Clare Valley's home of traditional European cusine
A Culinary Journey Through Europe
The UPPside’s Eight-Course
Degustation Experience
(requires 24 hour booking notice)
(runs 12pm and 6pm Wed to Sat)
What if you could travel through Europe one plate at a time, without ever leaving the Clare Valley?
At The UPPside European Restaurant & Wine Bar, our Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation has been created to offer exactly that — an immersive dining experience celebrating European tradition, modern technique and the exceptional produce of our own backyard.
Carefully curated by Chef Christian Uppill, this progressive eight-course experience takes guests from delicate beginnings through the gardens, coastlines and traditional kitchens of Europe before arriving at a refined sweet finale.
This isn't simply lunch or dinner.
It's slow dining. It's storytelling on a plate. It's a culinary journey through Europe.
Eight Courses. One European Journey.
The experience unfolds over eight individual courses, with each representing a different chapter of the journey.
1. The Awakening
A delicate introduction designed to awaken the palate and set the scene for what is to come.
Light, precise and considered, this opening course is the first glimpse into the culinary journey ahead.
2. From the Garden
The second course turns towards the land.
Seasonal produce takes centre stage, reflecting our strong connection with our own kitchen garden, family farm and the incredible produce available throughout the Clare Valley and South Australia.
At The UPPside, seasonality isn't simply something we talk about — it influences what we cook.
3. Coastal Whisper
From the garden, the journey moves towards the coast.
Inspired by Europe's extensive coastlines and rich seafood traditions, Coastal Whisper brings a lighter expression to the menu, balancing freshness, flavour and refined technique.
4. Old World Craft
This is where European tradition and culinary technique come together.
Old World Craft celebrates the dishes, methods and flavours that have travelled through generations of European cooking, interpreted through the kitchen of The UPPside.
It's about respecting tradition while allowing creativity and modern finesse to bring something new to the plate.
5. Fire & Earth
As the experience progresses, the flavours deepen.
Fire & Earth introduces warmth, richness and bold regional character — a course designed to reflect the hearty, soulful side of European cuisine.
This is where rustic inspiration meets refined presentation.
6. The Butcher's Cut
A refined showcase of protein, technique and precision.
The Butcher's Cut represents one of the more substantial moments of the degustation, allowing Chef Christian to showcase quality produce through careful preparation, cooking and presentation.
7. Pre-Dessert Interlude
Before dessert, it's time for a reset.
The Pre-Dessert Interlude provides a refreshing transition from savoury to sweet — cleansing the palate and preparing you for the final chapter of the experience.
8. Sweet Finale
Every journey deserves a memorable ending.
Our Sweet Finale is a composed dessert designed around balance, texture and indulgence, bringing the eight-course experience to its conclusion.
European Tradition Meets the Clare Valley
While the inspiration behind the degustation comes from across Europe, its heart remains firmly in the Clare Valley.
The UPPside's philosophy has always been about connecting traditional European cuisine with the produce and character of our region.
We grow fresh produce onsite and at our family farm, source locally and within South Australia wherever possible, make our pasta fresh onsite, and take pride in creating many elements of our dishes from scratch.
The degustation allows us to take that philosophy even further.
Rather than designing eight courses that remain exactly the same throughout the year, the experience gives our kitchen the opportunity to respond to the seasons, work with ingredients when they are at their best and continually evolve the journey.
That means returning guests may discover something completely different the next time they dine with us.
Crafted by Chef Christian Uppill
The Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation is one of the most personal expressions of Chef Christian Uppill's cooking.
It brings together a passion for traditional European cuisine, years of professional kitchen experience, European travel and inspiration, and a strong connection to the Clare Valley.
Each course is considered as part of the larger experience.
Flavour, texture, temperature, presentation and progression all play a role.
Rather than eight unrelated dishes, the intention is to create a complete culinary story, moving naturally from one course to the next.
The experience combines European tradition with modern finesse, technique, precision, creativity and immersive plating, while highlighting seasonal Clare Valley produce.
Take Your Time
Degustation dining is intentionally different from simply ordering a main course and dessert.
It's an opportunity to slow down.
To talk.
To taste.
To discover.
And perhaps most importantly, to allow someone else to make the decisions for a while.
Our eight-course experience has been designed for guests who appreciate food as part of the occasion rather than simply something served during it.
Settle in, enjoy the Clare Valley surroundings, pour a glass of wine and allow each course to arrive in its own time.
Complete the Experience with Clare Valley Wine
Few things complement European food better than great wine — and being located in one of Australia's most celebrated wine regions gives us an extraordinary cellar to draw upon.
Guests can choose to enhance their degustation with optional Clare Valley wine pairings, allowing food and wine to become part of the same journey.
From the freshness and acidity required alongside delicate opening courses to richer wines accompanying deeper savoury flavours, thoughtful pairing can reveal another dimension to each plate.
It is where Europe meets the Clare Valley — on both the plate and in the glass.
A Dining Experience for the Occasion
Our Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation is particularly suited to those moments when you want lunch or dinner to feel like something more.
An anniversary.
A birthday.
A romantic lunch.
A celebration.
A weekend away in the Clare Valley.
A long lunch with someone special.
Or perhaps no occasion whatsoever — simply a love of great food and the desire to experience something different.
The experience is designed for food lovers, couples, travellers and those wanting to discover European cuisine and Clare Valley produce through a more immersive style of dining.
Sometimes the dining experience itself is the occasion.
Destination Dining in the Clare Valley
The Clare Valley is renowned for its wine, landscapes, farming and hospitality.
At The UPPside, we believe food deserves to be an equally important part of that story.
Our Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation represents our vision of destination dining in the Clare Valley — an experience worth making the journey for.
European heritage and tradition.
Clare Valley produce.
Modern culinary technique.
Local wine.
Country hospitality.
And eight carefully considered courses connecting them all together.
Your Journey Through Europe Awaits
You don't need a passport.
You don't need to pack a suitcase.
Simply take your seat and allow us to take you on a journey.
From The Awakening to Sweet Finale, each plate reveals another chapter, another flavour and another expression of Europe — all while celebrating the produce and character of the Clare Valley.
Eight courses.
A journey through Europe.
A taste of the Clare Valley.
Welcome to The UPPside of the Clare Valley.
Experience the Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation
The UPPside European Restaurant & Wine Bar
7812 Horrocks Highway, Penwortham
Clare Valley, South Australia
The experience is currently offered Wednesday to Saturday, with two seatings beginning at 12pm and 6pm. Current tourism listings price the experience at $140 per person and recommend 24 hours' notice.
Bookings are recommended due to the limited number of guests accepted for each experience.
Book your Eight-Course European Culinary Degustation
The UPPside European Restaurant & Wine Bar — Clare Valley's home of traditional European cuisine.
