No Michelin but Clare Valley restaurant wins top global award
Another course of international recognition is served to SA as a restaurant overlooked by Michelin wins a top spot. Former Speaker of the House Leon Bignell also wins a gong.
Clare Valley-based Bush deVine Restaurant last night won a top award for culinary experiences, beating out businesses from across the globe.
Despite missing out on a spot in last week’s high-profile Michelin Guide announcement, the Bush deVine Restaurant that is part of Paulett Wines instead carved out its own global recognition.
It was the only SA restaurant – based at the Clare Valley label famous for its Rieslings – to win an award at the 2027 Best of Wine Tourism Awards, held in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand.
This year’s awards drew 597 entries. From those, 77 regional winners were announced across the network’s 11 member wine capitals, with one business from each capital going on to take a global title.
Paulett Wines managing director Ali Paulett said she was “incredibly proud to see Paulett Wines and Bush deVine recognised on the international stage”.
“This award reflects the shared passion of our team and the connection between our land, our wines, our food and the experiences we create for our visitors, and we hope it helps shine a light on the Clare Valley as a destination worth discovering.”
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It is the latest international spotlight on SA eateries after last week’s launch of the inaugural Michelin Guide South Australia 2027.
The event saw 12 Michelin stars awarded to SA restaurants – seven of which were part of a winery.
“Hot on the heels of regional SA taking home half of Australia’s first and only Michelin Stars, this is a wonderful coup for the Clare Valley,” Bourke said.
Two key names in SA wine and tourism were also honoured at the Great Wine Capitals Global Network event.
Penfolds chief winemaker Peter Gago and Leon Bignell – the former Tourism Minister who presided over Adelaide’s elevation to the Great Wine Capitals Global Network – were both inducted to the inaugural Honour Roll.
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Bush deVine was selected by an international jury of judges, which highlighted the establishment’s commitment to sustainability, innovative approach to food and wine pairings, and incorporation of native Australian ingredients in its dishes.
The restaurant overseen by head chef Thomas Erkelenz, who uses native ingredients grown on-site in a bush tucker garden and prioritises connections to the local Aboriginal community.
Tourism Minister Emily Bourke said the win was “another incredible example of the strength of SA’s wine tourism offerings”.
“Visitor research shows SA is the national leader for ‘credible wineries and wine regions’ and ‘good food and wine’ and global recognition like this for Paulett Wines and Bush deVine Restaurant only cements that,” Bourke said.
“It is extra special to see Paulett Wines is focused on making a positive impact on its local area, celebrated for its use of native bush foods and flavours, its strong community involvement, regional contribution, and its commitment to nurturing the next generation of chefs.”
The 2027 Global Winners
One business from each of the eleven capitals took a global title:
- Adelaide, South Australia: Paulett Wines, Clare Valley
- Bilbao-Rioja | Spain: Maga Foundation by Muriel Wines
- Bordeaux | France: Chateau Larrivet Haut-Brion, Pessac-Léognan
- Hawke’s Bay | New Zealand: Black Barn Vineyards
- Lausanne | Switzerland: Le Chemin des Capites by Autour du Vin, Vaud
- Mainz-Rheinhessen | Germany: Wein vom Roten Hang e.V., Nierstein
- Mendoza | Argentina: Casa Drummond by Bodega Trivento
- Porto |Portugal: Quinta da Vacaria, Douro, for Wine Tourism Services
- San Francisco-Napa Valley | United States: Beaulieu Vineyard
- Valparaíso-Casablanca Valley | Chile: Palacio Astoreca
- Verona | Italy: Monteleone21, Valpolicella
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