Vino Culture: Celebrate Australia Day!

Celebrate Australia Day!

Tuesday, January 26th marks Australia Day 2010! This is the largest, most widely celebrated holiday across the Australian continent and the best part is: there is no wrong way to celebrate!

Jacob’s Creek has been nestled in the heart of Australia’s Barossa Valley since 1847 and has sustained their high standard of winemaking enacted by Jacob’s Creek founder, Johann Gramp. Jacob’s Creek became Australia’s first commercial vineyard and Johann’s original cellar is still standing at Jacob’s Creek, Australia today. Their philosophy? To create a wine that goes with any occasion… so what better way to celebrate Australia’s most celebrated day than with a glass of your favorite Aussie wine? The holiday is technically in memory of the First Fleet of Convicts to land in Botany Bay in 1978, but was not nationally celebrated until 1944. A “proper” way to celebrate Australia Day has never been established and instead is generally accepted as a day Australians take to do what they want to do, while simultaneously showing their patriotism.

Try this traditional Australian desert: Pavlova

Like all cultures, Australia has traditional meals, desserts & other foods that identify them as a culture. Here is a traditional recipe for an Australian desert, Pavlova.

Pavlova

4 large egg whites at room temperature
1 cup of Castor sugar, also known as "Berry sugar"
1 tsp of white vinegar
1/2 tsp of pure vanilla extract
1/2 cups of whipping cream
Fresh fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, bananas, blueberries
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 275F (140C) and place the rack in middle of the oven. Line a baking tray with foil and draw a 7 inch circle on the foil with the blunt edge of a knife (don't tear the foil). Set aside.
In a clean, medium-sized metal bowl, beat the egg whites with a clean electric mixer on medium speed. Beat until the whites form soft peaks.
Gently sprinkle the sugar into the egg whites, one teaspoon at a time. Don't just lump the sugar in the bowl and never stop beating the eggs until you finish the sugar. Your egg whites should now be glossy stiff peaks.
Sprinkle the cornstarch and vinegar on the meringue and fold in gently with a plastic spatula. Add the vanilla and gently fold the mixture again.
Now gently spread the meringue in the circle on the foil to make a circular base. Make sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher then the center so you have a very slight well in the middle.
Bake the meringue for about 1 hour and 15 minutes or until it goes a very pale, pinkish egg shell color.
Turn the oven off and leave the door slightly ajar to let the meringue cool completely. As the meringue cools, it will crack slightly.
Just before serving, take the meringue out of the oven and remove it gently from the foil and place on a plate.
Whip the cream with the vanilla extract until it forms peaks. Prepare the fruit by washing and slicing.
Gently spread the cream to the top of the meringue with a spatula and arrange the fruit on top.

Australia Day Activities

Here are some great things you can do to celebrate Australia day.

Have a party and serve Australian Cuisine & wine such as Jacob’s Creek (and blog about it!) Attend a local event. Check out: http://www.australia-week.com/ for events near you! Spend some time relaxing Spend some time learning about Australian history Wear an Australian flag or the colors of the flag (red, white & blue!) Fly and Australian flag Play the Didgeridoo Play/watch Australian sports Or just have a great time doing something else you love!