As Head Winemaker and Managing Director of Alkina Wine Estate, Amelia Nolan finds her happiest place in open rural spaces. She’s spent many decades working in the wine industry, including 11 years in London before returning to her hometown in Adelaide in 2015 where she managed a property purchased by Alejandro Bulgheroni. The first grapes were picked in the small estate in 2017 and Alkina officially launched by 2020.
Returning to Alkina Wine Estate for a fifth time is Australia’s favourite Grenache festival, Lost in the FoG on August 1st. The event brings more than 20 of the country’s leading Grenache producers for a weekend of exceptional wine, regional food and live music.
Amelia Nolan speaks to The Write Drop for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
Adelaide SA; it’s an infinitely liveable city! It has an amazing food and wine scene, world class arts festivals, great sporting events as well access to the stunning beaches, beautiful countryside, wine regions, the River and the Outback. The climate is near perfect, everything works, it’s great for raising a family. It punches well above it size in terms of what it offers.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
Osteria Tedesca on the Mornington Peninsula, I went there last November, and I loved everything about it. The people, the food, the food sourcing values, the wine list, the set menu and the fact that you settle in for the afternoon and are made to feel totally at home. In my hometown, Chianti and Arkhé are superb.
FAVOURITE BAR
Clever Little Tailor on Peel St in Adelaide, their house Negroni is excellent.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Vegemite on toast – ideally on white sourdough but not critical.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
Gimlet in Melbourne and Gildas in Sydney! Gimlet for their Gimlet, ideally paired with their Gnocco fritto with Bresaola and Parmesan, and Gildas for their excellent Pintxos which I always pair with a glass of the traditional Basque wine, Txakoli. It reminds me of our many trips to San Sebastian in Spain.
FAVOURITE WINE
2022 Thierry Allemand Chaillot from Cornas in the Northern Rhone.
A WINERY YOU LOVED AND RECOMMEND
Bekkers in McLaren Vale, it’s just so well done, very personal and the wines are lovely.
NEXT DESTINATION
I’ve visited Japan a few times for work, but I would really like to go with my husband and our boys, I think it’s one of the most unique and interesting places on the planet.
BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB
The best thing is the opportunity to make authentic wines from a place which is farmed with so much care and attention, to work with a team of people who bring passion and energy to a project that we all believe will be here for the long haul and will make a genuine contribution to Australian fine wine.
https://events.humanitix.com/lost-in-the-fog
