8 Mar 2010 - Andy Gutschlag

Food & Wine Matching at Mt Difficulty

I spent a day at Mt D last week and had a great time. They make fantastic wine (sic) which are perfect matched with food.  I was very impressed that they have a range of vineyard sites throughout the Cromwell Basin which gives them the ability to make wine that shows the effect of different soils/climates on the final wine.

Mt Difficulty Winery is situated next to the old gold workings in Bannockburn on Felton Road. Mt Difficulty is named after a peak in the nearby Carrick Range and produced its first vintage in 1998. Different vineyards include on a mix of clays and gravels.

• Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir: Cries out for Duck, slowly roasted in Mt Difficulty Pinot Noir with a raspberry sauce and served with roasted seasonal vegetables
• Mt Difficulty Chardonnay: Mix up some seafood such as scallops, mussels, clams, and white fish all braised in a tomato and fennel broth and serve with grilled ciabtta bread.
• Mt Difficulty Target Gully Riesling: Named after an old Target range the perfect match is baked Quail with lots of garlic and a hint of spice. There are a lot of wild Quail around the vineyards.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir: New Zealand farmed Venison steaks, wrapped in streaky bacon and served with a wild mushroom gravy.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Sauv Blanc: Fresh Beef tomatoes sliced and drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a piece of fresh Basil. Oh and told (sic) forget a plate of freshly steamed Asparagus drizzled with lemon juice.
• Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Gris: Chicken Pieces marinated in chilli and lime,then grilled on the B.B.Q an just enjoy watching the day go by.