Thursday 1 October 2026, The Lion Wine Room

$38 per person

Next up in our Masterclass Series, we are pleased to welcome Marco Cirillo.

Marco is the owner and winemaker behind Cirillo Estate Wines, a family owned Barossa producer based around Light Pass. The Cirillo family’s connection to the area began in 1970, when Vincent Cirillo became custodian of exceptional old vineyards, with Marco later growing up around the family’s Grenache, Semillon and Shiraz plantings. After studying winemaking through Charles Sturt University and gaining practical cellar experience, Marco continued the family’s work in preserving and expressing these historic sites.

Cirillo is best known for its old vine Grenache and Semillon, including parcels planted in 1848 that remain among the oldest still producing examples of these varieties in the world. The vineyards grow in deep sandy soils around the old Seigersdorf and Light Pass area, with careful pruning and vineyard management central to their longevity. The wines are shaped by this remarkable inheritance, showing the depth, texture and quiet power that can come from truly old Barossa vines.

On the night, Marco will guide us through a selection of Cirillo wines, sharing insight into the family vineyards, the history of the estate and the decisions that shape each release. The tasting will offer a focused look at Barossa old vine heritage through the lens of one of the region’s most distinctive custodians, with particular attention to Grenache, Semillon and the character of the Light Pass area.

We will be sampling the following wines:

• 2021 Cirillo Semillon '1850 Ancestor Vine'   
• 2025 Cirillo Rosato '1850 Ancestor Vine'   
• 2025 Cirillo Grenache 'The Vincent'   
• 2019 Cirillo Grenache '1850 Ancestor Vine'   
• 2022 Cirillo Mataro   
• 2023 Cirillo Malbec   
• 2025 Cirillo Shiraz

$38 includes the tasting, nibbles provided by The Lion and reduced pricing on the wines shown for one night only. Places are limited, so get in early.

Book the 5:00pm Session

Book the 6:45pm Session

Saturday 3 October 2026, The Lion Wine Room

$85 per person

Next up in our Masterclass Series, we are pleased to welcome Stuart Morrow.

The Lion Hotel is proud to be hosting our very first cocktail masterclass, proudly in conjunction with Storytellers Distillery.

Stuart "Chewy" Morrow is an acclaimed spirits industry veteran with over two decades of global hospitality experience, including leadership roles at top Australian distilleries like 78 Degrees and Kangaroo Island Spirits. In 2025, Morrow brought his wealth of expertise to Storytellers Distillery as General Manager, helping steer the brand into a dynamic new era of craft spirits production.

Storytellers Distillery is rooted in the philosophy that every spirit bottles a narrative, capturing the unique terroir of South Australia through meticulously sourced local and native botanicals. Under Morrow’s leadership, the brand has continued to expand its footprint, showcasing its celebrated lineup—anchored by signature gins—through immersive experiences like their McLaren Vale Tasting Room and popular blending masterclasses. By uniting Morrow’s industry acumen with Storytellers' passion for storytelling, the distillery crafts award-winning spirits that invite drinkers to experience a distinct piece of the Australian landscape with every pour.

Over the course of the afternoon, you’ll be guided through the art of crafting four carefully selected gin cocktails, each paired with a small bite designed to complement what’s in your cocktail. Along with an in depth tasting of Storytellers Distillery's core range.

Think great twists on classic cocktails, great food, great company....and become a mixologist for at least one afternoon where you will be mixing the following Cocktails:

• STRAWBERRY COLLINS Paired with Prosciutto wrapped dew melon
• BRAMBLE Paired with Whipped gorgonzola and blackberry tartlet
• SOUTHSIDE Paired with Smoked salmon, crème fraiche, witlof boat
• STRAWBERRY NEGRONI Pani puri, whipped pate, pickled radish, pork belly

you will also be guided through a flight of Storytellers Distillery's Core Gin Range 

$85 includes the tasting, Mixology and paired Canapes provided by The Lion. Places are limited, so get in early.

Book the 2:00pm Session

Thursday 8 October 2026, The Lion Wine Room

$40 per person

Next up in our Masterclass Series, we are pleased to welcome Colin McBryde.

Colin McBryde, often known as Col, is the winemaker behind Adelina Wines, a small Clare Valley producer he runs with Jen Gardner. The pair met while studying at university, both completing PhDs in oenology related fields before going on to establish Adelina’s first commercial release in 2003. Their work brings together a strong technical background with a deep respect for vineyard character, resulting in wines that are thoughtful, detailed and firmly tied to place.

Adelina is based in Spring Farm, a small subregion of the Clare Valley, where Col and Jen tend their estate vineyard organically. The site is planted to traditional varieties that have long suited the area, with the range spanning Riesling, Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro, Malbec and other carefully handled expressions. The wines are made with restraint and clarity, allowing the vineyard, variety and season to remain at the centre of each release.

On the night, Colin will guide us through a selection of Adelina wines, sharing insight into the vineyard, the history of the project and the decisions that shape each wine. The tasting will offer a considered look at one of Clare Valley’s most distinctive small producers, with a focus on organic farming, old vineyard material and wines that balance freshness, texture and regional character.

