State v State: WA v SA Wine Showdown

A fun, interactive afternoon of wine, food and stories as WA takes on SA—and your vote decides which state wins.
About this Event

Western Australia and South Australia are going head-to-head for a fun, interactive afternoon of wine, food, stories and friendly rivalry.

Hosting the showdown is Terry P, keeping the afternoon moving, the rivalry alive and the voting honest.

Aidan Considine from Nelson Wine and Cameron Smith from House of Fine Wine will introduce the contenders, share the stories behind each wine and make the case for their favourites.

In the kitchen, Executive Chef Malcolm Williams has created a five-course menu designed to put every pairing to the test.

Across each round, you’ll taste the competing wines, hear the stories behind them and cast your vote. There are no expert judges and no wrong answers — your opinion counts.

Once the final voting cards have been counted, Terry will reveal which state has earned the title.

Expect a casual and entertaining afternoon with plenty of good food, interesting wine and discussion around the table.

Five courses. Ten wines. Your vote decides the winner.

How the showdown works:

Each round includes a dish from Malcolm’s menu and competing wines from Western Australia and South Australia.

You’ll receive a voting card for each course. Taste the wines, consider how they work with the food and choose your winner.

At the end of the afternoon, all votes will be counted and the winning state revealed.

No detailed wine knowledge is required—just bring your appetite, your opinions and perhaps a little state loyalty.

The Menu

Arrival
Snack-sized cocktail

Round One
Shark Bay scallop crudo
Pickled apple, bay oil, lime zest and chives

South Australia
Ponting First Session Sauvignon Blanc — Adelaide Hills
Western Australia
Castle Rock Skywalker Riesling — Great Southern

Round Two
Peppered venison tataki (gf)
Soy, apple, ginger, sesame, pickled zucchini and green chilli

South Australia
Chalk Hill Luna Chardonnay — Padthaway
Western Australia
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay — Margaret River

Round Three
Cider-braised Scottsdale free-range pork belly
Confit shallot, pear purée, charred radicchio and cider jus

South Australia
Calabria Three Bridges Pinot Noir — Adelaide Hills
Western Australia
Castle Rock Pinot Noir — Great Southern

Round Four
Coffee-rubbed Mackenzie Family 6+ MS Black Angus brisket
Smoked paprika, árbol chilli, thyme, coriander, jalapeño and aged cheddar cornbread (gf)

South Australia
Redman Shiraz — Coonawarra
Western Australia
Fire Gully Shiraz — Margaret River

Dessert
Roasted plum and frangipane tart
Vanilla crème fraîche with a burnt honey, white balsamic and thyme reduction

Terry the Cheese Man’s selection

South Australia
Soul Growers The Debutant Chilled Red — Counoise and Carignan
Western Australia
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Cabernet Sauvignon — Margaret Riverr

Votes are counted, there can only be one winner!

Meet the team

Terry P — Host

Terry P will guide the afternoon, keep the rivalry moving and make sure every vote is counted. A familiar face at Henry and the Fox, Terry brings plenty of food knowledge, good humour and a genuine interest in what everyone around the table thinks.

Aidan Considine — Nelson Wine

Representing Nelson Wine, Aidan Considine will introduce the contenders, share the stories behind the bottles and explain what makes each wine and region distinctive.

Cameron Smith — House of Fine Wine

Cameron Smith from House of Fine Wine joins Aidan to lead the wine discussion, offer insight into each pairing and make the case for the wines in his corner.

Malcolm Williams — Executive Chef

Executive Chef Malcolm Williams has created the five-course menu for the showdown, with each dish designed to give the competing wines a fair chance to make their case.