FOOD & DRINK NEWS
Native teas, reusable cups, farm-gate fish, conscious coffee packaging, new wine releases and a more hygienic way to order a meal.
SOUL-WARMING WINES
Looking for a wine to pair perfectly with hearty winter meals? Well, the new releases from Patrick of Coonawarra will hit the spot. The 2013 Joanna Shiraz and 2014 Home Block Cabernet Sauvignon are rich, full-bodied and will match beautifully with roast meats and nourishing stews. And to match a cheese board in front of a roaring fire, you can’t go past the aromatic 2012 Aged Riesling. patrickofcoonawarra.com
NATIVE CUPPA TREE
If you’re after an antioxidant-rich tea without caffeine this winter, look no further than Australia’s very own native lemon myrtle. The tree grows along the east coast of Australia and the leaves release a strong, aromatic lemon fragrance and flavour when crushed. They can also be dried into loose-leaf tea. “Research shows lemon myrtle tea has more antioxidants that many other herbal teas and a similar level to black tea,” says dietitian Lisa Yates. “Antioxidants are important for our general health as they help protect our body’s cells from free-radical damage that can cause ageing and chronic diseases. A cup of tea is one of the easiest ways to consume a variety of antioxidants, and given lemon myrtle tea doesn’t have any caffeine, it’s the better option before bed or for those avoiding caffeine.”
FARM-GATE FISH
The world’s largest barramundi producer is now selling direct to the public after losing its restaurant and export markets due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MainStream Aquaculture, which produced more than 40 million fish last year, has established an online store and commenced weekly farm-gate sales at its Wyndham farm, just 30 minutes from Melbourne’s CBD. MainStream managing director Boris Musa says that while the pandemic has “significantly disrupted” the business’ traditional supply channels, including exports to 25 countries, it had accelerated plans to build a new customer base through direct sales. Farm-gate customers also have the opportunity to catch a rare glimpse of MainStream’s Golden Barramundi, a collector’s item that aquarists will pay up to US$20,000 a fish to keep in their private aquariums. mainstreamaquaculture.com
WAR ON WASTE
Single-use plastic pollution is one of the greatest environmental problems facing the world. More than 500 billion disposable cups are used across the globe each year. Established in Byron Bay in 2018, WOSUP (War On Single Use Plastic) is a social enterprise dedicated to making a difference to our environment by providing non-plastic alternatives to single-use plastic. WOSUP founders Karl Page and Martin Salter were drinking beers at the footy when they found themselves sitting in a sea of plastic cups. They began re-using their plastic cups and discussing how they could create an alternative solution. “We wanted to tackle the plastic crisis head-on,” says Page. WOSUP cups come in three sizes and are made from lightweight, reusable stainless steel and aluminium. wosup.com.au
STARRING ROLE
De Bortoli’s new release features the robust and versatile grenache grape. Grown in the Heathcote region, the Grenache Wizardry range includes Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Grenache Rosé. “Grenache is certainly up and coming in Australia,” says chief winemaker Steve Webber, “While it’s often hidden in blends, we were excited to let it work its magic as a single-varietal wine.” Grenache is the warmer region’s answer to pinot noir and Webber says, “These new wines are all wonderfully easy to drink and perfect for those who are looking for a different style of wine that is lighter, gentler and textured.” debortoli.com.au
PACKING SMARTS
Also fighting the war on waste is NZ-founded coffee brand Allpress Espresso, which has moved its coffee bags to compostable packaging. Its new non-GMO bioplastic has a carbon footprint 75 times lighter than conventional plastic. All glues, papers and inks are non-toxic and the bags are lined with a biopolymer with an oxygen barrier that keeps the coffee fresh. The packing has the potential to divert more than 1.25 million bags from landfill each year. “As a business, we are taking responsibility to minimise our waste and bring conscious intent to how we design our packaging,” says Rob Lockyear, global manager of marketing for Allpress. “Since 2011, our takeaway coffee cups have been certified commercially compostable, and organic waste from roasting coffee and our kitchens is composted – so it made sense that our coffee packaging was next in line.”