Mr. Riggs winemaker, Ben Riggs has paired up with vigneron and co-owner of Zonte’s Footsteps, Brad Rey to bring a new wine and food offering to the Fleurieu. The General Wine Bar & Kitchen combines a wine bar, open kitchen and cellar door experience, nestled in McLaren Flat in a 100-year-old former general store and the heart of the local community.
Chef Sommariva, formerly at the Kitchen Door restaurant, Fino’s Willunga and the Salopian, creates a daily set menu using the best local produce, with a choice of two or three courses. In the open kitchen, Riggs and Rey pick wine pairings to match the Sommariva’s latest offerings, creating bespoke wine and food experiences every day.
Diners can choose to sit looking out over the vineyards, or at the kitchen bench.
The General Wine Bar & Kitchen houses both wine labels, Mr. Riggs and Zonte’s Footstep. Wine flights are on offer with premium wines carefully matched with local produce to bring out the best in both wine and food.
“I love being in the kitchen,” says Riggs. “It’s the heart of a home, and the best place for a glass of wine. For us, The General Wine Bar and Kitchen is about creating a special place for visitors, friends and family to come together for great wine and food.
“We are part of the McLaren Vale, and it is a big part of us. I’m known as the crazy Canadian, and he’s the flying winemaker. We love working together as we both bring something different to the table.”
Known for his love of Shiraz, Riggs’ wines have taken out 44 trophies and titles over the years, with Riggs nominated for Gourmet Traveller’s Winemaker of the year in 2005 and 2013.
