As part of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s royal tour of Australia, a parliamentary reception hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese showcased some of Australia’s finest produce, with Tasmanian gravlax salmon taking pride of place on the menu.
The event, held at the Parliament House Great Hall, featured an array of canapés representing the diversity of Australian cuisine. Among these, the Tasmanian gravlax salmon, served with native pepper and blini, stood out.
Guests were treated to a variety of dishes that highlighted regional delicacies. Among the offerings were Bundaberg spanner crab with lemon aspen crab cakes, Armidale shepherd’s pie and wattleseed potatoes. The menu was completed with classic Australian sweets, such as Anzac cookies, Wattleseed Lamingtons, and Messina Caramel slices.
The carefully curated wine list featured five selections, including Hentley Farm’s Eden Valley Riesling and Barossa Shiraz. While the specific vintages served at the reception were not disclosed, the recently released 2024 Eden Valley Riesling has been described by winemaker Stephen Henschke as an “exceptional vintage for Eden Valley Riesling—brightness and purity of fruit with zesty freshness.”
Hentley Farm’s 2022 Barossa Shiraz, which won top gold at the 2023 Barossa Wine Show, was also featured. The Shiraz, aged for 15 months in both new and old French oak barrels, has been praised for its rich flavours of macerated plum, boysenberry, and black cherry, alongside spice and floral notes.
Other wines served at the event included Josef Chromy Sparkling NV from Tasmania, Castelli Silver Series Chardonnay from Western Australia, and Cape Mentelle Marmaduke Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River region.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue their tour of Australia with scheduled stops in Canberra and Sydney, from October 18th to 23rd. This marks King Charles’s first visit as Sovereign and the first royal visit by a reigning monarch since 2011.
