Once upon a time, the word 'vintage' only related to cars. But now that Australia has come of age as a wine producing country, 'the vintage' is a time of great excitement, celebration - and of course hard work - in vineyards everywhere.
February marks the peak of vintage in NSW vineyards. Although cooler areas at higher altitude and those in the far south of the state may not pick for a few more weeks, already places like the Hunter Valley have been hard at it, maybe even since mid-January.
Some places choose to throw a European-style knees-up as soon as the heaviest work has finished, when the last grapes tumble into the vats. Others wait a while, tying their festivities into a wine show or some other food event.
We are so lucky in this state. Despite the drought, the wine industry is generally optimistic that 2003 will be a good year. Look at the events below. They are listed chronologically so you can pencil in the dates and plan to take part in a wine and food experience somewhere, almost year round.
The Great Wine Tasting and Appreciation Expo at Bundanoon Hotel, Bundanoon kicked off the year on 1st February. There was tasting of locally grown wines with a jazz band for entertainment.
It's a cool act to follow, but the tiny town nine miles from Gundagai called Coolac, manages to do it when it presents its month long cultural feast - a Festival of Fun, they call it - packed with delightful events from Saturday 8 February with a grand finale showcase dinner on March 1.
Then there is Tumbafest, (details Tourist Information, PO Box 159, Tumbarumba, 2653, (02) 6948 3444) on the last weekend in February - a weekend featuring stalls, workshops and a gala dinner, showcasing local wine and produce.
The Hunter Valley's Harvest Festival is so extensive it stretches right though March and April, with many food, wine and entertainment events at various venues throughout the region.
Cowra follows with an inaugural event - the first of several for the year - Fiesta Italiana, on 5th April, at Kalari Cellars, Cowra.
Over the Easter weekend, there's the Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival, a perfect excuse to head to the capital. All local cellar doors are open during this exciting festival. There is live music, tours and talks, as well as tethered balloon rides. Freecall 1800 100 660.
The following weekend, April 26, there's Taste in Big Sky Country at Tamworth. This is the culmination of a month-long food and wine experience, featuring regional produce. During the month there are food and wine trails, art exhibitions, a wine expo and local restaurants showcase regional food and wine.
The fourth Blue Mountains Fine Food and Wine with Altitude Festival, 10am to 4pm, Saturday May 3rd phone: 1300 653 408 will be held in the grounds of the Gardner's Inn at Blackheath. There 40 or so wine and food stalls tempt visitors to sample gourmet food from some of the Mountain's finest restaurants and eateries, along with many well known NSW wineries particularly from the Mudgee area and the Central West of NSW.
One of the premier Hunter Valley events is the Lovedale Long Lunch, this year on 17-18 May. This popular event is conducted at wineries in and around Lovedale Road and features food from local restaurants paired with entertainment at each winery. There is also the annual Lovedale Long Lunch at Balmoral and this year it will be held in the park with jazz entertainment, from 11am to 5pm, November 2nd. It is expected seven wineries and restaurants will participate.
The Taste of Cowra on the 21st May is a fascinating event where local chefs match dishes using local produce with local wines.
The Riverina's unWINEd festival held annually in Griffith is scheduled to take place this year on 7th & 8th June. Local food producers and wineries set up tasting stalls, and there are cookery demonstrations and a formal dinner, making this a fitting celebration of one of the state's richest areas.
The Cowra Wine Show is a trade event, but its culmination is the tastings day, open to the general public, this year on August 1.
A weekend of food, wine and art is the promise of the committee planning the Ulladulla Food and Wine Festival, a rich showcase of seafood, wines and local produce, from Friday 15 August - Sunday 17 August, details.
The Mudgee Wine Celebration will be held this year from 12-28th September. Operated by various wineries and cellar doors around Mudgee, it is a lively festival with local chefs contributing special dishes using local produce.
The Macquarie Food & Wine Festival will showcase the wines of this newer wine region, as well as a wide range of foods now being grown here. A weekend fiesta from Sept 26-28 will see tours, workshops and a gala dinner.
The Port Macquarie Food and Wine Festival is planned for 10am - 5pm, 5th October, on the October long weekend. Local wines, produce and dishes from local restaurants will all be on show on the shores of the Hastings River in Clarence Street.
In the far south, the Albury-Wodonga Wine & Food Festival will again be held over the October long weekend. The 'wine and dine' on the main street - a sort of all-day lunch and brunch - features regional food and wine from the restaurants, plus there are workshops and regional food tours.
The year of wine celebrations concludes with a lively festival at various locations for the Cowra Wine and Food Festival on the 18th and 19th October, followed by Romance of Vine to Wine, on 26th October, at Windowrie Estate, Canowindra.
What a rich calendar of wine events, rivalled only by the wealth of experience, courage and commitment of those that prune, pick and create the wines. Vintage vintners, indeed.
If you've been drinking and you intend to drive then you must stay under the 0.05% limit. This means that men can have two standard drinks in the first hour, and women just one. After that, it's one drink per hour for both men and women. More information on Driving and alcohol...
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