The Very Fine Taste of Orange

Managed to spend the last few days of my holidays taking in the Orange wine show judging, and visiting some of the many exhibitors.

My very first stop and in fact very first tasting was of Brangayne of Orange's extraordinary 2008 Sauvignon Blanc...sensational! This wine won a gold medal at the New Zealand International Wine Show this year...very well done to Pamela, Don and David Hoskins indeed to beat the kiwis at their own game! Their 2006 Isolde Reserve Chardonnay was also awarded the best wine of show in Orange this year.

Also enjoyed Dindima Estate's gold medal wining Shiraz. Well done Lee & family.

Special trophy of regional excellence went to Murray Smith for his 2005 Canobolas Smith Chardonnay..

The best Sauvignon Blanc of Show went to the 2008 Logan Wines Sauvignon Blanc.

Special mention to the great hospitality and range of products (including Hunter Valley cheeses) of the Prince of Orange winery.

Congratulations too to Printhie for the presentation of their cellar door and their impressive line up of products...the largest producer in the district, set well off the beaten track and well worth the drive in.

Must spend more time out here in the Orange district...missed a couple of beaut events including " Stew and Shiraz in the Shed" due to time constraints.

Note for the diary...17 - 26 April 2009 Orange Food Week.

Also enjoyed the delectable goodies at Manners and Borg Fine foods, and the best local meats from M & J Butchery.

Go West more often young man, I say!

Taste Orange

Congrats to Jane Arnott, Kim Currie and the team at Taste Orange / Brand Orange for doing such a good job to promote the Orange region, and the new brand they've developed.

Check out their email that arrived in my inbox today:

http://www.tasteorange.com.au/eventslist.htm

Looking forward to checking out your Taste Orange @ Bondi events week 22nd - 28th September, and heading out to Orange in the near future (when it warms up just a little bit more) for a weekend of grazing & tasting.

There's now 60 vineyards & 30 wineries in the region...Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Noir leading the way.

The monthly farmers markets look great too.

Great branding campaign to lure we city slickers out bush for a bit!

PS Just reading more in the event program about Orange Wine Week 17th - 26th October 2008...looks like an awesome line-up of top F&B related events...my pick "Stew and Shiraz in the Shed"....will have to be there!