Art Auction & Fundraising event to save our coast

Please come along and enjoy a glass of Preveli Wine in support of the campaign to keep the south west free from the oil industry.

SUNDOWNER & ART AUCTION FUNDRAISING EVENT
Friday 10 September 5:30pm
River-Crossing Gallery
(corner Bussell Hwy & Tunbridge Street)

Sundowner drinks and viewing of incredible Margaret River artists’ exhibition with art auction commencing at 7:00pm.

All proceeds supporting the important local No Oil for South West Beaches campaign.

THE LARDER | SPRING COOKING CLASSES

Cooking classes at The Larder, Margaret River

Date: Thursday 2nd September, 6.30pm start – $88 incl. gst

Venue: The Larder, Bussell Highway

Contact Details: To book call 9758 8990 or pop into the store on Bussell Highway opposite the tourist bureau.

 Grab your Flamenco shoes and join Executive Chef, Andrea Ilott at The Larder for an evening of culinary curiosities. 

RUNNING WITH THE BULLS – SPANISH TAPAS COOKING CLASS
Sea salt + fennel spiced almonds
Chorizo, quince+ Manchego crostini
Caramelized onion + potato tortilla
Basque chicken with mixed olives, proscuitto and red peppers
Sweet sherry, honey and cinnamon bread
Pedro ximenez hot chocolate

SPRING FESTIVA – DANCE & MUSIC

Date: Saturday 4th September

Venue: Margaret River Cultural Centre, Wallcliffe Road

Contact Details: For more information contact rita@bellyvision.com.au or 0419 838488 or www.djememoves.com.au or 0437 151523

Ignite your spring fever with a celebration of fabulous dance and music, followed by the Spring Festiva Concert at 7.30pm.

11.30-12.30pm – Zumba with Rita for Camp Quality $8
1.30-3pm – West African Drumming Workshop $15
3.30-5pm – West African Dance – Djembemoves $15

An exciting evening of world music, bellydance, Bollywood and African dance. Also the launch of Jasmine Safi’s Bellydance Soul Cards – short readings available.  BYO – doors open 7pm, $15

CELEBRATE DAD’S DAY IN STYLE AT COLONIAL BREWERY

Date: Sunday 5th September

Venue: Colonial Brewery

Contact Details: Book now on (08) 9758 8177 and you’ll be stylin’.

He’s a one-of-a-kind. A maverick. A diamond in the rough. A fashion enigma.

Yes, there’s no doubt about it, your Dad is special.

So, treat him to something a little bit special this Father’s Day on Sunday September 5th with a family lunch at Colonial Brewery.

Dads will enjoy a complimentary beer on arrival. The whole family will enjoy entertainment from Captain Quirk the clown and sultry songstress Michelle Spriggs from 11am onwards. Plus there’s a great playground for the kids and a Father’s Day raffle with proceeds to Mens Cancer Awareness Month.

Boutique Margaret River winery, Tassell Park Wines were recently awarded 2 trophies for their 2008 Cabernet Merlot at the Australian Boutique Wine Awards. It was awarded the Best Red Blend trophy plus the honour of being judged the overall Best Boutique Estate Grown and Produced Wine of the show. Tassell Park was also awarded the Silver trophy for the Best Dry White in the Sauvignon Blanc class at last week’s Sheraton Wine Awards.

The 2010 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards have just been announced and Tassell Park Wines Margaret River is thrilled to have received six major medals from this national event.

Silver, 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon;
Silver, 2008 “Private Bin” Shiraz (not yet released);
Bronze 2009 “Private Bin” Chardonnay;
Bronze, 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon;
Bronze, 2008 Shiraz  and Bronze for the 2008 Cabernet Merlot.

It seems these guys can do no wrong. 

Vasse Felix, Evans & Tate reign supreme

The chairman’s award for best wine of the Sheraton WA Wine Awards was taken out by the Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2008. Vasse Felix winemaker Virginina Willcock believes the chardonnay is the best she has ever made, setting a great benchmark for the future!

Evans & Tate were awarded the Most Successful Exhibitor accolades for this year’s show. Congratulations!

Saracen Estate

Saracen Estate 2008 Shiraz recently won a gold medal and top of its class at the 2010 Australian Boutique Wine Awards in Sydney. The 2010 Rose also won top of its class at the Sheraton Wine Awards last week – it is the first vintage of Rose produced by the estate! And the great news keeps coming for Saracen Estates with the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc scoring 94 points from James Halliday and inclusion in his ‘Best Wine By Variety’ in the 2011 Australian Wine Companion. Well done Saracen Estate.

Laurance Icon wins again

The 2007 Laurance Icon Cabernet has been awarded a Top GOLD medal at the 13^th Japan Wine Challenge in Tokyo. With about 1,500 wines from 23 different countries the Japan Wine Challenge has established itself as Asia’s premier wine competition. Congratulations Laurance Wines

Planning a trip to Margaret River in September?  It’s always good to know what’s happening, so here’s some inside local knowledge:

Every Tuesday: Ransack the Cellar at Must Margaret River
Every Friday: Hands off my Bellini – Must Margaret River

2 September 2010 : Gnarabar – Talking Wine, Lamb & Pig with McHenry Hohnen

11 September 2010: Margaret River Farmers Market

24 September 2010: Ash Grunwald – Settlers Margaret River

22 September 2010: Amy Meredith – Settlers Margaret River

25 September 2010: Margaret River Farmers Market

25 September 2010: Fresh is Best Cooking Class at Cape Lodge

Heading to Margaret River this weekend?    Lucky for you the Cape’s Long Lunch is on this Saturday, 21st August 2010.

