Tastings & Events

Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

First Drop Wine Dinner @ Kent Hotel 12th May 2022

May 12, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm

$100 – $350
First Drop Wine Dinner @ The Kent Hotel 12 May 2022

The range of wines by First Drop is extensive and yet all the wines I have tasted are pleasing. My rep, Toby, keeps pouring me new First Drop wines, and I keep enjoying what is in the glass. I’m hosting this First Drop Wine Dinner because I want you to see the quality of this range too.

First Drop Wine Dinner line-up and menu

The First Drop range is mostly reds from Barossa, Eden Valley, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills with a few tasty whites from Adelaide Hills. They are bold wines that have nuance and layers of flavour. You can drink most of these wines on their own, but they absolutely change and sing with food. We sat down with the chef and events team at The Kent Hotel to taste some wines and discuss the menu, you can see it below, and they’ve absolutely nailed the brief. They’ve picked elements of the wines and added them to the dishes.

Starting with a lovely Arneis with oysters is perfection. We showed the Arneis last time but it got lost between two stunning whites, so it’ll be nice to see it in isolation with a great food match.

The lighter red bracket includes my favourite Matador Garnacha and a stunning Barbera. They will show perfectly paired with terrine; including the cranberry and walnut is inspired.

Listen to John and I talk about Garnacha and Touriga. 

Main course will be a trio of single vineyard Shiraz which is the pinnacle of what First Drop makes. They have three single-vineyard Shiraz Eden Valley and three from Barossa Valley. We’ll look at examples from both. It’ll be eye-opening to see how different Shiraz can taste when sourced only kilometres away from each other. Braised beef cheek will accompany the Shiraz course.

We’ll finish with their Mclaren Vale Cabernet and a dense, creamy Italian cheese.

First Drop Wine Dinner @ The Kent Hotel 12 May 2022
First Drop Wine Dinner @ The Kent Hotel 12 May 2022
First Drop Winery

The key is that the team at First Drop take everything incredibly seriously and not at all seriously at the same time. They know it is just a drink to be shared, but they also know that it must be good, so when we share it, the enjoyment is there. At the first event I hosted, we tasted a Montepulciano and Touriga. They are not unheard of, but they are not common. They were tasty from the start and didn’t need explanation, no epiphanies of “now I get it”. With First Drop, it is “I get it, it is delicious”, now let’s peel back the layers, the labels, the region, the grape, the style, the vineyard. The further you go, the more you get, but if you stay superficial, you’re still enjoying the wine.

This is the second in-person event with First Drop, John was in town last year but had to flee when the lockdown was called for that night. John is an engaging presenter and it’ll be nice to share his knowledge and passion in person.

The audio from our Virtual catch up with John after him having to flee the state due to a COVID lock-down. 

First Drop Dinner Details

Kent Hotel 370 Rathdowne St Carlton North Vic 3054.

Thursday 12th May. Arrive at 6.30 pm for Canapes and Arneis. Seated at 7.00 pm for dinner.

$100 per head, including food, wines, notes, everything.

Only 40 spaces available.

First Drop The Matador Garnacha Barossa Valley 2017
First Drop The Matador Garnacha Barossa Valley
First Drop Vivo Arneis
First Drop Vivo Arneis

Details

Date:
May 12, 2022
Time:
7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Cost:
$100 – $350
Event Categories:
,

Venue

Kent Hotel
370 Rathdowne St
Carlton North, Victoria 3054 Australia
+ Google Map
Phone
03 9347 5672
View Venue Website

Organiser

Phil
Phone
0418230482
Email
philip@thewinedepository.com.au
View Organiser Website