Tasting Australia 2019: The tastiest events from Adelaide's foremost culinary showcase

South Australia's reputation as a wine destination is long-established, but innovators are busy adding great food to the region's cultural cachet.

The Tasting Australia festival, held from April 5-14 this year, is a showcase of what can happen when committed chefs and talented Aussie winemakers combine their talents.

South Australia's Tourism Minister David Ridgway said that this year, Tasting Australia would extend beyond eating and drinking to become an "experience festival".

But beyond the rhetoric, the landmark annual event offers an immense range of culinary experiences in one of Australia's most under-appreciated cultural hubs.

Festival beverage director and renowned wine writer Nick Stock said this year's festival would be a "celebration of South Australia - not just wine, but also beer and spirits".

"We're pleased that we're inviting some of the world's best beverage makers and experts to Adelaide for Tasting Australia," he said.

Festival programming director and chef Jock Zonfrillo (Orana, Bistro Blackwood and Bar Mallozzi) said the event brought in the best chefs from around the world and the country to see what was on offer in South Australia.

But if you're just somebody on the hunt for some excellent food and wine, there's plenty for you, too.

Cruise and cuisine

Take a ride on a 135-year-old wooden paddle wheeler with the Take Me To The River event from Rockford Wines.

You'll want to set aside most of a day for this, including the trip out to Mannum on the River Murray.

There, you'll embark on the restored heritage riverboat PW Mayflower and cruise downstream before disembarking for a lunch prepared by Rockford chef Sandor Palmai, along with some current release and Museum Cellar wines.

Afterwards, it's back on the boat for a late afternoon cruise back upriver, tying off at the Mannum Dock again in the early evening.

When: April 13, 2019

Location: 6 Randell Street, Mannum

A feast in wine country

Just a short drive from Adelaide, the Barossa is justly famed as Australia's premier wine region.

But you can indulge in the region's culinary best with the Barossa Moveable Feast.

First, stop off at Appellation at the Louise resort, to enjoy a seasonal menu prepared with fresh, local ingredients.

Here, you can also try one of the Barossa's newer ventures with a taste of the gin at the Seppeltsfield Road Distillers.

Owners Jon and Nicole told 9Honey Travel they had caught the gin bug in London and decided to open their specialist distillery in Australia to bring something new to a wine-loving region.

Appellation is followed by FINO restaurant at the iconic Seppeltsfield Estate winery, for whom the road itself is named.

Dessert is served at Hentley Farm, which offers high-end dining at the end of a rustic dirt track.

There, kitchen staff start every day by foraging along the riverbed for fresh, natural herbs and plants they can use in the day's cooking.

When: April 7, 2019

Location: Start at Appellation Restaurant, Marananga, Barossa Valley

Staying local

If you've had enough of the countryside and feel like a dose of the city life and all the variety of food and drink that comes with it, you can join the throngs in Victoria Square in the heart of the CBD for the Small Plates feasts.

Curated by Mr Zonfrillo and festival director and chef Simon Bryant, the day-to-day event offers the best of local winemakers, chefs, producers and music.

Entry is free, but you'll be itching to reach for your wallet when surrounded by so much tasty goodness.

When: April 5-14, opening times vary

Location: Victoria Square, Adelaide

Flying high

If you're feeling flush, why not kick back on a flight that whisks you away to some of South Australia's most celebrated food regions?

This year's Tasting Australia airlines are offering trips to Kangaroo Island, Coffin Bay, Mayura Station, Flinders Rangers and the Barossa, with something to suit every palate.

Sample everything from fresh oysters to home-grown Wagyu beef depending on your trip of choice, but whichever way you go, prepare for indulgence.

When: April 6-13

Location: Starts at Adelaide Airport 1

Hidden gems

Cruises, high-end diners and sky-high excursions are all good fun – but what about something a bit more underground?

That's where the Bar Boys have you covered.

Too new to be an Adelaide institution but sure to graduate to one in time, the Bar Boys escort visitors to some of the best of the city's undiscovered bars, leaving you with a local's knowledge of Adelaide's energetic party scene.

With food and a free drink at every stop – and convivial company in the form of your fellow revellers and hosts Branden and Nathan – it's a tour you'll probably not want to get off from.

Indeed, Branden and Nathan claim they've never had a group that hasn't wanted to kick on after the tour "officially" ends – and they're happy to oblige.

Without giving away too much away, prepare for a pub crawl of secret rooms, visits to the city's past and even underground tunnels.

The Bar Boys offer several variations on their signature trip through the city's hottest spots, including the Gin Tour and Whiskey Tour.

When: Bookings required

Location: They'll tell you

Tasting Australia runs from April 5-14, 2019 in Adelaide and the surround regions. To view the full program and book events, visit tastingaustralia.com.au.