans went Italian.
According to Mr Mullany, people travelled from as far away as Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra for the event.
“All motels were full – which is a great thing for the town,” he said.
