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Events

Taste Orange at Bondi 2010

Taste Orange Bondi is a week long celebration of the food, wine and produce from the NSW town of Orange. Running from 23 to 29 August, the event is now in its fourth year and draws an eager crowd looking to sample some of the best the town has on offer.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Culminating in the popular Taste Orange Sunday on August 29, the day long event at the Bondi Beach Pavilion features with tastings at around 30 wine and food stalls.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

This was our second visit to the event. And much like the 2009 Taste Orange at Bondi, we spent a few good hours sampling wines, talking to exhibitors and learning about regional produce.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

With Sydney putting on warm blue skies to welcome the country to its shores, the ambience was relaxed reminding us that summer was around the corner.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Food stalls drew a lot of visitors, such as the one here with condiments from Palings Yard Grove,

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

and sauces and dressings from Jo Robson Catering.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

The girls with the lovely smiles were handing our free magazines at the Country Style stall.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Orange is also known for its apples, featured here in the Orange Apple stand.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

A Slice of Orange was a very popular stand with some of the best looking items on sale.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Lime Grove cordials and Verjus bottles

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

The Farm Gate jellies in an assortment of flavours

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Creamed Honey from Cabonne Country and Budgi Werri prunes

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It wouldn’t be Sydney without a look at the fashion. Fuchsia leg warmers worn with thongs (flip-flops) and a matching pedicure. Faux fur coats matched with sheer stockings complete with runs.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

We started our tasting with a free beer tasting from Bradlands Brewery,  a light Pale Ale that quenched the thirst.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

We followed it with a glass of Sparkling of Orange, a light and fruity bubbly that’s easy to drink on a warm day.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Sparkling Orange 2009 Bronze Medal Winner

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

The bright and bold colours of Coffee Hill Wines drew our attention.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

We stopped for a tasting and met the lovely Jacque Tremain, the artist who designed the eye-catching label.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

We tried the Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Merlot – all pleasant wines with the Chardonnay being a favourite.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

And had a lovely chat with Ben Macpherson of Coffee Hill Wines.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

This is what it’s all about, meeting the people behind the products.

More wine tastings…

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Tamburlaine Organic Wine range

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Tamburlaine Grenache tasting

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Brangayne wine labels depicting the Opera of Tristan et Iseult

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Brangayne Shiraz Tasting

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Orange Mountain Wines

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Cumulus Wine range

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Cumulus Climbing series

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Belgravia Syrah 2008 (left) and Phillip Shaw No 89 (right)

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We loved the Moscato from Cumulus wines (left)  and the retro chic Cumulus label (right).

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Joker’s Peak The Volcanics Cabernet Sauvignon (left) – a fine full bodied drop, and a good choice to mull over on the reds. Tamburlaine Noble Chardonnay 2008 (right) – a sweet sticky to put a finish to the tastings.

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SO2Go (left) is a product that removes free Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) levels in wine or champagne at the Stockman’s Ridge stand who make a zingy Zinfandel. Taste Orange commemorative glass (right) is now empty.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Lucas Parsons, from the first season of Masterchef Australia and Lesley Russell demonstrated cooking with venison

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

using produce from his native town of Orange.

At some point of wine tasting, hunger set in and we set off to find sustenance.

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The cooks at the Union Bank stall preparing Venison chorizo sausage for a hungry crowd.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Venison chorizo sausage sandwich with onion jam and rocket hit the right spot.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

As did the Roast lamb shoulder on sourdough with caramelised onions and rocket from Delish Food Catering.

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The animal farm was a popular exhibit with young and old who wandered inside the enclosure to pat the animals.

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“We ate one of you last night,” I hear two girls tell this duck who wisely pretended to be an ostrich.

Entry to Taste Orange at Bondi was free. A tasting glass with 5 tickets (worth $3 each) cost $20.00 and 10 tickets cost $35.00.

Taste Orange Bondi 2010

Self-portrait on Brangayne Wine

Resources
Taste Orange Website
Taste Orange Bondi 2009

All photographs are copyright of Gourmantic and cannot be used without written permission.

About the author

Corinne Mossati

Corinne Mossati is a drinks writer, author of GROW YOUR OWN COCKTAIL GARDEN, SHRUBS & BOTANICAL SODAS and founder/editor of Gourmantic, Cocktails & Bars and The Gourmantic Garden. She has been writing extensively about spirits, cocktails, bars and cocktail gardening in more recent years. She is a spirits and cocktail competition judge, Icons of Whisky Australia nominee, contributor to Diageo Bar Academy, cocktail developer and is named in Australian Bartender Magazine's Top 100 Most Influential List. Her cocktail garden was featured on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia and has won several awards. She is a contributor to Real World Gardener radio program and is featured in several publications including Pip Magazine, Organic Gardener, Australian Bartender and Breathe (UK). Read the full bio here.

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