Australia is a country steeped in history: It holds the oldest continental crust on Earth, dating to 4.4 billion years ago; its Aboriginal people have the oldest continuous culture on Earth; and the oldest fossils ever found — those of cyanobacteria, dated 3.5 billion years — are from rocks in Western Australia.

Yet Australia is no stranger to innovation. It’s home to many inventions and new technology that, quite literally, changed the world. Refrigeration, electronic pacemakers, cochlear implants, black box flight recorders, simple GPS — all manifestations of Australian innovation.

This duality of old and new can also be seen in Australian wine. Historically, wines have been made in fairly traditional ways, with many winemakers having trained abroad and with respect for established vineyards and regions. But Australian wine is also very innovative, with increasingly daring winemakers ready to experiment and push boundaries. This unique Australian approach to winemaking — decidedly independent, slightly irreverent, wildly inspired — is well matched to the country’s unique climate and landscape, making for some very diverse, exceptional wines and a very exciting scene.

Join us as we sample EIGHT different varietals from all around the country. South Slope Cheese Shop (Asheville) will pair a delicious cheese with each wine. Everyone will have their own cheese plate with accoutrements.

For more info and to register: Australia