We will be sampling the following wines:

2025 Adelina Watervale Riesling

2024 Adelina Smiths Polish Hill River Riesling

2025 Adelina Grenache Rose

2023 Adelina Estate Grenache

2023 Adelina Cabernet Franc

2024 Adelina Estate Shiraz

2025 Adelina Shiraz Malbec

2023 Adelina Shiraz Mataro

$40 includes the tasting, nibbles provided by The Lion and reduced pricing on the wines shown for one night only. Places are limited, so get in early.

Book the 5:00pm Session

Book the 6:45pm Session

Thursday 15 October 2026, The Lion Wine Room

$38 per person

Next up in our Masterclass Series, we are pleased to welcome Lachlan Duncan.

Lachlan is the winemaker at Irvine Wines, bringing a thoughtful and hands on approach to a Barossa producer with a long connection to quality fruit and regional expression. His own view of winemaking balances creativity, technical precision and a strong belief that the vineyard sits at the centre of each wine. With experience across a range of styles, he is well placed to guide us through the character and evolution of the Irvine range.

Irvine Wines was founded in 1983 by Jim Irvine and became particularly recognised for elevating Australian Merlot on the world stage. Today, the winery continues to work across significant vineyard holdings in the Barossa and Eden Valley, with Merlot remaining an important part of its identity alongside varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris. The range reflects both the richness of the Barossa and the cooler influence of Eden Valley.

On the night, Lachlan will guide us through a selection of Irvine wines, sharing insight into the vineyards, varieties and decisions that shape each release. The tasting will offer a considered look at a producer with deep Barossa roots, highlighting the role of vineyard selection, regional contrast and varietal expression across the Irvine portfolio.

We will be sampling the following wines:

• NV Irvine The Earl Sparkling Red
• 2025 Irvine Spring Hill Pinot Gris
• 2025 Irvine Altitude Chardonnay
• 2026 Irvine Spring Hill Rosé
• 2023 Irvine Altitude Cabernet Franc
• 2022 Irvine Altitude Merlot
• 2024 Irvine Altitude Eden Valley Shiraz
• 2019 Irvine Grand Merlot

$38 includes the tasting, nibbles provided by The Lion and reduced pricing on the wines shown for one night only. Places are limited, so get in early.

Book the 5:00pm Session

Book the 6:45pm Session

Wednesday 21 October 2026, The Lion Wine Room

$138 per person

Next up in our Masterclass Series, we are pleased to welcome Mr James Herriott.

James brings a wealth of experience from his work as an importer and distributor, with a particular understanding of the wines, producers and regions of Burgundy. For this masterclass, James will take us deep into the Côte de Beaune, exploring two of Burgundy’s most celebrated expressions of Chardonnay: Meursault and Montrachet.

Few wine regions demonstrate the relationship between place and wine as clearly as Burgundy. Here, relatively small differences in vineyard site, soil, exposure and elevation can produce wines with remarkably different personalities. Rather than looking simply at grape variety, Burgundy encourages us to consider the concept of terroir — the complex interaction between geology, climate, vineyard position and human decisions that gives each wine its individual identity.

At the heart of this tasting will be the opportunity to compare Meursault and Montrachet side by side, exploring what distinguishes these two celebrated appellations and why their wines command such enduring attention. Meursault is renowned for Chardonnay of richness, texture and generosity, often combining ripe fruit with layers of mineral character and savoury complexity. Montrachet, meanwhile, occupies an extraordinary position within Burgundy’s hierarchy, producing wines renowned for their depth, concentration, precision and remarkable capacity for complexity and longevity.

James will guide us through these differences, considering how the character of each appellation is expressed in the glass and how individual vineyard sites contribute to the personality of the wines. The tasting will also explore the fascinating balance between power and finesse that defines great white Burgundy, and the way texture, acidity, minerality and oak can interact to create wines of extraordinary detail.

For those interested in Burgundy, this masterclass offers an opportunity to look beyond labels and classifications and understand why these wines are so intimately connected to their places of origin. Through Meursault and Montrachet, we will explore the nuances of Burgundy’s terroir and the remarkable diversity that Chardonnay can express within a relatively small corner of the Côte de Beaune.

James will share his perspective throughout the tasting, drawing on his experience within the wine trade to provide context around the wines, their origins and their place within Burgundy’s celebrated hierarchy.

Join us for an exploration of Meursault and Montrachet, and a closer look at what makes Burgundy’s greatest white wines so compelling.

We will be sampling the following wines:

• 2020 Albert Bichot Origines Bourgogne Blanc   
• 2023 David Moret Chardonnay   
• 2024 David Moret Puligny Montrachet AOC    
• 2022 Albert Bichot Puligny Montrachet 1er Garennes AOC    
• 2022 Albert Bichot Meursault AOC    
• 2023 David Moret Meursault 'Poruzots' 1er Cru    
• 2023 Albert Bichot Chassagne Montrachet AOC    
• 2023 David Moret Chassagne Montrachet Vielles Vignes

$138 includes the tasting, nibbles provided by The Lion and reduced pricing on the wines shown for one night only. Places are limited, so get in early.

Book the 5:00pm Session

Book the 6:45pm Session