Krug Champagne creates the ultimate culinary experience
If it’s not enough to simply be at the secluded Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley retreat, in partnership with the house of Krug, be whisked off-road in a 4WD into a 7,000-acre conservation reserve where you’ll be greeted by an exquisite gourmet picnic and bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée 166ème Édition.
The unparalleled wilderness escape deep in the Greater Blue Mountains is a private oasis where koalas hugging eucalyptus branches or grazing kangaroos are your only company.
Complementing the ice bucket filled with France’s finest bubbles is a quaint straw basket stocked with the season’s delicacies hand-selected by Executive Chef Nancy Kinchela.
"Tasting Krug Grande Cuvée, the 166th Édition of this multi-coloured Champagne, surrounded by the magic colours of untouched nature was, without a doubt, giving time to the unforgettable," – Margareth Henriquez
The bounty: a Victor Churchill charcuterie board, Maroochydore king prawns served with lemon, fresh lobster spring rolls, Lyonnaise salad with confit duck leg, crispy lardons and frisée lettuce, and an artisanal cheeseboard boasting house-made lavosh, panforte and a deconstructed lemon meringue tart.
Plump cushions and a mauve velvet rug contrast nicely against the sweeping green lawns and rigid mountainscape, creating an irresistible destination for a romantic escape any time of the year.
"Arriving at the Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the middle of nowhere, and at the centre of pristine wilderness, was an experience beyond limits," House of Krug CEO and President Margareth Henriquez says. "Tasting Krug Grande Cuvée, the 166th Édition of this multi-coloured Champagne, surrounded by the magic colours of untouched nature was, without a doubt, giving time to the unforgettable."
Recreated every year, the French Champagne is the ultimate expression of Krug. The 166th Édition was crafted by a slow maturation blend of more than 140 wines from 10 different years. The result is a Champagne that transcends the notion of vintage.
"Krug is the result of a visionary who pushed the boundaries to create the very best Champagne his House could offer, every year, independently of climate," – Henriquez.
"Krug is the result of a visionary who pushed the boundaries to create the very best Champagne his House could offer, every year, independently of climate," Henriquez says.
The Krug Picnic was launched as part of the Winter Culinary Festival at the conservation resort for guests at Wolgan Valley. Australia’s leading chefs united to host a series of unique culinary experiences in partnership with award-winning winemakers and the luxe retreat.