Sydney’s a great place to be but a tough nut to crack. When the opening night of the King’s Vault ‘pop up bar’ was an overwhelming success – and given that it was a Prosecco Party it’s tempting to say that celebrations ‘bubbled over’ – writer Nick Stock and I looked at one another and said: Everyone loves an opening night. The real test is in how many people come to the next six nights.

Now that the King’s Vault bar is, sadly, closed, we’re all feeling humbled. An enormous amount of preparation and work went into it and behind all that, we all have an enormous amount of love for the people, the produce and land of the King Valley itself. The King’s Vault has been an incredible team effort with a lot of hard work behind the scenes, because we all wanted it to go well. We cared. The words ‘like a bunch of anxious teenagers’ spring to mind. The King Valley is a gorgeous place and in bringing various (tasty!) slices of it to Sydney, we all hoped that we’d done the place proud.

That’s not for us to judge, but we’re feeling humbled because the number of people who came along to the Vault grew every night. We’re gobsmacked at how many people came to see the High Country in the Big Smoke. Sydney responded to the King’s Vault with gusto, and we’re all immensely thankful. The mystery venue – a beautiful old charismatic building in Darlinghurst that is, unfortunately, earmarked for demolition – went from feeling cavernous to feeling too small. Nice problem to have. We feel like we’ve given this darling old building a mighty send off.

On the Sangiovese Studio night winemaker Joel Pizzini – decked out in a beautifully cut suit, it has to be mentioned – spoke of how important it is for him to create ‘wines that prepare your mouth for food’. This came on top of Stock’s words that the King Valley wines he’d tasted at the Vault could be summed up as having an ‘effortless drinkability’. Both comments were of course about specific wine styles but in a way these words summarise what the King Valley has to offer – and what the Vault had to present. When you go to the King Valley life takes on an effortless character. Just travelling around it seems to prepare your mouth for food. My experience is that it’s not a place you return from feeling hungry. Hopefully the King’s Vault gave a good taste of this.

The region’s food – as presented by Patrizia and Anthony Simone of Simone’s Restaurant in Bright; Rocco Esposito of Warden’s Wine and Food in Beechworth; and Adam Pizzini of Rinaldo’s in Wangaratta – was a great highlight of the King’s Vault week. So too were the cheeses of Milawa and the beers of Bridge Road Brewers in Beechworth and the Bright Brewery.

The King Valley folk don’t share their wines and food because it’s their job; they do so because that’s what they love doing. It’s exciting showing and telling folks of the different tastes and textures they have to offer; Italian varietal wines have arrived in Australia, and this week at the King’s Vault in Sydney the King Valley’s wares proved it beyond doubt. As they say in the classics – Hoo-bloody-ray! Australian wine has never had it so good.

For those who visited the King’s Vault – we thank you, and we hope you got a buzz from it. We certainly did from having you around!

Thanks to everyone for registering and following and coming along. The King Valley folks have asked me to pass on the message that they’d welcome you all with open arms if you happen to travel down to Victoria’s High Country. Take them up on the offer!

Worth mentioning too is that The Melbourne Food & Wine Festival will be running three King Valley events as part of their program in March 2010. Details below. Thanks again all for your support of the King’s Vault –it’s been a hoot.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, King Valley Events

The Three Nonnas in King Valley

Come to the beautiful King Valley Wine Region to learn how to cook a selection of Italian dishes from three of King Valley’s favourite Nonnas – then sit down and enjoy the feast with the region’s favourite wines. Nonnas Pizzini, Politini and Sartori will show you how to cook the lightest potato gnocchi, arancini al prosciutto and slow-roasted suckling pig.

When: 20 March, 10.30am – 3.00pm
Where: King Valley Cucina, 4515 Wangaratta Whitfield Road, Whitfield
Cost: $60, children $25
Bookings: 03 5729 3604

The King Valley v The Italians

Come to Casa Luna in the beautiful King Valley to decide who wins – the King Valley or Italy! Taste local wines to compare them to their equivalent varieties from the land of their origins. Expect pinot grigio, arneis and sangiovese, with a few surprises as well, all matched with Casa Luna’s Italian-influenced food, featuring wonderful locally grown produce.

When: 20 March, 1.00pm – 4.00pm
Where: Casa Luna Gourmet Accommodation, 1569 Boggy Creek Road, Myrrhee
Cost: $125.00
Bookings: 03 5729 7650

King Valley and Beyond

When Will and Steve Flamsteed opened King River Cafe in Oxley about 15 years ago, it would have been impossible to predict the influence they have had on the restaurants, hospitality and produce of the North East.
Now acknowledged as catalysts for the region’s vibrant scene, join them to celebrate with a six-course degustation with matched wines.

When: 21 March, 6.30pm – 11.45pm
Where: Provenance Restaurant, 86 Ford Street, Beechworth
Cost: $135
Bookings: 03 5728 1786