Be among the first to experience the bumper 2021 South Australian vintage at the state’s best boutique celebration of local wine and food.

The 2021 vintage delivered happy news to SA’s wine regions.

After consecutive years of challenging conditions, wineries around the state have recorded higher yields of exceptional quality fruit, meaning this year will be one to seek out in bottle shops for years to come.

If you’re looking for a sneak peek of this plentiful year of wine, Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit will have a broad array of the state’s historic vintage available to taste this July.

Fittingly, 2021 has been declared the Year of South Australian Wine, with activities, pop-ups and festivals toasting our world-class wine regions all year long.

Few events are more anticipated than Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit, which returns to the Adelaide Convention Centre on 9 and 10 July.

“When we launched Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit two years ago we were blown away by the response, so it was certainly a shame not to be able to hold the event last year,” says Festival Director Alex Bradford.

The summer festival earlier this year demonstrated a strong appetite for face-to-face events that translated into record sales for wineries, and Alex says “we’re excited to be able to bring Winter Edit back this year to build on that momentum.”

Even the best wines taste better with a musical accompaniment, so Alex and her team have also curated a lineup of fabulous local musicians to soundtrack the tasting experience.

These include blues and soul singer Ollie English, hip-hop siblings Argus and the Liar, and Didier Kumalo’s laid-back afrojazz. Every session will also conclude with a set of funk and soul dance-floor fillers, courtesy of Ruby Chew.

“It’s been great fun curating the music line-up,” says Alex. “There’s truly something for everyone, from French jazz to acoustic sets and even street hip hop.”

Blues and soul singer Ollie English

Held in the Convention Centre’s East Building overlooking the Adelaide Riverbank, the Winter Edit is a tasting journey across 14 South Australian wine regions with new release whites and warming reds from as far afield as Coonawarra, Limestone Coast, Clare Valley and Kangaroo Island.

Boutique, emerging and established producers are all showcased and entry includes a Riedel glass and complimentary tastings, making it the perfect opportunity to discover your new favourite drop and stock up the cellar.

Among those making their Cellar Door Fest debut this year are social enterprise Forage Supply Co, the Barossa’s only sister-run winery ZWine, and boutique fourth-generation Coonawarra winemakers Brand & Sons.

The event’s mission to support local also extends well beyond wineries, with the 80 stalls also showcasing other vibrant South Australian food and drink producers.

An even dozen of the hottest craft distilleries includes Seven Seasons, Prohibition Liquor and Never Never, while the food options are even more warming.

In addition to tastings at the Artisan Food Market, there’ll be winter specialties like The Smelly Cheese Shop’s famous raclette and cacciocavallo, Flammekueche’s delicious stone-baked flatbreads, gözleme, paella and gourmet toasties.Other exhibitors include Dawn Patrol Coffee and Vale Brewing, who are bringing their limited edition spiced rum porter.

Broken into three sessions over Friday and Saturday, Cellar Door Fest Winter Edit presents an opportunity to meet the makers from across the state, enjoy tastings and then create your own picnic experience from the food and drinks on offer before sitting back to enjoy some of Adelaide’s best original musicians.

Alex says it’s worth getting in quick to nab your spot, given the current restrictions.

“As with the summer festival, the general public has been very supportive and there’s been a great response to early ticket sales,” she said.

“We have strictly limited tickets available for each session, and based on our summer festival, expect to sell out in advance so I encourage those keen to attend to book early.

“It’s also important to note that tickets are only available online this year, not at the door.”