It’s time to pack your bags (and most importantly your wine cooler) for a great weekend away.
Orange is celebrating their 20th year as a wine growing region with the 2016 Orange Wine Festival. Running from 14-30 October 2016, the festival is bound to be a corker! The program is now available online and signature events are open for booking with two new signature events being introduced to the Festival Program, and a record number of 90+ satellite wine and food events hosted by local vineyards, cellar doors, wine bars, whiskey saloons, restaurants, cafes and tourism providers.
Here are some of the key events not to be missed:
Orange Wine Show Tasting is the festival opening event on Friday 14 October held at the Agricultural Pavilion at the Orange Showground. This event showcases all the wines that were entered for judging in the more formal Orange Wine Show, including the trophy and medal winners. This public wine tasting event is an opportunity for you and your friends to dive right into the cool-climate wine experience of Orange, compare notes against the judges, attend masterclasses, and enjoy live entertainment.
New to the festival program this year is The Finest Drop festival party in the Highland Heritage Estate helicopter hangar on Saturday 15 October. Featuring music styling by top Sydney DJs, the party atmosphere will be enhanced by local cool-climate wine and food grazing stations. Dress code for the event is Glam Cocktail with a splash of Orange.
The Wine & Food Night Market on Friday 21 October is always a family friendly event in Robertson Park under starry skies. Over 60 wine and food stalls showcase the very best of the region, and it’s the perfect taster to start your weekend festival experience.
The Vino Express is also new for 2016, and departs Friday 28 October from Sydney Central Station for an all-inclusive packaged festival experience – including accommodation, behind-the-scenes wine tastings, local fine-dining and participation in the much-loved ‘Wine in the Vines’ event. Ticket Package cost is $850 per person (based on twin share).
Explore the wines of Orange without the need for a Plan B, meet the wine-makers and visit the vineyards during Wine in the Vines on Saturday 29 October. This is a roving lunch with matching regional wines, as you follow the vine to wine journey, and hear the barrel to bottle story straight from the vignerons themselves.
Other festival program highlights include the Orange Wine Festival Vino Velo bike ride on Thursday 20 and Thursday 27 October, which will see participants cycle the picturesque Towac Valley stopping off at premium cellar doors on the way; picnic by the waterfall and play croquet and lawn games at Patina Wines; ponder the marvels of Morris Dancers at the Small Acres Cider Festival; and enjoy a Spring feast in the paddock with See Saw Wines at Mandagery Creek Venison farm.
2016 Orange Wine Festival Program now here
Purchase tickets here
