If it were any other time of year, you might have had to travel far and wide to taste the best South Australia has to offer. However, thanks to Rundle Mall’s Urban Pantry & Cellar Door, you can find it all collected within the heart of the city.

From April 13th – 22nd there is a quaint little pop-up at Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall. Although it’s situated right in the middle of our busy pedestrian mall, as soon as you walk past the velvet rope at the Urban Pantry & Cellar Door entrance, you’ll feel as though you’ve been transported into a darling outdoor eatery.

2KW Bar & Restaurant presents this year’s Cellar Door, offering a collection of local wine, spirits and beer; showcasing exceptional variety.

Don’t worry, I made sure to taste the entire range of wine they had featured the afternoon we attended, you know, for research purposes. Alpha Box & Dice, Coates Wines, and Hustle & Vine are just a few of the beautiful wines they have for tasting. I particularly loved the Coates Nebbiolo, although, picking a favourite from the incredible line-up offered was like trying to pick a favourite Beyoncé song. They’re all fantastic, don’t make me choose!

If you’re not a wine drinker, worry not. There are phenomenal local gins, such as 23rd Street Distillery, as well as South Australian beers and ciders also available.

We floated around the spacious mingling area with our libations and made new friends as well as connected with familiar faces before heading into the Urban Pantry. Side note: the word “libations” is exceptionally underused and is due for a come-back. Hopefully I can start a trend by the end of this article.

It’s impossible to miss the lavish grazing table as you enter the Urban Pantry. Fitted with a variety of cheeses, crafted by expert cheese maker Kris Lloyd, along with cured meats, crisp crackers, small batch jams, and yummy spreads. I recommend asking whomever is working the bar for their pairing recommendation as they directed me to combine their light and creamy goats cheese with this tangy chili jam. The cool nature of the cheese along with the zing of spice from the chili was the best thing I had tasted all week! So much flavour in such a small bite.

And, if you’re feeling adventurous, we were also offered a bright piece of soft cheese that was seasoned with green ants. Yup ants. Honestly, if you can get over the idea of it, it’s freakin’ tasty!

Once we grazed our hearts out, we were directed to a tower of sweet creations from Haigh’s Chocolates, so make sure you save room for a treat as the deliciousness is real! Or, if you’re like me and have a second stomach for dessert, go crazy and eat all the things!

However, what we tasted the sunny afternoon we attended is only the tip of one very flavourful iceberg. Rundle Mall’s Urban Pantry & Cellar Door will feature events such as Food Facts, Plant A Salad, and their I Choose SA Grazing Trail. Head on over to Tasting Australia on the Rundle Mall website for more information on how you can, well, taste Australia!

I hope you enjoy the local delights and libations available for tasting as much as I did. And yes, I am serious about making “libations” happen.

Words by Jamieson Eileen

WHERE: Gawler Place Canopy in Rundle Mall
WHEN: April 13 – 22, 2018
DETAILS: http://rundlemall.com/tastingaustralia/