South Australia, the gateway to world-renowned wine regions and restaurants, exceptional wildlife, and rugged outback, welcomes back the legendary culinary festival, Tasting Australia, on April 13-22, 2018. The 10-day festival will see 140 events take place across the State and feature gourmet lunches, exclusive dinners prepared by international chefs from “The World's 50 Best Restaurants, farm tours, tastings, and masterclasses to suit all tastebuds.

New to the program is Tasting Australia Airlines, which offers guests an all-inclusive, full-day luxury adventure to explore South Australia's premium food and wine destinations; including Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay, and the Limestone Coast. Tasting Australia Airline events take place on April 13-14, and April 20-22.

The d'Arenberg Cube Surrealist Ball will be the first major event held at d'Arenberg Winery's new Rubik's cube-shaped cellar door and restaurant since its inception in late-December 2017. Taking place on April 14 in the McLaren Vale wine region, the gala event will be reminiscent of the 1972 Rothschild Surrealist Ball, at which guests including Salvador Dali and Audrey Hepburn explored the boundaries of their imagination. At the event, guests will enjoy d'Arenberg wines accompanied by dishes from the restaurant's Chefs Brendan Wessels and Lindsay Durr in collaboration with three-Michelin-star Chef Norbert Niederkofler (St Hubertus, Italy) and Melbourne's leading creative chef and 'inciting agent' Shaun Quade (Lûmé).

Another new experience will be An Evening with Maggie Beer (celebrated cookbook author, restaurateur, and “Alice Waters of Australia”) that will take place on April 20 in the Barossa Valley and will combine food with music. Maggie's daughter Elli—the mastermind behind the renovated Farm Eatery & Experience Centre that recently launched—will prepare dishes in collaboration with Chef Tim Bourke.

Tasting Australia Spirits Awards is a celebration of all things distilled around Australia. For the first time, distillers are invited to enter their gin, whisky, vodka, rum, brandy, liqueurs, and more for judging by an expert panel, led by Tasting Australia ambassador, winemaker, and commentator Nick Stock. The Awards Presentation and Public Tasting will take place on April 19.

The festival will be led by legendary Chef Jock Zonfrillo of Orana (Gourmet Traveller 2017 Restaurant of the Year) and prominent chef and Festival Director, Simon Bryant, (ABC TV's “The Cook and The Chef”), with chef and culinary icon Cheong Liew (The Grange) as patron.

As one of the country's longest-running food and wine festivals, Tasting Australia has evolved with the industry and continues to offer innovative events and indulgent adventures that celebrate the very best of South Australia's native ingredients, scenic regions, and culinary talent. To explore the full event program and purchase tickets, please visit: www.tastingaustralia.com.au.

For more information, contact:

MAÏTÉ CONWAY ROSS OR KAMILLA RIFKIN, WAGSTAFF WORLDWIDE maite@wagstaffworldwide.com | kamilla@wagstaffworldwide.com +1.323.871.1151

More information on South Australia: South Australia is home to Kangaroo Island, the famed Barossa wine region and the charming capital, Adelaide. The fourth largest of Australia's six states, South Australia is located in the southern half of the country. Described as the “perfect host city,” Adelaide has been named one of the “Top 10 Regions” to visit in 2017 by Lonely Planet and has recently been added to the list of the world's Great Wine Capitals. Surrounded by parklands and home to just over 1 million people, the central business district is one square mile—perfect for exploring the popular museums, historic buildings, wide streets, and renowned cafes and restaurants. South Australia is also a haven for wine lovers: more than 60% of all exported Australian wines come from the state's top wine regions including the Barossa, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. Outdoor adventure activities such as hiking, 4WD tours, and mountain biking are abundant in this nature-filled state. South Australia arguably has the most accessible native wildlife in the country. Thrill seekers can swim with sharks on the Eyre Peninsula, and travellers seeking something a little less daring can catch a glimpse of a sea lion colony on Kangaroo Island. Known as the “Gateway to the Outback,” South Australia is also home to Coober Pedy, the world's opal mining capital. Visit the official website southaustralia.com for complete destination information.