The Art of the Picnic
Bring family, bring friends and bring a rug to spread your picnic out on – all the rest will be taken care of on the day. For your $15 entry fee you will be given a complimentary picnic basket (proceeds to Oxfam) that you may take with you as you explore the providores’ stalls, tasting and buying the best that the Adelaide Hills has to offer.
While the theme for the day is Cherries and Pinot Noir all aspects of artisan food and wine will be represented to help you to create your ideal picnic: freshly baked bread, just-picked salads and fruit, gourmet meats, spit-roasted lamb, sweet pastries, luscious creamy cheese, wicked chocolate treats, ice cream…
Local cherry growers will be presenting the first fruit of the 2009 harvest while Pinot Noir specialists,
- Stephen George of Ashton Hills Vineyard,
- Henschke (www.henschke.com.au ),
- Anton Van Klopper of Lucy Margaux Vineyards (www.lucymargauxvineyards.com),
- Janet and Erinn Klein of Ngeringa (www.ngeringa.com), and
- Tom Munro and Mark Whisson of Whisson Lake Vineyard ( www.whissonlake.com )
As well as exploring the food market, your family may also be interested in taking a historical tour of the nineteenth century Gothic ruin, while children under 12 will be able to play on the (supervised) bouncy castle.
But when “the worms begin to bite” you’ll be able to choose your spot in the grounds to spread out your picnic and begin the feast. With panoramic views and a jazz band playing in the background, Picnic at Marble Hill will be a great occasion to taste the best that life has to offer and spend some quality time with family and friends.
A stall run by the Cora Barclay Centre for deaf and hearing-impaired children will be selling picnicking accessories – rugs, paper plates, picnic cutlery, etc – but you may wish to bring with you any favourite bowls, plates, serving spoons, etc. that will help you serve out your picnic.
Other pointers for the day:
- Included in price: Oxfam basket, access to Marble Hill grounds, walking trails and historical museum, tours of ruin, jumpy castle for kids, jazz band.
- Available on site: wine tasting and purchase, local gourmet food market, picnic paraphernalia for purchase (incl. rugs, tea towels, recyclable plates).
- No dogs.
- No BYO alcohol (for licensing reasons).
- Wear sensible shoes and sunhat.
- BYO picnic rug, picnic chairs, or sit on grass.
- Limited parking on site – please car pool.
For directions on getting to the Picnic, click on the map to the right.