The first weekend of June saw a lift on restricted regional travel within NSW. That being the case, my girlfriend and I plus 4 other friends took the opportunity to get out to Orange for three nights (3.5 hours west of Sydney). Although some people thought we were a bit crazy, with temperatures set to drop below zero, we packed up our campervans and headed over the mountains.
The trip was not necessarily wine-focused, but inevitably, plenty of wine was drunk from both the local area and from the other side of the world (coming with me in my esky). International additions included the brand new Comando G Garnacha ‘Bruja de Rozas’ (pictured) and a white by Envinate (Canary Islands, Spain).
A highlight of our three days out in Orange was a visit to Ross Hill Wines who looked after us very well, with a look through the winery while trying through a few of their current releases. The Pinnacle Shiraz and Pinnacle Cabernet Franc were particular hits and will be joining the stock on the shelf at the shop very soon.
An almost accidental visit to Orange’s first distillery also came about through a chance meeting of some mutual friends. Parrot Distilling Co. is not yet 1 year old and the release of their first commercial gin has been somewhat rudely delayed by COVID-19. It will be out soon though and like the Ross Hill wines, will soon be available at Five Way Cellars. The Parrot team seem to have put a lot of time and effort into the distillery with plenty of exciting things happening. It’s walking distance from the main drag through Orange and a must-visit next time you’re out that way.
A weekend of bushfires, camping, and the odd winery/distillery visit served as a great reminder to try to get out to Orange when you have a free weekend on your hands.