Flotsam From Fantastic Fleurieu

Cancel any plans you have made for the month of October because Fiesta is coming to South Australia. Fleurieu Fiesta 2010 is fast approaching with the month-long festival showcasing the many specialities the region has to offer. Taste your way across the Fleurieu Peninsula with new release wines, gourmet foods and the areas renowned olive oils all waiting to be tried.

Speciality events will be held over the month of October along with the Victor Harbor Farmers Market and the Willunga Farmers Market selling the regions freshest and tastiest foods direct to the public. Stop by during the Fiesta to sample the top seven placing oils from the Fleurieu Peninsula Fiesta Olive Awards and vote for the people’s choice award in the “Punters Pick” competition.

The Perfect Picnic held on Sunday, October 3, is the ultimate way to relax and enjoy not only the areas produce but also the Peninsula’s idyllic scenery. Gather quality ingredients from local stores and wineries to fill your picnic basket before heading off to one of the many picnic spots across the Peninsula.

If there were such a thing as a picnicker’s paradise, the Fleurieu Peninsula must be it.

The Fleurieu’s almost idyllic weather come October is reason enough to dust off the picnic basket shake out the traveling rug and go and explore the sights, sounds and tastes the Peninsula has to offer.

Taste, explore and try more.

The Fleurieu Peninsula presents a wide range of stunning areas, picture-perfect for a picnic with friends, family or someone special and with some of South Australia’s finest food and wine producers, why not fill up your picnic basket with fresh, high quality ingredients from stores and wineries minutes away from perfect picnic spots?

You can spread your blanket on manicured lawns, under historic trees, on sandy foreshores or in untamed bushland. Breathtaking scenery in Deep Creek Conservation Park, Hindmarsh Falls and the Onkaparinga River National Park are all perfect spots to work up an appetite and dine in natural splendour.

Gathering the ingredients is half the fun!

Some hamper filling suggestions include:

Pick your own berries from Agon Berry Farm, or the Blueberry Patch, at Mount Compass.

Cheese, cream and milkshakes straight from the Jersey cows at the Alexandrina Cheese Company in Mount Jagged.

Brian’s Olive Shop on the Main Road of McLaren Vale offers everything about olives including award winning pickled Kalamatas.

If you are heading into the region on a Saturday, then Willunga Farmers Market is an essential food lovers’ stop. Everything that is fresh, regional and seasonal including dairy products, venison, gourmet rabbit, organic sausages, fresh fruit and vegetables, organic herbs, fresh & smoked fish, chutneys, tapinades, pastes, dips, pate, dukkah, sauces, oils, local almonds, olives, baked goods, wine, free range eggs plus much, much more!

If you are thinking of spending a few days down on the Fleurieu this Spring, then why not stay at Brooklands Heritage B&B down at Port Elliot? It is the perfect spot to relax and unwind and Spring is an ideal time of year to enjoy all that it has to offer.

Don’t miss the new exhibition at Red Poles, McLaren Vale opening this Saturday! It’s sure to be a winner!

A LEISURELY MEANDER – paths trodden, scapes viewed

with works by NEIL SHEPPARD, CHRISTINE PYMAN, DAVID SUMMERHAYES, FRANCES PHOENIX, FRED PETERS, MARK CAPON, HEATHER NEWLAND, JENNY GORE, MURRAY EDWARDS, PETER SINCLAIR, QUENBY SINCLAIR and CHRIS WILLIAMS

Opens 18^th Saturday September @ 3pm Red Poles Gallery

By Margo Kellett – proprietor of Mink Wines and ceramicist

Live music by Lucinda Peters

RED POLES licensed cafe/restaurant-gallery-B&B-art classes

McMurtrie Road, McLaren Vale SA 5171

gallery/cafe Wed-Sun 9-5pm

contact (08)8323 8994

www.redpoles.com.au

South Australia Dairy Awards 2010 – Royal Adelaide Show 2010

Alexandrina Cheese Company’s principal cheese-maker Dan McCaul can be proud of his achievements this year at the South Australian Dairy Awards in 2010. The Champion Farmhouse Cheese Trophy has been awarded to the company’s premium Encounter Bay Edam cheese. This announcement certainly acknowledges a family tradition of great Edam cheese-makers, over forty years of tradition and two generations of cheese-makers.

You will be able to see the Encounter Bay Edam and Pure Jersey Cream on display in the Dairy Hall at RAS. The range of Alexandrina Cheese hard style and luxury dairy products are available from The Cheesery (8 km south of Mt Compass), from our wonderful stockists South Australian wide. The range is also available at three local farmers markets; Willunga Farmers Market (fortnightly),Victor Harbor Farmers Market (seasonally) and the Adelaide Showground’s Farmers Market each week. www.alexandrinacheese.com.au

Join their new Coffee Club! Contact them for an Alexandrina Cheese Coffee Club Membership Form or sight up online! Become a member of the new Alexandrina Cheese Coffee Club for big rewards and great tasting coffee made with full cream jersey milk. Come and join in on all the fun, especially on Wednesday for WickedWednesday during Spring! Book yourself and your friends in for Coffee Club at ‘The Cheesery’ on Wednesday. Indulge in an Alexandrinashire Tea $7.70, per person for a standard coffee, tea or milkshake served with cake. Bookings essential, please call T 8554 9666. More information emailinfo@alexandrinacheese.com.au. Alexandrina Cheese Company, farm-gate, Sneyd Road, Mt Jagged, 8 km south of Mt Compass. OPEN weekdays 12noon until 5pm weekends 10-4:30pm.

