Can you keep a secret?
Secret Foodies recently took a vow to protect (and promote) the launch of world-renowned Chilean wine brand Casillero del Diablo into the Australian market.
Forty of Australia’s top food and lifestyle media were invited to a secret dinner party to celebrate. Playing on overseas campaigns of Casillero del Diablo being protected by the devil, guests were given an alias of a secret agent challenged to uncover as much intel on the wine as possible.
Here is their initial invitation:
Guests were sent correspondence in the lead up to the event, teasing them with the location and what to expect.
On Monday 30th of November at 4.30pm guests were sent a secret text message instructing them to meet at the award winning Porteno restaurant in Surry Hills. The entire venue had been booked out exclusively and transformed into the location of this “secret meeting”.
At 6.30pm sharp guests arrived and after delivering a secret password were instructed to sign the order to protect the legend of Casillero del Diablo.
They were then escorted upstairs where they were able to try the Casillero del Diablo Sauvignon Blanc and have their picture taken in front of the devil wings wall.
It was then time to be seated amongst the dimly lit restaurant with hundreds of red candles, the smell of barbequed meat and of course incredible Casillero del Diablo wine.
Head Winemaker at Casillero del Diablo, Marcelo Papa, was flown in to Sydney exclusively for the event to share the legend of this great wine and explain the different wines we were served during the evening.
In true Porteno fashion, no one left hungry with highlights from the menu including the grilled calamari, 8 hour wood fire pig and wagyu skirt steak. The crispy fried brussel spouts with lentils and mint were also a crowd pleaser.
Full menu:
All of the wines were paired perfectly during the evening and received well by our food and wine connoisseur. Of particular interest was the Casillero del Diablo Camenere, a variety not commonly see in Australia. It comes froma grape variety orgininally planted in the Medoc region of Bordeaux, France and has notes of dark plums and spice, framed by toasty American oak with a soft and well structured mouthfilling texture.
As the night grew to a close guests were invited to “steal” a bottle of their favourite Casillero del Diablo wine to enjoy later at home.
Casillero del Diablo is available from Dan Murphy’s and Vintage Cellars. Most bottles are under $20, great value for a wine of this quality.