Syrah or Shiraz? What is the difference exactly? Well if you don’t have the answer to this question yet I advise you to let the Wine & the City guys teach you what they know the best, wine! And this time we will embark you in an instructive yet complex Syrah/Shiraz comparison wine dinner. The evening will take the form of an exciting clash between France and Australia, a Hermitage VS Barossa Valley duel full of surprises and anecdotes. If you don’t know yet which one is your favourite, for each round, we will share with you details and characteristics of Syrah/Shiraz from both countries to make up your mind.

Exceptionally for this event, Alan Skalaski, a talented artist from the United States will join us to talk about his style and inspiration and then will offer us a live painting experience during the dinner.  

 

 

 

FIRST COURSE
Smoked Salmon Rillettes With Cucumber and Dill
&
Cave de Tain Crozes Hermitage Grand Classique Rhone Valley, France 2015

SECOND COURSE
Seared Foie Gras with Cranberry Apple Chutney
&
Maverick Breechens Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia 2016

THIRD COURSE
Steak Tartare with White Anchovy
&
Cave de Tain Hermitage Grand Classique Rhone Valley, France 2007

FOURTH COURSE
Center-Cut filet Mignon with Truffle Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans.
&
Maverick Greenock Rise Shiraz, Barossa Valley Australia 2016

DESSERT
Chocolate Layer Cake

 

 

Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or NV
The carte d’Or cuvee is the very expression of the Drappier style. Champagne with a fine aromatic richness, it opens with aromas of stoned fruits such as white vineyard peach. A spicy hint announces a powerful complex palate.

 

Cave de Tain Crozes Hermitage 2015
The Cave de Tain is among the world’s very greatest wine producers, a giant of the Northern Rhone, owning a stunning state-of-the-art winery and a brilliant team of winegrowers.
This Crozes-Hermitage Grand Classique offers a great expression of French Syrah, with aromas of red fruits with slight hints of liquorice and spices. It’s round, and well-balanced on the palate, with a clean finish.

MAVERICK Breechens Barossa Shiraz 2016
Maverick Wines was established in 2004. The objective was and is to be one the premium boutique wineries in Australia. Maverick has embraced a biodynamic system of farming in his vineyards. The old vines and the biodynamic farming allow the creation of intense, pure, low-yielding fruit. As a result, this Maverick Breechens Barossa Shiraz is a combination of vibrant, fleshy fruit supported by spicy textural nuances and ripe tannins.

 

Cave de Tain AOC Hermitage 2007
Hermitage is the greatest appellation in the northern part of Rhone Valley; it’s in its original cradle that the Syrah reaches its most perfect expression and its peak. The Cave de Tain tries to produce Hermitage red wines that emphasize power, silkiness and fruit. Good to know, those wines get better with age!

MAVERICK Greenock Rise Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016
Created by Ron Brown, the historical winemaker of Maverick, this Greenock Rise Shiraz from Barossa
Valley is the masterpiece of the winery, it shows a great complexity once open, and won’t stop to evolve throughout the dinner until your last sip.

Alan Skalaski is an American painter who graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. He began drawing and painting at a young age and continued through the various stages of his education. Since Alan studied architecture, design and fine art, he incorporates all of these practices into an abstract style. Chinese mural painting is also a great influence on his work.
 
Alan works with words as a poet and has created two poetry books, often using their statements in his work. He likes to live-paint because of the performance aspect and the fact that it brings art to viewers in a way that demystifies it.

You will spend the evening with 15 other food and wines lovers. So don't hesitate anymore, grab a date, a friend or fly solo and come enjoy a toast with new friends.