Chef Michael Meredith
Food and wine lovers are in for a treat at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival with award winning restaurateur Michael Meredith crossing the ditch to create a special New Zealand inspired menu at Made in New Zealand.
Renowned for his adventurous approach to food and degustation menus at Auckland’s fine dining restaurant Merediths, as well as for his work as consultant chef for Air New Zealand, the Samoan born and New Zealand raised chef will work with Master of Wine Stephen Wong to design a four course menu that complements the stellar line up of New Zealand wine.
“I’m looking forward to creating a truly New Zealand menu for the Melbourne festival-goers. We have incredible local producers from New Zealand that fly under the radar in Australia and it will be a real privilege to share a selection of those I work with in the restaurant, at home and for the menus I design for Air New Zealand.”
Two Made in New Zealand dinners are being held at Glasshaus Inside on the 6th and 7th April as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2017. Fourteen different wines will accompany the courses taking guests on a journey beyond the well-known and well-loved sauvignon blanc. The “wine-up” includes riesling, aromatics, chardonnay, pinot noir, alternative varieties and full-bodied reds that are making their mark in the continuing evolution of New Zealand wine and were chosen following a rigorous selection process with Master of Wine Stephen Wong.
“While best-known for Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand is home to a wide range of cool-climate wine styles,” said Wong, who will host the event. “The past decade has seen the fruits of a quiet revolution as producers practice finesse on grapes from more mature vines, gain confidence with new varieties and unlock the terroir in new regions. Selecting just 14 wines to present to the discerning Melbourne diner was a challenge I’ve relished. The final cast of classic producers and new wineries at the forefront of our wine scene represent the diverse culture of winemakers, thinkers and drinkers we have in New Zealand – it’s going to be a great couple of nights.”
