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.
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.
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.
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.
Food stalls drew a lot of visitors, such as the one here with condiments from Palings Yard Grove,
and sauces and dressings from Jo Robson Catering.
The girls with the lovely smiles were handing our free magazines at the Country Style stall.
Orange is also known for its apples, featured here in the Orange Apple stand.
A Slice of Orange was a very popular stand with some of the best looking items on sale.
Lime Grove cordials and Verjus bottles
The Farm Gate jellies in an assortment of flavours
Creamed Honey from Cabonne Country and Budgi Werri prunes
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.
We started our tasting with a free beer tasting from Bradlands Brewery, a light Pale Ale that quenched the thirst.
We followed it with a glass of Sparkling of Orange, a light and fruity bubbly that’s easy to drink on a warm day.
Sparkling Orange 2009 Bronze Medal Winner
The bright and bold colours of Coffee Hill Wines drew our attention.
We stopped for a tasting and met the lovely Jacque Tremain, the artist who designed the eye-catching label.
We tried the Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Merlot – all pleasant wines with the Chardonnay being a favourite.
And had a lovely chat with Ben Macpherson of Coffee Hill Wines.
This is what it’s all about, meeting the people behind the products.
More wine tastings…
Tamburlaine Organic Wine range
Tamburlaine Grenache tasting
Brangayne wine labels depicting the Opera of Tristan et Iseult
Brangayne Shiraz Tasting
Orange Mountain Wines
Cumulus Wine range
Cumulus Climbing series
Belgravia Syrah 2008 (left) and Phillip Shaw No 89 (right)
We loved the Moscato from Cumulus wines (left) and the retro chic Cumulus label (right).
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.
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.
Lucas Parsons, from the first season of Masterchef Australia and Lesley Russell demonstrated cooking with venison
using produce from his native town of Orange.
At some point of wine tasting, hunger set in and we set off to find sustenance.
The cooks at the Union Bank stall preparing Venison chorizo sausage for a hungry crowd.
Venison chorizo sausage sandwich with onion jam and rocket hit the right spot.
As did the Roast lamb shoulder on sourdough with caramelised onions and rocket from Delish Food Catering.
The animal farm was a popular exhibit with young and old who wandered inside the enclosure to pat the animals.
“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.
Self-portrait on Brangayne Wine
Resources
Taste Orange Website
Taste Orange Bondi 2009
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I love fun food & drink events like this and the venison chorizo sandwhich sounds/looks delish!
And that So2Go thing is interesting. Were they doing samples of before and after – just wondering if it really doesn’t affect the taste of the wine. i don’t usually get wine headaches (well, okay unless I drink a whole lot more than I should) but it could be interesting for those who do.
I like venison and that sausage was delicious!
No samples, they were just selling them but it’d be interesting to try it some time…
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Great coverage as usual 🙂 Looks like you had a lot of fun tasting all the different wines!
Thanks Chris. The event had such a good vibe and everyone we met was so friendly and passionate about their wines, so how could we say no? 🙂
Corinne
Sounds like you are the French Girl from Sidney or am I mistaken?
Serge
‘The French Guy from New Jersey’
http://www.sergetheconcierge.com
Facebook: sergetheconcierge
Twitter: @theconcierge
Hi Serge – I think you’ve just given me an honorary title! Welcome to Gourmantic 🙂