Saskia Beer and Nino Zoccali team up to share their love of quality produce at the 2015 Barossa Gourmet Weekend, Saturday 15 to Sunday 16August.

Each year in the third weekend in August, the Barossa comes together to host a feast for the senses celebrating the best of the Barossa food, wine and hospitality.

2015 marks 30 years since the first ever Barossa Gourmet Weekend and Saskia Beer is honouring the anniversary with a long table shared experience inspired by her home region’s celebrated ingredients.

In what she hopes is the first of many such events, Saskia has asked renowned Australian-Italian chef and owner of La Rosa and Pendolino in Sydney, Nino Zoccali to join her during Barossa Gourmet Weekend to demonstrate how to create a breath taking food experience using suckling Berkshire pigs, free range geese, Capons and game.

“This year, I want to go back to the heart of what our Barossa Gourmet Weekend is about – celebrating Barossa food with the region’s distinct wines and creating shared experiences,” Saskia said.

Saskia Beer grew up surrounded by the principles of good farming and honest cooking through mother Maggie’s restaurant, The Pheasant Farm, and father Colin’s game bird farming. Nino Zoccali’s Australian-Italian heritage leads its way to a philosophy of using ingredients that create authentic Italian flavours.

The two chefs became acquainted through their mutual interest in quality Australian Pork during the 10th anniversary of the PorkStar program. Both are strong supporters and ambassadors of PorkStar.

The cooking demonstration with Nino and Saskia will be followed by a long table Barossa styled lunch where both chefs will join diners. 2011 MasterChef contestant and self-confessed Rieslingfreak, John Hughes will join the long lazy lunch showcasing his current Riesling vintage. Each of the five courses will be matched with either a Rieslingfreak or a Beer Brother’s tasting glass. A complimentary glass of wine is available on arrival as well as wine for purchase throughout the day.