Apple & Grape Festival 4-7th March 2008

Stanthorpes Symphony Winery
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Well people it has been a day of frolicking in the wineries. But not only wineries did we visit. After an early start and a camp cooked breakfast of toast, poached eggs, bacon and sausages and cerials with fruit and coffee and tea, now that is a mouthfull, but put us all in good steed for the days outing. Filippos bus service arrived at 9am driven by Tony who was born in Stanthorpe, but had worked away from the area for 30 years. But what a ball of knowledge Tony was and a great ambassodor for Stanthorpe. We had a running commentary from Warwick to the first stop which was Symphany Hill Winery. It was there that our wine taste buds were taken on a tour of flavours and varieties on wines. After tasting seven variaties we were all glowing and the laughter and noise level rose, but merryment was the name of the day. Our host may have led us down the garden path, but when it came to buy a bottle or two, most bought by the carton (12 bottles). Someone we all know well was having trouble with the mathmatics like 8 times 12 is 48? Now that is cheap wine, when it should have been closer to $100. From Symphany to Rumbalara. Now Rumbalara has moved aheah in leaps and bounds over the last two years and is destined to continue the improvements and expansions. Great wines, great host and I think everyone bought a bottle of Impi Cream Coconut and chocolate liqueur and bottles of Regiment Tawny Port. The cellar had sold out of Regiment, but were willing to post free to home as soon as they got further stocks. Rumbalara is now owned by a South African couple and they have a zest for big entertainment parties and this year on the 22nd November there will be one such party. With 700 guests and an entrance fee of $120 per person, it will be a half day extraviganza of exquisit wines, South African spiced foods, mongolian lamb, fresh strawberries and a chocolate dipping fountain and so much more and to top off the day and get the merriment heated up we'll be listening to the beat of the African drums and music suitable for the day. So it looks like Charlie will be organising another visit to Stanthorpe in November for our group of TPIs. Nights are cool and the days warm. Min 11 C and Max 28 C, some might say that is quite comfortable. Visiting Mt Sterling Olive Farm we were able to taste a variety of olives, some very nice. The cold pressed oil was there for bread dipping and Dukka. And although it was OK I can reflect on a visit to Wiahekie olive and wines a couple of years ago and the Dukka was so much nicer and the bread was Turkish which was so much nicer than plain white. But still we came away with bottles of olives and jars of Dukka. For lunch we visited the Queensland College of Wine Tourism and there tasted three wines that matched a medly of meals and finished off with a fortified shiraz and chocolate moose. The College has its own grapes, winery and bottles under the lable of Banca Ridge wines. The 600 students learn the fun of wine making in the early grades and in the senoir years learn about marketing, but never get to taste their wines. Their teacher said they learn to differenciate wines by smell. After lunch it was a short visit to Pure Heaven a home made soap and fragrance shop and the natural skincare factory. Some soaps even looked eadible. They grow their own lavendar and process it into a variety of their products. The next stop was Suttons Juice Factory. Now this man has a flare for anything to do with apples, and blends of apples and other fruits too. He has his own stil and this was eyed off by a number of our group. A small stil in commercial standards, but big enough for the company to produce there own fortified apple liqueurs. Also available were jars for tasting in the apple jelly, chutney, and apple based jams. You'd think the day was over, but no there was more...a visit to Vincenzo's was a one stop shop selling everything to do with eating Italian. Pastas, sausages, gelati, cheeses, coffee, tea, beer and more wine to taste. So it was back onto the bus and a 58 kilometer drive back to Warwick. I'm glad the driver had an alcohol free day, the bears are out in force. And once we arrived back in Warwick after a day of wine tasting the hardened drinkers in the group had a stop made at a local pub where no less than four cartons of beer were bought and another three bottles of bubbly. I wont be drinking anymore tonight, I've already had to take some panadol. Now Charlie our organiser has a genuine Jimmy hat and just to ensure no one held us up the last on the bus had to wear the jimmy until the next person was last on the bus. Barry J was the first, then myself but only for a minute because Brian C forgot something and had to get off the bus to collect t, so he was last on. Followed by Neil B, Ken B, Nick Q, Charlie B and finally Nippers Mrs. So it will be interesting tomorrow. Tomorrow is a BIG day we leave here to be in Stanthorpe at 9am for the grape crush and come home at 10pm after the fireworks..

Granite Belt Wines, Olives and hospitality