Monday 23^rd July saw the inaugural Berkmann Supper Club series launch in London. The focus was on Australian Classic Regional Icons and featured a selection of wines from Chapel Hill, Langmeil and Woodlands. Held at Daisy’s Collection new Soho venue, Scarlett Green, guests were treated to a sharing feast of antipodean inspired dishes by head chef Dominik Moldenhauer, matched to flights of wine representing each of the producers.

The first flight of whites included Langmeil Wattle Brae Riesling, Chapel Hill Verdelho and Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Chardonnay.  Stefano Barbarino of Chez Bruce found the whites “very fresh, mineral with great texture to go with many sea food dishes” – a great match for the spicy tuna tostadas and prawn and cashew betel leaf canapés served.  The Chapel Hill Verdelho in particular proved a talking point, as Australia is one of the few countries that makes dry white with Verdelho. Verdelho is mainly known in Europe as part of the Madeira family of varieties but it is quite suited to McLaren Vale’s Mediterranean climate and produces aromatic white wines with crisp acidity and mouthfeel. Perfect for an alternative summer pour.

Honouring the great Australian past time, the BBQ, the next flight was matched to a sharing feast of prime lamb cutlets, 30-day aged grass-fed ribeye and vegan options, requiring some heavy hitters to work with the meat.  Chapel Hill The Vicar Shiraz, Langmeil Orphan Bank Shiraz and Woodlands ‘Margaret’ Cabernet blend all obliged. London Account Manager Jacopo Focacci picked Woodlands ‘Margaret’ as his wine of the night, with Virgilio Gennaro echoing the sentiment, praising the wine matched with ribeye as “European in structure and fresh, with a refined elegance that didn’t overwhelm the quality of the meat.”

What supper club wouldn’t be complete without cheese? An array of British cheeses were chosen to match to Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Grenache, Woodlands Wilyabrup Valley Cabernet Merlot and Langmeil Hanging Snakes Shiraz Viognier. Given all wines on the night were either vegan or vegetarian friendly, it seemed only appropriate to also source some vegan cheese from Mouse’s Favourite as alternatives, impressing Marta Nytko from Vanilla Black who commented on the “mind blowing vegan food options.”  Having recently been awarded a Gold Medal and the Food Matching Trophy at this year’s Sommelier Wine Awards, the Hanging Snakes Shiraz Viognier shone alongside the Isle of Man and Montgomery cheddars.

All in all a fabulous evening. Stay tuned for details of the next upcoming Berkmann Supper Club.

Special thanks to Filippo Testa and his team at Scarlett Green for their support on the night.