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B L A C K B O A R D

JULY 2015 | ISSUE #101

THE

HunterValleyOnline.com.au

At Hunter Valley Gardens

3RD - 26TH JULY | SINGLETON FESTIVAL | Around Singleton | The Singleton Festival is a bi-annual event which celebrates all facets of fine arts, music, food and wine in the Singleton Community. The Singleton Festival will feature workshops, events and activities focused around four themes: Food & Wine, Military History, Tribute to Creativity, and Youthful Creations. For information please visit www.singletonfestival.com.au or contact the Singleton Visitor Information and Enterprise Centre on 6571 5888.

FO R YO U R

Diary

SATURDAY 4TH JULY | PIGSTY IN JULY | Dashville, Lower Belford | After the sellout event in 2014, Pigsty in July, the little sister event to the famed Gum Ball music festival, returns in 2015. The one day ‘2nd hand formal’ themed mini festival focuses on luxurious indulgence, with an enticing mix of boutique beers, local wine and naughty cocktails. It is the perfect winter celebration, enjoying warm winter foods surrounded by the warmth of friends and open fires. The 18+ event is fully licensed and runs from midday until 10pm. No BYO food or beverages. Tickets are $48 (+ booking fee) from www.dashville.com.au

SUNDAY 12TH JULY | WOLLOMBI WINTER PICNIC | Noyce Brothers Wines, Wollombi | With its picturesque views and rich history, there is no better way to appreciate the beauty of the Wollombi Valley than with a picnic. On Sunday 12th July, the Wollombi Winter Picnic returns with the soulful sounds of singer and guitarist Cass Eager, lawn games, great wine and a choice of 2 delicious hampers from Panino Gourmet Deli Café and Restaurant. Tickets are just $60 per couple including a choice of 2 hampers and a glass of Noyce Brothers wine on arrival. No BYO wine but wine can be purchased by the bottle from the Noyce Brothers Cellar Door. To book your spot call the Noyce Brothers Cellar Door on 4998 3483 or 0416 245 655.

THURSDAY 9TH JULY | ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO™ | Cessnock Performing Arts Centre Erth’s widely acclaimed show, Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo™, takes audiences into a new dimension of theatre at Cessnock Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, July 9. Meet awesome prehistoric creatures, from cute baby dinos to some of the largest carnivores and herbivores that have ever walked the planet! Learn how to feed and interact with Erth’s dinosaurs in a once in a lifetime interactive experience. Children can watch wide-eyed from a safe distance or dare to get right up close to these prehistoric creatures. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.cessnockperformingartscentre.com.au

13TH - 31ST JULY | WINTER ROSE PRUNING | Hunter Valley Gardens Ever wondered how to prune your roses? Hunter Valley Gardens have 35,000 roses to prune and they want to show you how! With demonstrations and talks daily by the qualified horticultural team, anybody will be able to grow beautiful roses with the correct knowledge on planting, pruning and striking cuttings. Visit www.hvg.com.au for more information.

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25TH AND 26TH JULY | WINERY RUNNING FESTIVAL | Hunter Valley Gardens It’s not every day that you get to run through world famous gardens, historic homesteads, international golf resorts and of course, some of the most famous wineries in Australia. Races on offer include the Ultra Marathon, Winery Marathon, Half Marathon, 10.3km Vineyard Run, 5.2km Winery Wander and 2km Kids Marathon. Competitors can run or walk any event, while spectators enjoy Hunter Valley Gardens and the shopping village, brimming with cafes, restaurants and shops. The day will be a celebration of the healthy lifestyle on offer in one of Australia's most picturesque tourism areas. Visit www.wineryrun.com for more information.

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Begin with a sip of perfection in our Taittinger Champagne Lounge, then head through

to your table underneath ornate chandeliers surrounded by rich, wooden furniture.

Peruse our organically minded, modern Australian, farm to fork menu. If you cannot choose your

favourite from our deep and decadent selection, one of our divine staff will help guide you through

the different dishes available.

Understanding the nuances of each plate will help you create the perfect path for

your dining experience.

Our own bees supply bush honey, free range chickens offer up our eggs each day, and a lush,

bountiful kitchen garden is lovingly tended to by Chefs with a passion for presenting you produce that comes light on carbon footprint and high on flavour.

Sink into the rich soil of Circa 1876 and transport yourself you to a truly exceptional dining experience.

H U N T E R V A L L E Y

64 Halls Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320Phone 02 4998 4998 | www.circa1876.com

As we speak, Winter has finally arrived in the Hunter Valley. We can finally stoke the open fires and bunker in with our favourite Reds or possibly a sweet dessert treat (not that we needed an excuse). This month we look at Sangiovese – also known as the most “food-friendly” of wines. Or for a real winter warmer you should check out our recipe for Gl�hwein – guaranteed to put a tingle in your toes!

Hunter Valley Gardens is fully into the winter spirit with “Snow Time in the Garden” - the second largest feature event for the Gardens (second only to the Christmas Lights Spectacular). Who needs to head south to enjoy a spot of tobogganing or outdoor ice-skating when you can enjoy it all right here! Get the kids off the couch and head out for some family fun.

July is also the month for that unique Australian tradition—Christmas in July. Some our favourite restaurants will be hosting this traditional feast – with all the yuletide treats and traditions. You’ll need to book ahead at Ridgeview Restaurant, Esca Bimbadgen or Harvest as these yummy events generally sell out fast.

Speaking of delicious dinners, is there a better time of the year to top off a meal with a dessert tipple? From Muscat to Botrytis Semillon and everything in between, we look at our top picks for a cold winter night. To top it off we’ve teamed these treats with some delicious dessert recipes from Sabor in the Hunter Dessert Bar and Twine Restaurant. Sweet!

This issue is the “Gardens” issue and it wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Rose Pruning event which will continue throughout the second half of the month. With over 35,000 rose bushes to prune (can you imagine it - we struggle with our dozen bushes), Sean O’Brien could possibly be Australia’s most experienced Rose Pruner. We caught up with Sean to get some tips and we also find out his favourite rose variety.

Enjoy (and stay warm!)

FROM THE Editors

HIGHLIGHTS

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SNOW TIME IN THE GARDENS This month Hunter Valley Gardens will transform into a ‘Winter Wonderland’ to delight kids (big and small)…

HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS Once a lifelong dream, now one of the largest privately owned gardens in the world. We look at Hunter Valley Gardens – “Then & Now!”

OUT & ABOUT | Top Shopping Spots | Forget overcrowded shopping malls, the Hunter Valley provides a hassle-free shopping experience. From antiques to gourmet foods, we have it all!

HUNTER BLACKBOARD MAP A popular addition to each and every issue. Use it to find your way around Wine Country…

SWEET TREATS Is there anything better than curling up after dinner with a ‘dessert’ of the wine variety? We look at 6 of our favourites…

ROSE PRUNING It takes a lot of work to get the roses at Hunter Valley Gardens looking so beautiful. We talk to Sean O’Brien about the daunting task of pruning over 35,000 rose bushes…

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