A Wonderful Night of Wine, Food and Music at Cullen Wines

Saturday evening saw brilliant blue skies give way to a muted pale pink sunset over the vines as guests at Cullens were entranced by the sounds of the Kimberley. The barrel room at the winery was temporarily transformed into a concert stage and Stephen Pigram, Mark Atkins, Stephen Magnusson, Tristen Parr and Tura’s Artistic Director Tos Mahoney combined their talents to create what Gavin Ryan described as a ‘cultural adventure’.

The evening, celebrating 30 years of Tura New Music,  started with guests mingling on the verandah and lawn, enjoying canapés and 2014 Cullen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, before being seated in the barrel room where the performers were warmly welcomed.

The concert began with Mark Atkins on a haunting didgeridoo song inspired by cliffs, that echoed around the room amongst the steel and wooden barrels. Stephen Pigram sang of his fishing spot in Broome and Tristen Parr performed a beautiful original unnamed cello piece that gave way to Mark’s didgeridoo.

Each song had a story that was shared; from spirits, to loved ones passed, to long road trips through Australia. Guests were treated to the debut of Mark Atkins’ song of the Old Fella, and the performance culminated in a standing ovation for the group.

A three course meal inspired by bush tucker and Cullen’s own seasonal biodynamic garden followed, commencing with Cowaramup line caught Hapuka, eggplant, wakame and green tea, accompanied by the very special 2015 Kevin John chardonnay, unavailable anywhere else right now.

Next was Smoked kangaroo, wattle seed, mulberries and warrigal along with 2014 Diana Madeline, followed by Cullen’s own honey mousse, honeycomb and icecream with the 2013 Late Harvest Semillon.