Source: Image Magazine, Grapevine by Paula Tewksbury

We all know the combination of tasty morsels and perfectly matched wine can be a match made in heaven.

This is what I discovered at Brent’s on Miskin St, Toowong recently. The wines that provided the perfect marriage were from a new Geographic Indicator Zone for wine growing in Australia, known as “New England Australia”.

Some 950m above sea level, it’s one of the highest altitude regions in Australia and Blickling Estate vineyard is one of the most successful in the region.

There are about 40 boutique vineyards in the area halfway between Armidale and Tamworth. Blickling Estate, for the second year, has been rated four starts out of five and “consistently produces high quality wines” according to the 2007 James Halliday Wine Companion.

Rolf Blickling visited Australia from Germany some 30 years ago. He loved the New England area and never left.

In 1999, a trial hectare of Riesling was planted. Once the first substantial crop was harvested, it was sold to a wine company that promptly won a Gold Medal with the wine.

The wine and food matching at Brent’s was certainly a dining experience. The entrée, a risotto of calamari, mudcrab and tempura of soft shell crab with shellfish oil, was accompanied by the 2006 Blickling Riesling.

This wine enhances the delicate flavours and weight of the risotto, allowing the distinctive characters of seafood to shine without being overpowering.

To follow, the crispy confit of grimaud duck, butternut pumpkin, eureka, lemon curd and liquorice dust was sublime with the 2005 Buckling Estate Pinot Noir. The characters of spice, sour cherry and blackberry fruits, structured with mushroom and sweet smoky oak lifted and accentuated the gamey flavours in the food.

Blickling Estates Cellar Door at Banalasta provides a unique experience and was awarded the number one tourist attraction by Inland NSW Tourism in 2005.