Now picking nectarines, plums and apples.
Orange Wine Festival - 2023
POACHED PEARS AND MORE
SUNDAY 22TH JUNE I 1.30 - 3.30 PM I $80 PER PERSON
Join us for a delightful small group cooking class where you'll work with freshly picked orchard pears to create two delicious desserts. Learn the art of poaching pears to perfection and discover how to bake them with warming spices that bring out their natural sweetness. With proven recipes and options, plenty of hands-on guidance, and expert tips, you'll build your kitchen confidence while having fun. And for the best part ....we finish by savoring one of your winter-warming desserts and taking the other home to share!
EASY APPLE DESSERTS
SUNDAY 22TH JUNE I 10AM - 12PM I $80 PER PERSON
Join us for a fun, hands-on class where you'll learn to make two comforting apple desserts: classic baked apples and a delicious apple crumble. Using fresh, orchard-picked apples, you'll discover how to tailor each recipe to your taste—whether you're after a healthier treat or something a little more indulgent. With step-by-step guidance, proven recipes, and plenty of tips, you'll build confidence in the kitchen and enjoy the handmade results. Best of all, you’ll get to savour one dessert at the end and take the other home to share!
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring
ADULT and JUNIOR COOK
FRIDAY 16th JAN I 9.30AM I $80 PER PERSON
Hands on food activities for the budding cook in your family. You'll learn about what fruit is in season, then get hands on practicing waste minimization by preparing and drying fruit from the orchard. Take pre-dried fruit and turn it into yummy bliss balls.
Junior cooks take home what they make, along with full workshop notes, recipes and the confidence to dry fruits at home and turn them into amazing snacks.
For juniors11yrs & older and accompanied by an adult
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TASTE THE RAINBOW
Guided Orchard Fruit Picking Tour
SATURDAY 7th MARCH I 10AM - 11AM I $15
Celebrate Pride in the orchard with a guided fruit-picking tour Discover how fruit is grown, pick the ripest produce straight from the tree, and fill your bucket and your heart with a rainbow of fruit in a celebration of inclusion, diversity and community. After the tour, guests are warmly invited to relax in the orchard, visit the farm shop stocked with fresh local produce, or enjoy coffee and light bites from the café.
Pick with Pride. Taste the Rainbow. All Welcome.
CULINARY CONNECTIONS
WEDNESDAY 25nd MARCH I 6PM - 8PM I $30 CANCELLED
We invite you to celebrate the stories behind the dishes that bring people together, through the experiences of two local ladies. Through their heartfelt narratives, these remarkable ladies share their journey to Australia, the challenges, and the cherished traditions that define their culinary heritage. Included is a taster of each featured dish.
This event promises an evening of connection, culture, and the power of food to tell extraordinary stories.
HARVEST
FRIDAY 27th MARCH I 6PM - 9PM I $40
Join the Orange Mountain and Hillside Harvest families to celebrate vintage 2025. Gather your friends and family for live music in the Orchard.
Ticket includes a glass of Orange Mountain and a tasting table featuring Molly’s Grove products. Music from local musicians, relaxing or dancing under the festoon lights and stars, family games and a dessert from Hillside Harvests Orchard.
Purchase your dinner from a local pop up. Additional wine and beer can be purchased.
BRUSHSTROKES AND BARRELS
SATURDAY 9th AUGUST I 2 - 5PM I $85
Join us at Brushstrokes and Barrels, a celebration of art and flavour, hosted by Hillside Harvest, Orange Mountain Wines, and artist Kerrie Stewart. Start in the Hillside Harvest Orchard, enjoying stunning views of Mt Canobolas while painting your own masterpiece with Kerrie's guidance—no experience needed! Then, visit Orange Mountain Wines for an intimate experience, exploring the vines and tasting handcrafted wines in a warm atmosphere.
Harvest & Bake: A Local Apple Pie Workshop
FRIDAY 20th MARCH I 10AM - 12.30PM I $90
FRIDAY 20th MARCH I 2PM - 4.30PM I $90
SATURDAY 21st MARCH I 10AM - 12.30 PM I $90
A paddock-to-plate journey, starting with an orchard tour to see the trees the apples are from, followed by a hands-on pie-making workshop using local ingredients and Grandma's cherished recipe. Take home your crafted masterpiece to share.
Citrus & Sunshine:
A Marmalade-Making Experience
FRIDAY 24th OCTOBER I 1PM - 4.30PM I $80
Ever dreamed of transforming vibrant local citrus into jars of shimmering, perfectly set marmalade? Now’s your chance to learn the secrets behind this delicious tradition!
We’ll begin with tastings of various marmalades to awaken your palate and spark inspiration, then roll up your sleeves for the hands-on part. With expert guidance throughout you’ll leave confident and ready to make the most of citrus season.
WATERCOLOUR & WINE
SUNDAY 26th OCTOBER I 10AM - 1PM I $85
Start in the Hillside Orchard original packing shed, now beautifully repurposed art space. Local artist Kerrie Stewart will guide participants through a relaxed and engaging art session. With her expert tips and encouraging approach, even beginners will be surprised by what they can create.
The experience continues with a visit to Orange Mountain Estate. Vignerons Terry and Julie will welcome guests to their boutique winery for a behind-the-scenes tour and a wine tasting of handcrafted, basket-pressed wines.
ORANGE FOOD WEEK 20th-29th MARCH 2026
SIP AND CREATE
SATURDAY 8th NOVEMBER I 2.00PM I $85 PER PERSON
Welcome to our packing shed studio, with sweeping views of Mt. Canobolas and the tranquillity of the countryside. With guidance from local artist Kerrie Stewart, settle in for coffee and cake while you create your own masterpiece.
Next it is on to Orange Mountain Wines with Terry and Julie for a winery experience in their working winery where they will take you on a tour through the vineyard and winery before gathering in the tasting room to sample their hand-crafted basket pressed wines.
Sun-Kissed & Preserved:
Fruit Drying & Treat-Making Workshop
SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER I 10AM - 12.30PM I $80
Discover the delicious art of drying fruit — one of the
oldest, simplest, and most satisfying ways to preserve the harvest. Join us for a cosy, sensory-rich session where you'll learn the key principles of dehydrating seasonal fruit. Start with tasting of some beautifully dried local fruits, while exploring creative ways to use them. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and to create your own.
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TOMATO RELISH & SAUCE MAKING
SUNDAY 22nd FEB I 10AM I $80
WED 25th FEB I 10AM I $80
Are you heading towards a glut of tomatoes? Be prepared.
We start with a cuppa & tastings of Just Homegrown products and a chat on fundamentals of these preserving methods, from ingredient & jar selection & prep, to steps in production, bottling & storage. We discuss the importance of acidity, temperature & heat sealing and put this all into practice when you get “hands on” using either your own tomatoes or those provided, to prepare & make a batch of yummy tomato relish or sauce.
A Very Cherry Christmas
THURSDAY 27th NOVEMBER I 6PM I $85
Join us for a joyful, cherry-inspired workshop where you’ll create delicious homemade treats, perfect for gifting or gracing your festive feast.
Using freshly picked cherries, you’ll make
- Cherries in Spiced Port - rich, ruby-toned, and utterly divine - - Balsamic Cherry Chutney that will elevate your Christmas ham, turkey or cheeseboard!