Thai basil scented panna cotta, tropical fruit and lime sorbet from Tuileries of Rutherglen. PICTURE: John Russell.
Phil Chamberlain with the Thai basil-scented panna cotta, tropical fruit salad and lime sorbet dish that will available at Rutherglen Estates on Sunday as part of Tastes of Rutherglen. Picture: JOHN RUSSELL
ORGANISERS are spicing up Tastes of Rutherglen for the festival’s 25-year anniversary.
Each winery involved in the celebration of fine wine and food has chosen a herb or spice as the theme of the dishes they will serve over the coming two weekends.
Saffron will be the flavour of Scion Vineyard which will dish up a Middle Eastern citrus-almond cake.
At Rutherglen Estates they’ll have prawn, cucumber Thai basil salad on Saturday and Thai basil-scented panna cotta on Sunday.
So what’s the link between wine and herbs?
“The only link is that they are both grown in the ground,” joked Rutherglen Estates chief executive Phil Chamberlain.
“While there may be some wines that have herbaceous flavours, I don’t think I’ve tasted any wines that have a Thai basil flavour.
“But the wines we match to the food complement the herbs that have been used in the dish.”
About 5000 visitors are expected to visit Rutherglen over the next two weekends.
Pilgrims will receive a souvenir book with recipes from 20 wineries.
For more information go to rutherglenvic.com.
