A RIVERLAND winery is doing its part to showcase local wine across Australia after landing a multi-year partnership with the national Restaurant and Catering Awards.
Salena Estate Wines has signed on as the awards national wine partner until 2023, while its restaurant, Cucina 837, was voted as a finalist for best Italian restaurant at the South Australian awards held on Monday night.
Salena Estate marketing manager Salena Franchitto said the winery was “super excited” about the new partnership and representing the Riverland on a national stage.
“We are such big advocates for the Riverland and what we have to offer here,” she said.
“In the restaurant we use so many local products and producers around the Riverland and we are able to promote that as well as part of the partnership.
“The Riverland can sometimes be a bit underrated which is really sad because there is so much to do up here now.”
Ms Franchitto said the image of the Riverland as a destination for wine-lovers was growing, particularly with border restrictions pushing South Australians to explore the regions.
“Because people haven’t had the option to go overseas this year they are travelling locally and they’re realising what we’ve got to offer up here,” she said.
“People think we only do bulk wine, which is what we used to be well-known for, but we actually do a lot of other wines as well.
“We are really well-known for doing a lot of alternative varieties up here and we’re lucky our climate mimics the Mediterranean climate so we are able to do those varieties as well.
“As people are coming up they are trying those things that either they haven’t heard of or they haven’t had in a really long time and are surprised that we can do them and do them so well.
“We are conscious that we are not a day-trip destination like the Barossa or McLaren Vale – you really have to commit for at least a night or a weekend to get up here, and people are really putting the time aside to get up here and do that, which is great.”
Ms Franchitto said the partnership would allow Salena Estate to promote themselves and the Riverland nationally.
“It really gives us the chance to show off what the Riverland can do to the whole country, not just SA,” she said.
“I feel like South Australians are starting to learn about the Riverland, but as soon as you cross state borders, if it’s not the Barossa they don’t know anything about it.
“Being the national wine partner really helps get our name and the Riverland region out there across the country.”