The Single Suitcase Wine and Food Pairing is a sit-down experience in the Barrel Room at Saddlers Creek Wines in Pokolbin, the heart of the Hunter Valley. Six wines from the Single Suitcase Italian series, each matched to a plate built for it by Chef Chiero, our Venetian-trained chef.

The brand is named to honour those who arrived in Australia from Europe in the 1950s carrying a single suitcase and their hopes for a better life. The Laureti family came out from Abruzzo, Italy in 1955. These small batch and limited release varietals pay homage to our Italian heritage and the entrepreneurial spirit. To craft the ideal wine for each varietal, we source the grapes from premium vineyards throughout the Hunter Valley and the rest of Australia. The Pecorino is from Brycefield Vineyard and the Sangiovese from Racecourse Lane, both here in the Hunter Valley, and the Fiano is Hunter Valley fruit too. The Montepulciano and Barbera come from McLaren Vale, and the Nero d’Avola from the Adelaide Hills.

What you will experience

You are guided through six courses, white through to red. Each wine is poured beside the dish made to sit with it, from a crisp Pecorino with grilled calamari through to Nero d’Avola with eggplant alla norma. Your host walks you through what to notice and why each match works.

The menu

Course One
2026 Pecorino, Brycefield Vineyard, Hunter Valley
Grilled calamari with fermented lemon and chive oil

Course Two
2026 Fiano, Hunter Valley
Goat cheese and cucumber tartellette

Course Three
2026 Sangiovese, Racecourse Lane Vineyard, Hunter Valley
Ragu and ricotta tortello with tomato and parmigiano

Course Four
2024 Montepulciano, McLaren Vale
Pizza fritta with prosciutto di Parma and aged balsamic vinegar

Course Five
2025 Barbera, McLaren Vale
Homemade smoked bbq buffalo chicken wing

Course Six
2024 Nero d’Avola, Adelaide Hills
Eggplant alla norma with salted ricotta and basil oil

Who it is for

Couples, friends, food lovers, and anyone who fell for these varieties at a wine bar or on a trip through Italy and wants to taste what they become in Australian soil. No wine knowledge needed. Come curious.

What to bring

Just yourself. The Barrel Room is indoors and comfortable whatever the weather, so the experience runs rain or shine.

Good to know

Time: 12:00pm, Wednesday to Saturday
Duration: 90 minutes
Venue: Barrel Room, Saddlers Creek Wines, 15 Marrowbone Road, Pokolbin
Season: 1 October 2026 to 17 January 2027

Adults only (18+). Menu subject to seasonal changes. Please let us know about dietary requirements when you book.