Highlighting the region’s cool climate wines, the festival will cater for everyone from wine connoisseurs to casual wine drinkers, with events ranging from black-tie dinners to wine tastings and markets.

Orange Wine Festival chairwoman Michelle Stivens said this year the festival would follow last year’s formula by taking place over three weekends.

“There’s more events put on this year, about a 10 per cent increase in events being held by wine industry people,” she said.

“We are still focusing on the cool climate elegance of the region’s wines, however the region’s food, produce, growers and chefs will play a significant role.”

More tickets will also be made available for some events that sold out last year including the signature event, the 2015 Orange Wine Show Black Tie Dinner.

“We would like to encourage more of the public to come and learn more about the Orange wines. They sit there with vignerons and winemakers, it’s a really great learning opportunity for the public,” Mrs Stivens said.

Twice as many tickets will also be offered for the Orange Wine Show masterclasses with winemaker Drew Tuckwell on Saturday, October 17. The event sold out within days last year. 

Last year more than 260 wines were entered in the Orange Region Wine Show for judging and visitors from across NSW, mostly Sydney, booked out the city’s accommodation.

The 2015 Orange Wine Festival program will be released in early August and tickets will be available at the same time.

* Orange Wine Show Black Tie Dinner: Friday, October 16 

THE trophy winning wines of the Orange Regional Wine Show are announced at a black-tie dinner. Chef Rory Donnelly and his team at the Union Bank will serve canapes and three courses of fine dining at the Philip Shaw Winery to showcase the wines of Orange. Tickets cost. $150 each, dress: black tie

* Orange Wine Show Tasting: Saturday, October 17 

TASTE the wines entered into the Orange Regional Wine Show including the best award-winning wines at the Orange Wine Show Tasting. Decide your favourites, see if you agree with the judges and vote in the people’s choice award. The tasting will be from 5pm to 8pm and tickets cost $45 per person for a standard tasting glass or $50 per person for a Spiegelau glass.

* Orange Wine Festival Night Market: Friday, October 30 

MORE than 50 stalls will showcase Orange’s cool climate wines, as well as food provided by local chefs, caterers and cooks, at the Night Market in Robertson Park. Children’s catering and activities are available. 

The night markets start at 5.30pm and entry is a gold coin donation.

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au