There are several wine dinners taking place during the next couple of weeks. On March 14, Wooloomooloo in Central features the wines of Wolf Blass. The meal includes New Zealand rack of lamb with kipfler potatoes and white asparagus, paired with the Wolf Blass Yellow Label, followed by a tasting of the Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2001. Dessert of pavlova will be served with the Gold Label Botrytis Gewurtztraminer 2004. The dinner is $550 plus 10 per cent. Bookings: 2894 8010.
The Repulse Bay showcases the Barossa Valley on March 16. The four-course dinner includes twice-cooked onion souffle with crispy prosciutto and wild rocket salad, served with the Ebenezer Shiraz Barossa Valley Estate 2002, and a main course of grilled Australian rump of lamb, with the E&E Black Pepper Shiraz Barossa Valley Estate 2002. The dinner is $628 plus 10 per cent. Bookings: 2292 2822.
Also on March 16, Jumbo Kingdom in Aberdeen matches Chinese food with Austin's Barrabool Wines from Victoria in Australia. Guests will be served nine dishes such as red-spotted garoupa, paired with the Austin's Barrabool Chardonnay 2003 and braised beef brisket, with the Shiraz 2001. The event is $758. Bookings: 2111 3009.
The wine dinner on March 21 at Grissini in the Grand Hyatt is special because it will be hosted by Angelo Gaja, owner and president of Gaja Winery in Piemonte. The dinner includes risotto with buffalo mozzarella and black truffles, served with the Gaja Ca'Marcanda Magari 2001, sliced prime beef fillet with rocket, served with the 2001 and 1989 vintages of Gaja Barbaresco. The dinner is $2,288. For bookings call Remy Fine Wines on 2845 5995 or 2311 1177
Kissho in Happy Valley celebrates spring with cherry blossoms. The dishes, which will be served until the end of May, include snapper sashimi with cherry blossoms, and cherry blossom ice cream with cherry blossom leaf dumplings (above). Bookings: 2836 6992
