The Grape Expectations! Future of Wine 2-day extravaganza kicked off on a very high note on Tuesday (August 14) and as guests to this event, we could not have asked for a better way to spend the evening across from the beautiful Adelaide Riverbank, marvelling over the evolution of our favourite fermented drink!
Taking us on a journey through the history of winemaking, guests were treated to a combination of networking, socialising, and information gathering at this event. Wine tastings, grazing platters, and sensory experiences were just some of the many fun and interactive activities that were part of the program. This was complemented by talks provided by the well-trained scientists from the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI), who explored their findings and shared the process of their significant scientific breakthroughs regarding wine production.
A line up of the wines on offer (Photography by Fatema Sitabkhan)
Much story-telling ensued and all of us in the audience were left enthralled. We all love our glass of wine (or few), but this event was all about stopping to appreciate the beauty of the process that happens in the backend production process of wine. The scientists from the AWRI were able to share their discoveries with us, which also included telescopic views of the tiniest of microbes that went towards the determination of the nature and age of the wine.
Katie Spain putting her senses to the test at Grape Expectations! (Photography by Fatema Sitabkhan)
While I'm not personally a huge wine drinker, it tingled my senses in the best manner by taking those small moments of the aromatic senses boasted by each glass. Swirling around our concoctions as we tuned in on the talks, whilst mingling with a very eclectic crew of fellow wine lovers, in addition to learning about the truth around wine-related folklore, added to a truly wholesome night that incorporated an equal medium of education and fun!
With the success of this event that was saturated with a view over the Torrens from the fabulous Gilbert Suite at the Adelaide Convention Centre, one can only hope that the fantastic team from the AWRI return again next year, as part of the National Science Week, and are able to present with even more fascinating findings around South Australia's favourite drinks!
It's all in the swirl! (Photography by Fatema Sitabkhan)
