Event: Jacob's Creek Heritage Wine Collection & Food Pairing Dinner

Hello, everyone! I'm back from my wedding + honeymoon break! :D AP & I had a fantastic time at the wedding & honeymoon, & I'll be sharing with you on the details in subsequent posts :)

Now back to some foodie blog posts :D

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Earlier this month, I was really blessed to be invited to the Jacob's Creek Heritage Wine Collection - Wine Pairing Dinner. The glamourous event was held at the lovely Saujana Resort & Hotel, with the presence of Pernod Ricard Winemakers' Wine Ambassador, Jenny Rothenberg.

The fine wine collection on that evening consists of Reeves Point Chardonnay, Centenary Hill Shiraz, Steingarten Riesling and Johann Shiraz Cabernet.

Jo & I at the event that made our week! 

Photo above from: Beyond PR Communications

"Jacob’s Creek is one of Australia’s leading global wine brands, offering quality contemporary wine styles with great varietal expression. Every Jacob’s Creek wine is created with consumers and their evolving tastes in mind. Led by Chief Winemaker Bernard Hickin, great care is taken by each of the skilled and passionate individuals behind the brand, to deliver the highest quality wines possibles within each range.

The brand was first launched in 1976 and is named after the place where Johann Gramp planted his first vines on the banks of Jacob’s Creek in 1847.  In doing so, Johann founded the Barossa Valley’s first commercial vineyard, the Gramp & Sons business and a history of winemaking innovation that dates back over 165 years."

The event's setting was really beautiful & undoubtedly romantic-looking, with an exceptional 4-course wine-paired meal, prepared by the capable team of chefs at The Restaurant, The Club, Saujana Resort. I was really delighted to attend the event with Jo as everything looks so pretty, interesting & exciting at the same time!

We have reserved & named seats too *eyes in heart-shape* 

Grapes, grapes, grapes & wine, wine, wine! 

All guests were treated to some simple canapes prior to dinner at the pool-side, where everyone could mingle, chill & relax while waiting for a treat of good wine & delectable food.

Jenny Rothenberg kicked-start the dinner with an introduction of the event, some background of Jacob's Creek & the wines/food that will be served

Photo above from: Beyond PR Communications

Live performance to keep the guests entertained :)

Photo above from: Beyond PR Communications

Jacob's Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir

This was our Chef Amuse Bouche. It was fresh, fruity, & 'bubbly', perfect start to the line up of dishes.

The warm, soft & fluffy rolls served were really delicious!

I enjoyed it slowly & kept some to accompany the soup, which was a great decision :P

Our appetizer was a really interesting dish of fresh, succulent lobster pieces with a mixture of citrus/sour, sweet & savory compliments of fruits & vegetables. It paired really well with the Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling as it enhanced the simplicity of the lobster, bringing out its natural sweetness. "The Steingarten Riesling has an intense citrus floral aromas and flavours with dry mineral acidity, outstanding mid-palate structure and great length".

Marble of Lobster & Tomato Confit with Avocado & Grapefruit Segments, Pomegranate Truffle

(paired with Jacob's Creek Steingarten Riesling)

Up next was the fascinating presentation of the white tomato soup that was slightly creamy, yet not thick alike the cream of mushroom. It has a hint of acidity from the tomatoes & the fragrance of the young coconut. I reckon the soup was cooked with the coconut water as well as it was slightly sweet. The smoked quail on the stick of lemon grass was also very delightful as it was well-flavored & moist. The dish was paired with the Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay, one of my favorite wines for the night. It is a "medium-bodied wine with flavors of lemon, ripe peach, and melon balance". I guess I like wines that have more 'body' & are more 'fruity'.

White Tomato Soup with Smoked Quail in Young Coconut

(paired with Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay)

 

Jacob's Creek Reeves Point Chardonnay

We had a choice for the mains of either the fish or the beef, so I took the fish (lower in cholesterol...hahaha), while Jo took the beef so that both of us could get to taste the best of both main dishes. I enjoyed the silky smooth, mild & delicate cod fish with a blend of bolder seafood saffron veloute & some succulent fern shoots to compliment the protein. This dish was also paired with the Jacob's Creek Reeve's Point Chardonnay, a perfect pair indeed!

Pan-Fried Blue Eye Cod Fish with Fern Shoot, Seafood Saffron Veloute

(paired with Jacob's Creek Reeve's Point Chardonnay)

Jo's steak was cooked to perfection i.e. medium rare! Tender & 'melts-in-your-mouth', this protein went well with the Jacob's Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz as the wine has rich berry flavors with intense plum and spice aromas. Taking in the wine before the beef was a different experience compared to taking the wine after chewing halfway on the beef. I find the wine tasting slightly more acidic after having a mouthful of the beef, which I didn't fancy, but the wine before the beef was one that I enjoyed as I prefer a more full-bodied red wine. This wine was my favorite for the night!

Grilled Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with Sarawak Pepper & Rosemary, Mushrooms Polenta & Vegetables

(paired with Jacob's Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz)

Centenary Hill Shiraz

We concluded our dinner with the rich royal chocolate gateaux with fresh berries that were slightly acidic & tart to balance the rich, bitter-sweet dessert. The dessert was paired with the Jacob's Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet, a wine that "inundates the senses of complex, intertwined and intriguing with notes of liquorice, blackcurrent and oak". I was glad to have stayed through the entire 4-course dinner as this dessert (although I was really full), was a truly pleasurable dish to conclude the elegant event.

Royal Chocolate Gateaux with Berries

(paired with Jacob's Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet)

 

Johann Shiraz Cabernet

All the wine that we were introduced to on that evening (front left, clockwise):

Jacob's Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir, Steingarten Riesling, Reeves Point Chardonnay, Johann Shiraz Cabernet, & Centenary Hill Shiraz

Thank you Jacob's Creek, Pernod Ricard Malaysia & Beyond PR Communications for the wonderful evening & experience!

A memorable evening, no doubt,