CELLAR DOOR WINE FESTIVAL

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:46): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister responsible for our wine industry a question about the Cellar Door Wine Festival.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Food and wine matching can be a terrific way of enhancing the flavours and enjoyment of both food and wine. Often billed as a complicated science, food and wine pairing is really fairly straightforward and often comes down to personal preference. Most importantly, it should be fun. Can the minister advise the chamber how people can learn about wine characteristics?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:46): I thank the honourable member for her most important question and her ongoing interest in the wine industry. I note that the Hon. Carmel Zollo has a particularly good palate and a very refined appreciation of wine. I have enormous respect for her palate and I note her personal interest in these matters.

The government's priority in promoting premium food and wine from our clean environment has seen a number of successful campaigns in 2012, and I am very proud to say that there will be many more events to look forward to in the new year. A prime example of this will be the exciting new initiative developed by the Convention Centre and PIRSA for the Cellar Door Wine Festival to be held in Adelaide between 22 and 24 February 2013.

In its third year, the festival again promotes wineries from across South Australia, and I am advised that 150 South Australian wineries from 13 regions across the state, including internationally renowned brands through to niche boutique producers, will be at the festival. This is an increase of 30 new wineries from last year from which people can sample and enjoy products.

The festival provides people with an educational experience as it provides a greater understanding of the characteristics of each region and the varying winemaking styles of local wineries. Food is a growing focus of this event, and PIRSA will be supporting particularly small and new food producers by promoting premium food from SA's regions and fostering new growth opportunities in the food industry.

PIRSA will be offering 16 small food producers the opportunity to showcase and promote their brand and products in a dedicated PIRSA new producers area situated in the exhibition area. In addition, this involvement will allow exposure to these food producers at the festival's 'trade hour' ahead of the public opening times and a chance to showcase their produce on the demonstrations stage. This will provide a great opportunity for food producers to directly promote and sell their products by interacting directly with festival attendees.

With around 8,000 visitors expected to attend, the event will provide producers with a captive market of food and wine lovers, providing them an opportunity to target an audience that they may not have had previous access to and therefore have an exciting opportunity to grow their business. I am aware that PIRSA is currently seeking expressions of interest from producers. Applications close Friday 14 December and I strongly encourage any producer to contact PIRSA about participating.

PIRSA's involvement in the Cellar Door Wine Festival Adelaide underpins its commitment to the state strategic priority of premium food and wine from our clean environment. The festival is one of a number of partnerships PIRSA has cultivated to increase recognition of South Australian premium food and wine, including the high standards of its producers and, of course, the uniqueness of the regions in which it is produced. Each visitor is given a Riedel glass for unlimited tasting.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He makes funny little noises all day long, Mr President. I never know whether he is talking or what it might be. I will not go any further. So, they will get their glass. They will also receive a branded calico shopping bag and a passport that includes notes about the regions and wine tasting tips to help plan and record their festival experience. Tickets are now on sale and I am advised that, if purchased before 31 December 2012, visitors can enjoy a special early bird rate and, of course, more information is available online.