lifestyle

Soak in the view from Maxwell’s award-winning restaurant.

McLaren Vale restaurant receives coveted gong

McLaren Vale’s Maxwell Restaurant has been named South Australian Restaurant of the Year by Gourmet Traveller magazine.

Magazine editor Joanna Hunkin says the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards recognise the incredible depth and diversity of Australia’s dining landscape. “[The awards] are always a highlight of the hospitality calendar,” she says.

The restaurant is part of the Maxwell Wines complex, which has been a feature of the McLaren Vale landscape since 1979. This is not their first accolade, having been listed in the top 10 South Australian restaurants in the 2023 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide, as well as receiving three Chefs Hats – recognising exceptional quality of cuisine – from the 2024 Australian Good Food Guide Awards.

Maxwell Wines General Manager Jeremy Maxwell says the award is testament to the hard work and dedication of the Maxwell team for many years.

“We’re honoured to receive this recognition; the drive for this excellence comes from a love of sharing exceptional food and wine with family and friends, and we’re proud to be recognised amongst the country’s best,” Jeremy says.

Maxwell’s Executive Chef Fabian Lehmann is no stranger to top-flight culinary culture, having completed his apprenticeship at Michelin-star restaurant Apicius in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany.

He further honed his skills at Schlosshotel Kronberg, a castle converted into a luxury hotel in Frankfurt, and Terje Oro, a former Michelin-star restaurant in Oslo, Norway.

“Our restaurant’s focus is on seasonal produce and innovative cooking techniques, paired with a wine list that showcases the best of the Maxwell estate,” Fabian says.

“The team’s dedication to sustainability and local suppliers remains incredibly important to us.”

Maxwell offers a range of tour and tasting experiences, and families will enjoy the picnic area and hedge maze.

RAA members can enjoy a complimentary premium wine tasting at Maxwell Wines cellar door when dining at Maxwell Restaurant from Friday to Sunday. For details, visit raa.com.au/maxwell

Everyday rewards for members

AA members can save more than $700 a year at businesses across South Australia through RAA’s new discount program, RAA Rewards.

Member exclusive deals and discounts are available at more than 100 local suppliers, including fuel stations, restaurants, cinemas, pharmacies and more.

RAA Chief Marketing Officer Michael Healy says RAA Rewards is one way RAA is giving back to South Australian households. “The ever-increasing cost of living is putting pressure on household budgets,” Michael says.

“RAA Rewards helps members save money wherever we can. We’re passionate about helping to make their lives easier.

“You don’t even have to go out of your way to do anything different – a lot of the activities and expenses a typical person or family might incur are captured in our program.”

The savings are available to customers who hold a current RAA Insurance product, have booked upcoming travel valued at $500 or more, or have RAA Road Service.

Members can show their RAA membership card in-store – either a physical card, or digital card via the RAA app – or enter their details online where specified to start saving at hundreds of checkouts across the state.

Visit the RAA Rewards website at raa.com.au/rewards or download the RAA App to browse the range of offers.

Savings by RAA members using the discount program last financial year

Summer watering tips

Our garden plants and potted pets depend on us to get them through the warmer months. This means they’ll need a regular drink. The main goal of watering is plant health, but it’s also important to conserve our precious H20 supplies and keep water bills under control.

With this in mind, here are five tips to help keep your garden happy during the summer heat.

1. Garden experts recommend early morning as the ideal time to hydrate plants. With the sun still low in the sky, there’s less chance of moisture loss through evaporation. This gives the water time to soak down to the roots where it’s needed.

Watering in the early morning also means the leaves have a chance to dry out as the sun rises, reducing the likelihood of water-loving fungi damaging foliage.

Avoid watering after the sun sets, particularly if your garden contains plants susceptible to fungal and bacterial infection. If your greenery and soil stay damp overnight, there’s greater risk of disease.

If you’re not a morning person, the second-best option is late afternoon when there’s still time for the leaves to dry out.

2. While you have the hose, bucket or watering can in hand, try to aim at the soil beneath plants rather than wasting water on the leaves.

This can be tricky in a veggie patch, so it might be worth installing a drip irrigation system that delivers water exactly where it’s needed.

3. When watering trees and shrubs, focus on the soil between the base of the plant and the edge of the foliage, known as the drip zone. This gets water to the feeder roots where it’s most useful.

4. Applying organic mulch helps conserve water by reducing evaporation, while also controlling weeds, regulating soil temperature and adding nutrients to the soil as the mulch breaks down. But be sure the mulch layer isn’t too thick as this can prevent light rain from reaching the soil.

5. Confined by their containers, potted plants need extra attention through summer. Not only does soil in pots dry out quickly as the mercury climbs, pots can also absorb heat, putting extra stress on the roots.

Test the soil dampness with your fingers or a soil moisture meter. If the soil feels dry, or a plant is starting to seriously wilt, it may need a stiff drink – stat!