Rockford Wine Dinner

ROCKFORD WINE DINNER

ROCKPOOL BAR & GRILL PERTH

AUGUST 14

If you were lucky enough to be a guest at one of our recent wine dinners in Perth, you will know what a pleasure they are – the matching of excellent wine and excellent food is something we enjoy on every level within the Rockpool Group. Our next dinner is going to be truly exceptional, and we invite you to join us as we tip toe through a local hero’s ‘very best of ‘….

The Rockford story

Robert O’Callaghan was born into a family of grape growers – his parents, of course, as well as his grandparents on both sides. He inherited a great respect for the pioneer Australian wine trade, a respect that drives his commitment to excellence to this day.

Robert’s wine making career started in earnest with a traineeship at Seppelt’s Rutherglen winery. “It was a wonderful apprenticeship in the old, ordered, slow and gentle Australian wine trade. The wines I drank, the winemakers from previous generations with whom I associated and everything I absorbed in that period had a major influence on the way Rockford is today. Although I’ve spent all my life in vineyards and wineries, the pleasure I derive from walking through rows of vines and stacks of casks full of wine has not diminished.”

In 1971 Robert purchased an 1850’s stone settler’s cottage and outbuildings on five acres of land in the village of Krondorf, which lays in the shadow of the Barossa Ranges, in the heart of the valley. The courtyard shaped winery which grew from this was built in the same style and from the same materials as the original buildings. Robert says “I have always lived in and feel most comfortable with the warm Mediterranean climate of the Barossa where grapes ripen easily. My preference is to make the wine by hand with traditional methods, attitude and equipment to produce rich, earthy, soft, generous wines that will age; the kind that I drank in my youth.”

All that Robert has experienced is reflected in his winemaking principles; Quality winemaking is a skilled craft that consumes a very large part of one’s life, so it must give one joy.

Rockford wines are made from established Barossa varieties such as Shiraz, Riesling, Semillon and Grenache in a style that best reflects the vineyards, the winemaker’s attitude and the climate in which we live. Because of the way the Barossa Valley was originally settled, the majority of vineyards are owned by over 500 small, independent grape growers. Many of these fifth generation mixed farmers have their vineyards broken down into small patches of different varieties, soil types and ages. These vineyards are then dispersed across the whole spectrum of Barossa soil, altitude and weather conditions. The result is an extremely diverse, viticultural, patchwork quilt; with each grower giving their patch its own distinctive character.

During the twenty years prior to establishing Rockford, Robert worked for several Barossa winemakers. This allowed him access to many of the finest Barossa growers, so by the time he started by himself he knew exactly the kind of wine he wanted to make and precisely which vineyard would give him the grapes he needed. It also allowed him to continue the established tradition of winemakers building long term partnerships with growers rather than owning their own vineyard. Many of the growers have vines that were planted on their own roots, sixty to one hundred years ago. The partnership not only gives Rockford access to exceptional grapes from ancient vines, but also provides consistency and reliability that is not possible from a single vineyard.

There are only 20 seats available to this special event so be quick to avoid disappointment.

Menu

Ham and Hazelnuts

NV Rockford ‘Black’ Sparkling Shiraz

Semolina Noodles with Crab and Spicy Prawn Oil

2008 Rockford ‘Local Growers’ Semillon

Lyonnais Onion Tart with Jerusalem Artichoke, Pears, Rocket and Chestnuts

2011 Rockford Alicante Bouchet Rosé

Beef Tasting

Rockford ‘Basket Press’ Shiraz (vintage tbc)

Rockford ‘Home Block’ Cabernet Sauvignon (vintage tbc)

Petit fours