The 2009 Grand French Victorian Banquet
Wednesday 18 March
This year’s Grand French-Victorian Banquet coincided with Melbourne’s annual Food & Wine Festival, a fitting reflection of the evening’s focus. Indeed this exclusive wine dinner showcases the trophy and gold medal winning wines from our annual Concours des Vins du Victoria, matched to a specially designed five-course menu with French influences but using the best of local produce.
This year, to support those vineyards affected by the recent bushfires, all profits from the banquet were donated to the Australian Red Cross “Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009”.
In the stylish surrounds of the River Room at Crown, overlooking the city and Yarra River views, winemakers Gilles Lapalus and Dominique Portet along with President of the Jury of the 2008 Concours des Vins du Victoria, Michel Chapoutier, guided the 130 guests through the eight wines featured on the menu. Several of the winemakers also took turns on the stage to tell the story about their wine and their vineyard.
French chef Philippe Mouchel and Executive Chef from Crown, Marcus Werner, were behind the delectable five-course menu. As to be expected, the menu had a definite French touch, with every dish a perfect match to the wines.
All wines were unanimously praised as great examples in their respective class. The evening started with a selection of delicious morsels including grilled scallops in gazpacho shooter, smoked salmon lollypops and grilled prawns in lobster bisque, served with Delatite 2008 Riesling and Fairbank 2008 Rosé.
Once seated, guests were treated to a Box Stallion 2008 Sauvignon Blanc and Allinda 2007 Barrel Select Chardonnay, accompanied by the evening’s appetiser; a delicate seafood tower on orange and shaved fennel salad with bouillabaisse vinaigrette.
The entrée of braised duck leg in red wine sauce served with baby vegetables and chargrilled pears on a celeriac purée was a great match for the Purple Hen Estate Pinot Noir 2007, the winner of the Trophy for Best Red Wine in the Show, and was paired with a Louis Latour 2005 Chassagne Montrachet Morgeot.
Next came the Blackjack Block 6 Shiraz 2006 and Paringa Estate Shiraz 2006, served with the banquet’s main course; a veal tenderloin wrapped in prosciutto and mushroom duxelle, caper butter, walnut herb risotto, asparagus and Shiraz reduction.
The cheese course of Fromage de Meaux, olive bread and pear paste, was matched with Stumpy Gully’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.
Throughout the evening, guests had the chance to bid for some top Gallic drops from Burgundy and the Rhône Valley in our silent auction or indulge themselves to a glass of Condrieu, Côte Rôtie, Crozes Hermitage, Chablis 1er Cru, Meursault or Puligny Montrachet from our popular ‘Table de Dégustation’.
The dinner meandered along until the last sip of the Trophy winner in the sparkling category, a 2006 Grampians Estate Black Sunday Friends Sparkling Shiraz, which accompanied a delicious warm chocolate fondant with crushed raspberries and raspberry sorbet.
The combination of exceptional Victorian wines and culinary creations made the Grand French-Victorian Banquet yet again a memorable food and wine experience.
FACCI Victoria would like to extend its sincere thanks to the event’s major sponsor Renault, chefs Marcus Werner and Philippe Mouchel, and Crown Events for their role in ensuring the success of the evening. The Chamber also extends a big thank you to Ian McKenzie from Blackjack Wines, Matthew Zerbe from Box Stallion Wines, Andy Browning from Delatite Winery, Lindsay McCall from Paringa Estate, Al Fencarros from Allinda, Rick Lacey from Purple Hen Wines and Wendy Zantvoort from Stumpy Gully Vineyard, as well as Michel Chapoutier, Gilles Lapalus and Dominique Portet, for their contribution to the success of the evening.
Credit photo: Pierrick Boyer - Cre8tive PhotOZ
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