Wicked Wednesday during Spring! Be sure to organise the gals for Wicked Wednesday in during Spring! Prizes galore – every Wednesday each coffee, tea or milkshake to be ordered will receive a special raffle ticket! We will have Rio Coffee (250gm bags) and Alexandrina Cheese Produce Vouchers (RRP $10) to give away each week!

For more details have a look at the Curds & Whey eNews September 2010 Spring Edition on their website – and if you are down this way, why not stay at Brooklands Heritage B&B, at Port Elliot, ten minutes south of Alexandrina Cheese? It’s a great place for a few days’ break exploring the Fleurieu Peninsula and at its best in the Spring.

Strathalbyn is situated in the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia on the Angas River. Surrounded by rolling hills, picturesque valleys and tall gums, this charming historic town is recognised as one of South Australia’s loveliest country towns. With only a 45 minute drive from Adelaide, Strathalbyn is the perfect location for a day trip or weekend away.

Held annually on the third weekend in August the Strathalbyn Collectors, Hobbies and Antique Fair will this year have five halls to visit, filled with quality antiques and collectables from local and interstate dealers. Visitors can take advantage of the complimentary shuttle buses which circle the town dropping off and picking up patrons at each hall.

Featuring catering and live entertainment the fair has something for everyone. Antique appraisals will be available at AUD3.00 per item. There will be displays from spinners and weavers, lace makers, Strathalbyn stitcher’s, motor restorers, Strathalbyn Floral Society and the Australasian Telephone Collectors Society.

On the Sunday, in conjunction with the Antique Fair there will be a huge open air treasure market, with more than 80 stalls, many bargains can be found. This market, held at the sports oval on Coronation Road will feature collectables, old wares, ceramics, bric-a-brac and plants as well as produce.

WHEN: 10am to 5pm, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th August 2010

WHERE: Venues throughout Strathalbyn

COST: $10 per person per day, entry to all venues Children free. No concessions $15 weekend pass $5 single hall entry

BOOKINGS: None required

  Langhorne Creek comes to life in a celebration of fine wine, great food and cool music this October long weekend for its iconic picnic festival event.

Lazy Sunday on the Bremer is a great opportunity to sample the quality produce Langhorne Creek and the Fleurieu Peninsula have to offer and listen to some cool music from some of South Australia’s best performers.

The event is held at Frank Potts Reserve on Wellington Road, Langhorne Creek on Sunday, October 3, just 50 minutes from Adelaide.

The 2010 Lazy Sunday on the Bremer will feature:

-          Langhorne Creek wineries selling their delicious drops

-          Gourmet food, produce and coffee

-          Face painting and balloon artist for the kids

-          Live music all day

Set on the banks of the Bremer River, amongst the tall gums of the Frank Potts Reserve, Langhorne Creek wines will be on offer for you to purchase by the glass or bottle. The event is fully catered by a range of Fleurieu Peninsula food producers who will tantalise your taste buds with meals made from local produce for you to purchase.

Starting at 11am, wine, food and entertainment will be on offer all day. Children are welcome.

Entry is free. Bring your picnic blankets and chairs.

Find out more about the Langhorne Creek Wine Region @ http://www.langhornecreek.com

