Wine and Food Tasting                                                                                                                                          Clare Valley Wine Region and sponsored by the Australian Technical College - Northern Adelaide   The Wines   As Australian wine regions go, Clare Valley is small, accounting for around 2.5 per cent of the nation's crush. But its boutique wines are select and moreover, they're taking the world by storm. You'll find Clare Valley on wine lists in the world's five-star restaurants, as well as in the First Class compartments on Qantas aircraft. In 2004, a few lucky guests were even served a local drop by Jamie Oliver at Brad Pitt's birthday party. Clare Valley continues to be known as the home of Australian Riesling, having set the standard by which others measure their own excellence. But 2004 also saw a local Cabernet Sauvignon being voted the world's finest by a panel of London judges, while a string of Shiraz vintages garnered their usual crop of gold medals. Local wine-makers are great innovators, and not only in the blending of their varieties. You'll notice the widespread use of the screw-cap closure. This cork replacement was bravely championed by the region, and has proved so successful in preventing 'wine taint' that it's rapidly being adopted by the industry in Australasia and overseas. Sponsored by the Australian Technical College – Northern Adelaide