Join SA food identity Rosa Matto and WEA's wine tutor, David Crossman for this special Fringe session. A day of sunshine, citrus and grapes. The Campania region of Italy is a cultural tapestry; rich in culture, especially food and wine, music, architecture, and archaeological sites such as Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Paestum and Stabiae. Its music - classical, operatic and popular- is very familiar to our ears. Because of migration, marketing and the 'Naples' factor, arguably we relate more to this region than to any other in Italy. Campania also is one of Italy's oldest wine regions, producing wines made from grape varieties which were supposedly introduced by the Greeks in the fifth century BCE. Try a white Greco, with its herbal and stone-fruit flavours, and the rich, fruity and solid red Aglianico. Also on the tasting menu, purportedly described by the ancient Romans, is the white Fiano, with its floral, honeyed and tropical flavours. These may be similar wines to those the people of Pompeii were drinking when Mount Vesuvius erupted! Our adventure will start with foods that have existed, like the wines, from Greek and then Roman times; we will experience the shock of the new as 'exotic' foods such as tomatoes, eggplant, sugar, tobacco, chocolate, and potatoes were introduced by the voyages of Christopher Columbus. We will finish with some modern Italian twists on old favourites desserts. The session will be punctuated with songs and stories, slides and photographs of my heritage and family.

Your Tutor is Rosa Matto

Rosa Matto commenced with the WEA in 2014.

Rosa's career in teaching and hospitality spans four decades. 

Currently, her recipes appear in SA Life magazine. She is Leader of SLOW FOOD SA and holds very strong views on inclusivity regarding food sources and targeting food waste. 

Another of Rosa’s great obsessions is travel. So, her recipes and knowledge come from her years of leading travellers through Europe and SE Asia. Of course, her particular passion is the food, wine and culture of Italy where is has lived and travelled widely, over many years 

She is also a great gardener – and most of the produce she uses is from her own or her assistant, the very talented, Nancy Colarco’s, garden. Being a gardener influences her food – it is always local, seasonal and accessible. 

The recipes are carefully written and the classes offer great tips for adaptation, and transformation, for you and your family.

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.