It’s the ultimate progressive lunch.  As the name proclaims, Capes Long Lunch runs for 7 fabulous hours from 11:30am – 6:30pm visiting Happs, Flametree, Laurance Wines, Clairault and Caves House Hotel.

You’ll taste 4 or so of each vineyards showcase wines then enjoy a glass of your preferred wine. There’s the promise of delicious foods throughout the day with all buses coming together at a finale venue featuring live music and beer! 

Tickets includes: 5 glasses of wine – beer also available at the Finale venue, 3 courses or taste plates of delicious food, including a choice of dessert or cheese platter at the Finale venue. 

Check out www.capeslonglunch.com.au or phone 0432 303 295 for tickets (if there’s any left!).

When we least expect it, we’ve spotting dozens of frollicking whales playing in the ocean straight in front of the beach house in Margaret River.  The migrating Humpback whales are heading up the coast of Margaret River as they head up north to the warmer tropical waters to breed and give birth to their calves.

The whales follow the coastline reasonably close to shore and whilst there are no guarantees, it is likely that guests staying at the house will see the beautiful creatures.  

If you want to get up close and personal, we can recommend taking a whale watching tour in Augusta or Dunsborough (June through December).  Local operators Naturaliste Charters offer an excellent experience with knowledgeable guides for an unforgettable encounter. In their experience midday is the best time to witness these majestic mammals in their element.

If you are a land lover and don’t like boats we can recommend the land based eco tour specialist, Discovery Margaret River. Founder Sean Blocksidge said “While there are no guarantees, it is likely that guests joining a Discovery Tour or even a Best of the Best Wine Tour may have the opportunity for whale spotting from high above the Wilyabrup Cliffs. We have seen well over 100 whales in th past few weeks”.

Whale season runs from June to September in Augusta as the whales head north and September to December in Dunsborough as they migrate home to the Antartica with their calves.

More more information see http://www.margaretriver.com and http://www.whales-australia.com/whales.html

Celebrated East coast chef, Matthew Barry from the legendary Icebergs Restaurant in Sydney, jetted across to Margaret River to shoot a travel and cooking show from Ron Roozen’s luxury beach house in Margaret River.   Joined by his talented sis, Sally Barry (channel 7’s weekend new reader) they will be exploring the wild west produce and international surf breaks, as they chill out at Roozen’s 5 star beach pad and cook up some of the region’s exquisite local fare.

The show will go to air on Foxtel’s lifestyle channel in the coming months, so stay tuned, I’ll post dates as soon as we know.

Sydney design gurus, Habitusonline, check out The Roozen Residence in Margaret River and here’s what they had to say :

“Western Australia’s Margaret River region is home to some of the best surfing, wine tasting and chocolate hotspots in Australia. For local surfer and artist Ron Roozen, a house that took in the expansive views of Australia’s western coastline provided the best opportunity to appreciate the lushness of the area.

With a triangular floorplan, the Dale Jones-Evans-designed house takes in 180-degree views of the Indian Ocean. Located in Prevelly on Western Australia’s South West coast, the living, dining and kitchen areas all face towards the ocean, observing breathtaking sunrises and romantic sunsets. While small viewing windows throughout the shorter sides of the house offer glimpses of the dense foliage and expansive views of the ocean beyond. With three large decks, there are also plenty of opportunities to entertain and enjoy the local produce. The interior colours are earthy with granite bench tops and stainless steel splashbacks in the kitchen juxtaposed with dark timbers and leathers.

For that extra level of comfort, a masseuse, pantry service, a chef and wine touring can be organised for your stay.

Whether it’s the feel of sand between your toes or the taste of a fine glass of red, the Roozen Residence offers a place to relax and unwind. ”

Leave BLOG > return to The Roozen Residence – Luxury beach house Accommodation, Margaret River

The annual Margaret River Wine Region Festival is an abundance of wine, food, music and art experiences.

Winenot discover one of Australia’s favourite wine regions with some friends and while you are there forage for local produce, sample over 200 wines at the Vintage Festival, enjoy signature dishes prepared by leading chefs and sit back to some world class music?

Starting with the Slow Food Long Table feast at Leeuwin Estate on Thursday 8th April, there’s a host of events on.  Grab a bunch of buddies and head on down.  Sleeping 6, accommodation is available at the Margaret River’s most awarded beach house, The Roozen Residence. 

Check out the Margaret River Wine Festival  website or grab tickets from Ticketmaster

- Thursday 8 April –
Slow Food Long Table Feast, Leeuwin Estate (12.30pm to 4pm) – $150

- Friday 9 April -
Cabernet Cabaret & Wine Auction, Xanadu Wines (7.30pm to Midnight) – $165

- Saturday 10 April -
Vintage Festival, Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre (11am to 6pm) – Adults $30, Children $5
Masterclasses with Jeremy Oliver & Vanya Cullen, Vintage Festival – $55 per class

- Sunday 11 April -
Vintage Concert featuring Daryl Braithwaite & Jon Stevens, Leeuwin Estate Amphitheatre (11am to 6pm) – Adults $60, Children $10, Family $130

Leave BLOG > return to The Roozen Residence – Luxury beach house Accommodation, Margaret River