d'Arenberg - The Blending Bench and Degustation
Experience by:
The d’Arenberg Cube is a five storey multi-function building set among Mourvèdre vines. The building has the optical illusion of floating in a vineyard, each level with spectacular views over-looking the rolling hills of Willunga. Inside you’ll find a cellar door, a fine dining restaurant, and numerous artworks and features throughout curated by chief winemaker and fourth generation family member, Chester Osborn.
10:00am Your experience begins in the Alternate Realties Museum on the ground floor of the d’Arenberg Cube, where a self-guided exploration will take you through a space filled with wall to wall art installations designed to excite and awaken your senses. All tours are assisted by the d’Arenberg smartphone application ‘The Alternate Realities Museum’ - advance downloads recommended. Entry to the museum is free of charge for all guests with a pre-booked experience, just let concierge know your reservation number on arrival.
10:30am The Blending Bench is a hands-on, interactive experience where you play winemaker. A palette of wine parcels, each with distinctive flavours and textures, are melded in search of balance, fullness, and finesse. We did the physical work – picking, crushing, fermenting, foot treading, basket pressing and barrel ageing, and you get to create a wine that is truly unique. You then bottle, name and label a 750ml sample to take home and show off to your friends.
12:00 noon Following your blending session, indulge your taste buds at an eight-course degustation in d’Arry’s Verandah Restaurant, overlooking the rolling hills of McLaren Vale. This is our very favourite way of eating and our homage, if you like, to the old adage ‘variety is the spice of life’. The resultant combination of flavours and textures created between the food & wine pairings makes for an experience that will linger