Join SA food identity Rosa Matto and WEA's wine tutor, David Crossman for this Christmas Special, bringing together the food and wine of an Italian Christmas. The regions of Italy offer many temptations for the Christmas table. From North to South you will begin with Venetian baccalà and savour a delicate twice cooked sformato’ (soufflé) before moving on to the traditional northern Italian ravioli with pumpkin and amaretti. The second course takes you south with turkey breast stuffed with chestnuts and sausage. You will finish with a dramatic Zuccotto from the central region of Tuscany. Then moving on to the wines you will start with an Italian classic white wine, Soave, with its melon and orange zest characters. The red will be a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a highly aromatic and fruity wine, the second best selling red after Chianti. A popular choice to accompany dessert will be an Asti Spumante, a fragrant sparkling wine from the richly flavoured Moscato grape.

Your Tutor is David Crossman

David Crossman BA, Grad Dip Ed, Cert IV WTA has been teaching at WEA since 1994. 

David has a background in secondary school teaching, with a long-term interest in wine. While spending six months in France experiencing their wine culture, he developed an even greater enthusiasm. He was even invited to judge French wine at the Concours Agricole de Paris!

Since returning to Australia David has been involved in secondary education, adult education and wine activities. He has completed an Advanced Wine Studies course at TAFE, and has experience in wine sales as a wholesaler and retailer. He also has experience as both a teacher and administrator in adult education, and has taught the TAFE competency ‘Wine Evaluation’.

David truly believes that wine is made to be enjoyed, so his wine courses are designed to be enjoyable too.