Contentious Character’s indoor dining area has just the right amount of quirk. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
I am a big fan of Contentious Character, our very own urban winery. You can enjoy a relaxed yet refined dining experience there, and choose from a wide variety of fabulous wines, ranging from sweet and fruity to layered and complex premium barrel-aged headiness.
The passion of not only co-founders Ben Jarret and Jeremy Wilson (also chief winemaker) but also their service team makes the experience of pairing wine for dinner accessible to both seasoned wine lovers and curious newcomers.
Contentious Character’s space offers a pet- and child-friendly outdoor area with quirky wine barrels, while its elegant indoor dining balances just the right amount of character and playfulness.
Tonight, we are here to enjoy a long table dinner and to hear about some fun upcoming innovations Contentious is crafting. And to help name their newest wine offering!
We feast on the latest Feed Me Menu, which chef Andy Park says changes each week.
Our first starter is caramelised miso eggplant – it’s melt-in-the-mouth umami. The accompanying crisp chickpeas pop and crunch satisfyingly against the candied swathes of tender eggplant and pungent vegan sour cream.
Our second starter, the scallops, arrive in their shell, grilled to tender perfection in anchovy butter and Camembert cheese.
Half-shell scallops. Photo: Kazuri Photography
The main event is char-edged Angus beef with luxurious French mash and red wine reduction jus. Rich and fruity meets smoke-kissed umami, and all those flavours soak into the luscious mash. Yum!
The side dish I am excited to get my taste buds around is the deep-fried corn ribs drizzled in spicy butter. I am seated next to a lovely friend who finds corn terrifying, so I take it upon myself to devour both his and my servings of the corn ribs. Such a fabulous side!
Our second side dish is sesame dressing asparagus. The dressing, a delicate balance of savoury and sweet, is topped with crisp onions. The asparagus itself is the best I’ve tasted. Cooked al dente, it’s tender yet snappy.
Before dessert, we hear all the fun things Contentious is planning! Note these down!
The caramelised miso eggplant. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
When: Saturday and Sunday, 21 and 22 June
Time: 11:30-30 pm
What it is: All the pork you can fit in your belly; pork cooked five different ways with multiple sides and sauces!
Annual Winemaker Truffle Dinner
When: Saturday, 19 July
Time: 6:30 pm
What is it: Showcasing fresh local truffles from Blue Frog Truffles, this five-course degustation with paired wines promises big truffle flavours.
Tulip Top Gardens Spring Picnic Hampers
When: 13 September – 12 October
Time: 9 am to 4 pm
What is it: What could be better to accompany a day out seeing the beautiful spring blooms at Tulip Tops Gardens than a ready-made picnic! With two hampers to choose from, the picnic includes house-made focaccia, seasonal and dried fruit, pickles and Contentious condiments.
And keep an eye out for the comedy debate night coming on 23 August.
Voting for the name of the new wine! Photo: Kazuri Photography
New wine! Contentious announced their newest wine, a pinot noir chardonnay, and we got to name it! Jeremy described it as “a sparkling, bright and fresh, with beautifully developed flavour profiles and a light bubble to it. Very quaffable”.
We threw out lots of great name ideas anonymously. I tried not to feel bruised and battered when my two offerings received a hearty ‘no!’ from friends on both sides of me!
But eventually, we had a winner (*drum roll*) … Introducing: The Good, The Bad and The Bubbly!
Keep an eye out for it!
Contentious Character is located at Building 4/1 Dairy Rd, in Fyshwick. It is open from 8:30 am until the evening from Thursday to Tuesday. Follow Contentious Character on Facebook and Instagram.
