Wine down @ Orange Wine Festival in October ⋆ Antica Travel Co.
Altitude makes all the difference to the wine-growing region of Orange, NSW and it’s increasingly being viewed as one of Australia’s major new wine regions. With a distinctive terroir and high-altitude, cool climate wines the Orange Wine Festival is an opportunity to come and sample the astonishing diversity of the region. This year the festival runs from Friday 16 October to Sunday 1 November, and we’re here to help you uncork the wine-tasting goodness wrapped up inside the official festival program.
First up is a series of signature festival events, held over the two weekends. These include the Orange Wine Show Black Tie Dinner (Friday 16 Oct), Orange Wine Show Tasting (Saturday 17 Oct), Wine in the Vines (Saturday 24 Oct), and the food and wine Festival Night Market (Friday 30 Oct). Information on these events is available here, and you can book tickets here.
Throw into this heady mix daily tastings and winemaker discussions at Festival Wine Central at the Union Bank Wine Bar, as well as a series of masterclasses as part of the Orange Wine Show Tasting event at the Williams Pavilion, Orange Showground hosted by local winemaker Will Rickard Bell.
FESTIVAL LIKE A LOCAL
While that’s all lovely for weekend visitors, we want to let you into a little secret – the real local action happens midweek. Ssshhh…#localsecret. So if you’re up for being a bit adventurous, and interested in spending a little more quality time savouring the glories of the Orange region’s cool-climate wines with altitude, read on below…
BOOK A SILVER COMPASS TOURS WINE FESTIVAL MID-WEEK PACKAGE (for groups of 4 or more)
We’re helping our guests to think outside-the-box when planning their wine festival experience. Start your festival break on Sunday (go on, be a devil!) to linger longer at events with the locals, while all the other city folk are stuck in traffic jams on their way back to the big smoke. Amble at a leisurely pace through our vineyards and cellar doors during the week, explore historic goldrush-era villages and take a ramble through boutique shops and a plethora of cafes to truly savour the experience of living like a local.There’s so many good wine and food focused festival events happening during the week, you’ll be glad you took the time.
Here’s our picks:
Our Festival Week 1 experience package starts with a Sassy Wines Vineyard Walk, and then takes in the Small Acres Cyder Fizz & Pop event, an Orientation on Orange wines at Borrodell Vineyard, a long lunch at the quintessential Racine Restaurant, an exhibition at the delightful Corner Store Art Gallery, as well as visits to Wine Central at Union Bank to learn more about the Orange region’s Pinot Noir, Riesling and Shiraz.
Our Festival Week 2 experience package will have you scoffing venison pies at Seesaw Wine for starters, followed by an Orientation on Orange wines at Borrodell Vineyard, a festival dinner event at Byng Street Cafe, another festival dinner and art event at the gorgeous Racine Restaurant and visits to Wine Central at Union Bank to learn more about the Orange region’s buttery Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sparkling (oh my!) and Merlot.
Each of our Festival Experience Packages includes: five (5) nights boutique accommodation; participation in four (4) paid and many free festival events; additional vineyard and cellar door tours,with transport and driver as well as daily hamper lunches provided; our pop-up rustic Italian dining experience, including all food and wine; and a gift pack. Yes siree. Hop on over to our Orange Wine Festival MidWeek Package page for more details and booking info, or contact us with any questions.