5 Restaurants to Experience a Wine and Food Paired Menu.

Ever sat at a restaurant table pondering the menu, unsure of what wine to order to go with which dish?

For those of us who enjoy a nice glass of wine but don’t know what we are doing when it comes to pairing food and wine, many restaurants around the country take away that quandary by offering menus where wine is paired with each dish. 

Here are five we recommend you try:

Exquisite views and tasty dishes await at hidden gem restaurant, The Cellar Kitchen on Pioneer Avenue in Rowland Flat. Nestled in the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, expect a spectacular vibe of beamed ceilings a statement fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glass offerings vistas of the stunning countryside.

 

With a food philosophy of showcasing ingredients from local farmers and producers presented with care, expect to dine on offerings like fish mosaic, nori, herb velouté, yoghurt and honey to start, with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc; before dry-aged beef sirloin, roasted kipflers, marrow and onion butter, enjoyed with a Henschke Shiraz Mataro.

Ideal for an occasion that requires everything to be perfect, head to Courgette restaurant on Marcus Clarke Street in the heart of Canberra. Owned by celebrated Chef James Mussillon, this dining destination embodies luxury with a sophisticated ambience of lounge-like chairs inviting guests to settle in and savour both the food and the setting at their own unhurried pace.

 

Intimate dining is also available in private rooms, The Boardroom and the Cellar, with wines from across the globe on hand along with professional staff to help you select the best drop. 

Prepare for a tantalising journey of Italian dining at Bella Venezia, a popular hot spot on Mooloolaba’s vibrant Esplanade at Pacific Beach Resort. Calling this iconic precinct home since 1983, Bella Venezia offers several dining options from plush blue velvet seating and red velvet booths to tables overlooking the beautiful Mooloolaba Esplanade and alfresco Champagne garden dining.

 

Premium produce is sourced from local Sunshine Coast suppliers, seafood from Mooloolaba Port and quality imported ingredients for a menu overflowing with artfully plated dishes created by award-winning Chefs; perhaps choose the 7 Step Tasting Menu with premium matching wines for the ultimate experience.

Proudly standing in the Mount Kembla region since the 1800s, Ruby’s on Harry Graham Drive is a much-loved, fine-dining restaurant delivering degustation menus to tempt all tastebuds. Nestled in the historic mining village of Kembla Heights, Ruby’s first traded as the village store and post office to a community of coal miners and their families; named after a famous resident Ruby Moore, the store has undergone much careful restoration and is now home to one of the area’s signature restaurants.

 

Start your feast with confit ocean trout, onion, soubise and pickled fennel, enjoyed with a glass of Pinot Gris; before pork tenderloin, smoked hock, carrot purée and Dutch carrots, paired with a Southern Highlands 2015 Artemis Pinot Noir.

Creating signature flavours and personalised service, Ripponlea Food & Wine on Glen Eira Road is a modern European restaurant in the heart of Ripponlea village. Expect comfort, style and a little bit fancy without the fuss at this dining destination where green velvet booths await, along with stools to perch on at the well-stocked bar with a cocktail in hand; there are also three different private dining spaces to create amazing memories for any special occasion.

 

Dive right in with an entrée of grilled prawns on sesame toast with prawn mousse and chorizo nagé, paired with a McLaren Vale Pinot Grigio; followed by spiced lamb noisette, caramelised witlof, red pepper purée and pistachio gremolata, enjoyed with an Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir.