2024 Convention – Update

26-28 April

The 2024 Convention celebrates 70 years of the establishment of the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club movement in 1954.

Now that we have come to the end of the Early Bird period, I thought I would give you an update of how things are progressing. At this stage we have 245 delegates registered which is only a couple off the committee’s aim of having at least 250 delegates. Given there are two months remaining for registrations it is expected that we will go beyond that; any assistance you can give in encouraging fellow club members to attend would be greatly appreciated so that we get as many as possible coming together and recognizing, and celebrating, the 70^th year of the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club.

Here are the clubs and their number of delegates attending, with full credit going to the Northern Territory clubs, all six of which have delegates attending (hopefully bolstered by some more men from the two men’s clubs!):

* JAPAN: Tokyo 9
* NZ: Rangitoto 2, Wellington 1
* SINGAPORE: Singapore 3
* NSW: Mosman 8, North Sydney 3, Illawarra 4, RPAYC 1, Newport Ladies 1 (17);
* NT: Alice Ladies 10, Never Never Ladies 9, Darwin Divas 5, Troppo Femmes 2; Darwin 1, Alice Springs 1 (all NT Clubs) (28);
* QLD: Fortitude 11, Townsville 8, Townsville Ladies 7, Blumers 7, Brisbane 4, Tabletop 2, Broadbeach 2, Manly Harbour 1, Toowoomba-Wheatsheaf 1 (43);
* SA: Holdfast 20, Adelaide 19, Burnside 5, Eden Valley 3, Streaky Bay 3, Bayettes 2, Brighton 2, Whyalla Monarch 2, Woodville 2; Accolade 2, Mount Gambier 2, Angas & Hutt 1; Christies Beach 1, Les Femmes Rouges 1, Lockleys 1 (66);
* TAS: Launceston 6, John Bowen 6 (12);
* VIC: Echuca 17, Sheoak Hill 14, Horsham 12, Melbourne 4, Ad Astra One 2, Yarrawonga Mulwala 2, Nagambie 2, Bendigo 2, Nital 1, John Batman 1 (57);
* WA: West Coast 7 (7);

Thus 51/175 clubs.

The Committee has virtually finalised the wines and you can be assured of their quality and attractiveness. I gave a sneak preview of some of them in the latest B&B News eg Penfolds St Henri, Mt Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling, Langmeil Orphan Bank, Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay. The Friday and Saturday events will have more of the traditional varieties featured, while the Sunday lunch hosted by East End Cellars in the East End of the CBD will feature a range of different newly popular varieties.

Unfortunately, the masterclasses were all filled within the first 180 registrants. A number are attending all three; remember the program also includes a number of tasting stalls – about fifteen – featuring well-known and not-so-well-known SA wineries, so if you are attending all three masterclasses, allocate some time also to look in on the stalls along the river promenade in front of the convention centre; and, if you didn’t get into the masterclasses, there will be some mini-masterclasses  at some of the stalls and plenty of tasting experiences and guidance from the wineries’ staff available. Don’t forget also that the $60 fee for the masterclasses should be paid by now but certainly is to be paid by 29 February 2024. That is also the date when any registration fees must have been paid.

The Riesling masterclass is being presented by Colin Forbes, a highly regarded and knowledgeable winemaker particularly of Rieslings. The Barossa Valley wines masterclass is being presented by Fiona Donald, the chief winemaker at Seppeltsfield; she is being assisted by Erin Larkin, a wine writer, judge and taster for Robert Parker’s Wine Companion, and Nick Ryan, a well-known wine journalist for The Australian and a writer for the Sunday Mail in Adelaide. Nick and Erin may also join Chester Osborn (d’Arenberg) and Kevin O’Brien (Kangarilla Road) as they present the masterclass on McLaren Vale wines. Erin and Nick will also be undertaking MC duties on the Friday and Saturday nights.

When delegates sign-in on the Friday there will be lovely nibbles and a red and a white sparkling to enjoy before the Business Session is held. While the registration form information said that photos will be taken at events for publication, you will be asked at sign-in to sign an approval form to have any photos/videos taken that might include you used for marketing purposes, as the Club Committee wishes to use the occasion to develop assets that can be used in marketing the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club.

You would have seen from the program that the Friday night Welcome Dinner at the national Wine Centre will be jacket and tie for men and corresponding attire for women; the Saturday night Gala Dinner is black tie; while the Sunday lunch is smart casual.

On the Saturday morning first-up, Michael Hince, wine historian, writer, radio presenter of a wine show, will present on the development and growth of the wine industry in Australia. That will be followed briefly by the launch of the history of the Beefsteak and Burgundy Club, a copy of which will be in delegate’s bags received when you sign in.

On the Saturday morning from 10.00 am to Noon, for partners there will be a guided walk from the Convention Centre along North Terrace to the Botanic Gardens, with a number of Adelaide’s historical institutions being located along the route.

It is my intention to have a Regalia stand, possibly on the Friday afternoon, so think about if you would want something; maybe let me know beforehand.

In closing, if there is any other information you require, please let me know and I will either respond to you or circulate it to all delegates, I hope you have had a great Christmas and will be able to welcome the new year happily. Once we are in the New Year it will not be long until we gather.

With best wishes, Vin Thomas (General Secretary)

Today there are 175 Beefsteak and Burgundy Clubs throughout the world and members of these are warmly invited to Adelaide to join in celebrating the 70th year of all things Beefsteak and Burgundy.

The Convention promises to be a high-quality event, commensurate with this significant achievement.

Information to help your decision to attend and the process for doing so can be accessed through the following links:

* Adelaide and the convention venues: link
* The Convention Program and registration fee: link 
* Registration: online or form download
* Payment: Offline form
* Accommodation: https://www.conferencenational.com.au/beefsteak-burgundy-2024

Refund Policy

Because of costs already incurred, such as securing the venues and purchasing the wines, and the budget being based on a certain number of registrants, any registration cancellation notices received in March will receive 50% of the payment amount refunded and any registration notices received in April will not have any payment refunded. The registrations are transferable so a privately organised refund by an alternative registrant may be possible.