2020 Tasting Australia Event Program Released
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Ridgway alongside Festival Director, Simon Bryant announced the event program for Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel 2020 with tickets going on sale today.
With a program of more than 140 events on the menu, next year’s Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel has an experience to suit every palette with Minister Ridgway welcoming Guest Programmers to the festival who have curated events, assembling a talent line up that links to the narrative of key influencers across their careers.
“We are fortunate to have access to world class industry talent in South Australia with networks that span the globe and the nation. The events curated by this group will see visiting talent, such as Sat Bains from the UK and Heidi Bjerkin from Norway, use the best produce we have access to across a series of events sure to entice foodie visitors from across the boarder,” said Minister Ridgway.
“We currently have a $7.6 billion visitor economy and Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel as one of the longest running food and wine events in the country will further drive this economic growth and create more jobs.”
Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel Patron Cheong Liew is joined by Guest Programmers Karena Armstrong – The Salopian Inn (McLaren Vale); Paul Baker – Botanic Gardens Restaurant (Adelaide); Adam Liston – Shobosho (Adelaide); Emma McCaskill – Sparkke at the Whitmore (Adelaide); Duncan Welgemoed – Africola (Adelaide) and Morgan McGlone – Belles Hot Chicken (Melbourne/Sydney) to deliver key events.
Festival Director, Simon Bryant is delivering the fourth program under his tenure and is most proud of the breadth of experiences on offer and the involvement of working so closely with a broader programming team, which is different on previous years.
“It is so important for the festival to be able to offer a range of different experiences, celebrating the best quality of everything we do well in South Australia, be that food, wine, spirits and craft beer. As a new programming team this was paramount, meaning that if you attend a free event experience, purchase a $10 meal or $100 dinner, that you are having the very best of whatever it is you choose to eat, drink and experience.
“That’s the great thing about a festival of this size, you can literally bring together the best of everything in one place and people simply choose their own adventure over the 10 days,” said Simon Bryant.
New events added to the program for 2020 include Vintage Express, One Plate presented by Australian Good Meats, the East End Cellars Masterclass partnering with Pol Roger and Australian Fashion Labels, the Matt Moran and Yalumba Farmgate Lunch and Tasting Australia Airlines bringing visitors from Melbourne and Brisbane direct to the event for the first time for an experience they will never forget.
Beverage Director, Nick Stock said the 2020 drinks-inspired events showcase innovation as much as history and legacy and lend themselves to building narratives and building the stories of winemaking, spirit production and brewing in South Australia.
“Fittingly for South Australia, wine is certainly our biggest drinks focus for the festival and we are breaking new ground around the past, present and future stories of great South Australian winemaking in next year’s festival. We’ve built a strong layer of programming around spirits production, cocktail craftsmanship, coffee and brewing and we’ve doubled down on the overall amount of drinks-related programming again in 2020.”
“I am a proud South Australian with a global footprint, sharing our stories wherever I go and this festival has rightly claimed a voice in the global wine conversation. It is attracting attention and interest in South Australia and the people and places behind our great wine and drinks culture.
This is reflective in our visiting international talent for next year and the choice of globally travelled and experienced beverage ambassadors. More than ever before, the world really wants to experience first hand what we have on offer,” said Nick Stock.
The 2020 festival has appointed four beverage industry personalities to share our story in: Jessica Hill-Smith – Yalumba, Peter Fraser - Yangarra / Hickinbotham, Justine Henschke - Henschke and Sacha La Forgia - Adelaide Hills Distillery.
Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel starts on Friday 27 March 2020 running for 10 days across more than 140 events around South Australia, until Sunday 5 April 2020. Book now!
The Tasting Australia presented by RAA Travel full event program has been released today online and can be viewed at www.tastingaustralia.com.au