2015 Diana Madeline and 2015 Kevin John new releases celebrated at Bib & Tucker

Wine lovers and Cullen fans joined Vanya and members of the Cullen family, Board and team to launch the first of a series of new release dinners around the country, kicking off at Bib & Tucker in Leighton on May 3rd.

The evening began with nearly 70 guests mingling on the verandah and enjoying 2014 Amber and 2016 Mangan Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, served alongside tasty canapes of stracciatella with fennel crisp, plum and lemon verbena, or hiramasa kingfish tostada, with  jalapeño, lime and avocado or crispy pork hock with chilli honey caramel, puffed barley and witlof. Flavours that let the wines shine.

Guests were then seated at long tables and treated to the first pouring of the fabulous 2015 Kevin John, which was matched perfectly to the entree of charcoal roasted Fremantle octopus with cauliflower, nduja, black garlic and almonds.

Vanya and the team entertained the assembled diners with stories of the 2015 vintage and what they could expect from the new releases. They were then treated to the main event, the pouring of the newest Diana Madeline vintage (already rated 98 points from Gary Walsh of The Wine Front) with main course. The dish was a sensational slow cooked grass fed sirloin (served pink), smoked soubise, Fremantle oyster mushrooms, black garlic and nasturtium.

Finally the evening was finished off with a cheese plate of manchego, quince, Manjimup hazelnuts and Bib & Tucker beach honey, with a pouring of the 2011 Diana Madeline.