No BYO Food or Alcohol

Simply Red Bring The Curtain Down After 25 Years
“Welcome to the final year of twenty-five mind-blowing years,” says Mick Hucknall of Simply Red’s final shows. “What an adventure it has been!”
Roundhouse Entertainment and Michael Coppel Presents is pleased to announce Simply Red’s legions of Australian fans will have the opportunity to say a final goodbye when the band’s Farewell World Tour reaches Australia this October.
Simply Red will play their very last concerts here as a series of indoor shows and a day on the green winery events nationally. The tour’s very special guest will be Australia’s favourite Queen of Soul and disco diva Marcia Hines.
Simply Red’s classic pop and elegant ballads have provided an uplifting and emotional soundtrack to our turbulent times. The band is saying their farewells all over the world this year after what has been a remarkable 25 years.
“I could never have imagined my career would bring me so far,” Mick Hucknall said. “We want to share this closing anniversary with all the people who have enjoyed our sound throughout the years. Celebrate it and gently move on to the second half of a musical story. We all hope to see you at a show somewhere soon.”
Since their first tour in 1985, Simply Red have played over 1,100 shows to over 11 million people, notched up over 55 million global sales, over 31 Top 40 UK singles, 3 BRIT Awards, 2 Ivor Novellos, 2 US No.1 Singles and a MOBO Special Achievement.
Fronted by the charismatic Mick Hucknall, Simply Red grew out of Manchester and their first UK university/club tour in 1985 and quickly graduated to Europe and the USA in 1986. By 1987 they had conquered New Zealand and Australia and in 1989 they toured South America and Japan for the first time. By 1990 they had become a true global arena act and continued at that level until this day. Last year’s Greatest Hits tour notched up a further 1 million people across the world.
Simply Red has dominated Australian charts from early albums Picture Book (1985) and Men And Women (1987) to the juggernaut’s The New Flame (1989) and Stars (1991). The Farewell Tour showcases all their amazing hits including Money’s Too Tight To Mention, Holding Back The Years, The Right Thing, Stars, Fairground, If You Don’t Know Me By Now, Something Got Me Started, A New Flame and Sunrise.
MARCIA HINES, Australia’s favourite disco diva and celebrated singer, will be the tour’s special guest. With seven top 10 hits between 1975-1981 and hits across four decades, Marcia was a hugely popular inductee into the ARIA Hall of Fame in 2007. She is currently working on a new album “Marcia Sings Tapestry and the Songs of Carole King”, set for release later this year.
We know her as Australia’s undisputed Queen of Soul, stage musical star, chart-topper, hit-maker, dance floor diva and most recently, the voice of reason on Australian Idol’s judging panel, but live performance is what Marcia loves best and she is very much looking forward to the tour.
JOE CAMILLERI’S BLACK SORROWS will open the concerts in VIC and SA with their infectious blend of pop/rock and roots music. Joe may be celebrating his 45th year in the music industry but he sounds better than ever! The Sorrows are currently recording a new album so expect some fine new tunes along with hits like ‘Harley & Rose’, ‘Chained To The Wheel’, and ‘Hold On To Me’.
When Simply Red toured for a day on the green in early 2009, the sold-out concerts were amongst the fastest selling in the event’s history. Don’t miss the chance to say one final farewell to one of the most successful and acclaimed bands of the modern era.
EVENT INFORMATION:
‘a day on the green’ is a fully licensed event. Strictly no BYO alcohol. Food will be available for purchase on site or BYO picnic. Picnic rugs & deck chairs are recommended. Go to www.adayonthegreen.com.au for all show details.
CONCERT DATES:
Sunday October 10 Leconfield Wines, McLaren Vale SA
ON SALE MONDAY JULY 12
from ticketmaster.com.au & 136 100

  The Fleurieu Folk Festival is Fantastic Family Fun! Set in the beautiful historic town of Willunga on South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula, the festival presents a weekend of music concerts and sessions, dance, workshops, bush poets, children’s entertainment, stalls, in fact there’s something there for the whole family! Bring an instrument and join in the sessions or step on stage at a blackboard concert – kick up your heels at the Bush Dance – browse around the craft stalls & the Saturday Farmers’ Market – watch the kids have fun with face painting, clowns, Punch & Judy and the Young Talent Showcase – discover your own talent at one of the many workshops – or just relax and enjoy the vast array of local & Interstate performers. General entry to most Festival activities is only $5 per day (children free), making it affordable for everyone with only a small entry charge to major concerts in the main Concert Hall.

Willunga 22-24 October 2010

Did you know that Australia’s finest almonds are still grown at Willunga? Or that the olive oil being produced here is now being compared favourably to Italy’s finest? In a country bakeries, talented pastry bakers produce real bread from almost forgotten recipes; while elsewhere, little-known cheese-makers create authentic French-style goat’s curd and feta cheeses; or thick, rich Jersey-milk cream and traditional farmhouse cheddars.

Hidden among the hills and valleys of this region are countless gourmet wonders to experience. Take a little time and you can discover succulent spring lamb, tasty venison, freshly cooked yabbies with lemon…the perfect blend of rustic and refined. Be sure to seek out some of these renowned Fleurieu specialities:

• Seafood & Aquaculture – squid, saltwater fish, crayfish, yabbies and freshwater trout
• Almonds – raw, roasted, spiced, sugared, dukkah, almond & olive oil cakes
• Olives – pickled and marinated Kalamata
• Olive Oil – a range of styles and varieties with the favourite arriving with Greek tradition, the Koreineki
• Livestock – beef, new season lamb, kid, venison, rabbit
• Dairy – milk, cream, cheese, yogurt and quark.
• Berries – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Poultry – turkey and chickens

Getting married? You might like to consider the picturesque grounds surrounding ‘Ingleburne’ homestead at Penny’s Hill between McLaren Vale and Willunga.  The property, with its impressive limestone wall and post and rail fencing, makes an excellent backdrop  and is perfect for a romantic wedding. The rustic charm that captures the property’s original use as a farm has been retained to provide a perfect setting. Catering for up to 100 guests, Penny’s Hill & Mr. Riggs Cellars offers flexible function venues and outdoor terrace areas with views of the local vineyards.

Then the ideal place for your honeymoon is Brooklands Heritage B&B,  a Tourism Accredited, 4.5 star self-contained cottage, half an hour away and overlooking Port Elliot on the south coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula. It has all the charm of a bygone age, breathtaking views and complete privacy.