Canberra Wine Harvest Festival 2014

In previous years (see 2013 here and 2012 here), we’ve done a great job fitting in as many wineries in a short timeframe as possible. This year, our approach is a little more haphazard, spreading out our visits over the afternoons of the two festival days – but no less enjoyable.

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Sage Taste and Test Redux

I loved Sage Dining Rooms’ Taste and Test last year. It’s a clever concept: offer five experimental dishes at a reduced price and, over the course of a few weeks, get a sense of what the Canberra dining public’s taste really is to help form the menu. But the last Taste and Test was only held in September – is Sage lacking some confidence in its future menus? Does it need to check with the public before it brings out each new season’s menu?

The short answer? No, and no.

Easter in the Snowy Mountains – Day 1

It’s an early morning start as we hit the road to Cooma. I’ve dedicated half the Easter long weekend to study, and the first half to play. We’ve planned an ambitious two day round trip and I’ve got us to a strict schedule.

Morris 100 celebrations

Morris cars are celebrating their 100th birthday, just like Canberra! On Saturday, they arrive in Canberra from all over Australia (some from as far as Perth and Mission Beach, near Cairns) and set up in a car park in front of the Commonwealth Treasury building.

Canberra Region Wine Harvest Festival 2013

It’s another gorgeous April day in Canberra, and we’re on the road heading north to Murrumbateman for the Canberra Region Wine Harvest Festival. I haven’t told long suffering (chauffeur) Boyfriend yet that I think we can fit in five wineries in four hours, but that’s the goal.

Inside the National Carillon

There’s lots to celebrate. This is the 100th post on In The Taratory. Today is the 100th day of the year (thanks to my Twitter friend for pointing this out!). This is Canberra‘s 100th year. It seems fitting, then, that the 100th post is about something Canberra received for its 50th birthday: the National Carillon.

Auto Italia 2013

We arrive at in the gardens behind Old Parliament House to find Auto Italia blessed with another day of absolutely gorgeous April weather this year (take a look at last year’s pics). Words can’t really describe the beautiful cars, so I’ll let them speak for themselves (together with some inane commentary!).

(If you enjoy these photos and are looking for more, please check out Richard Tuffin’s fabulous set.)

Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival

This past Sunday was a spectacular day, and after enjoying the beautiful cars set against the gorgeous backdrop at Auto Italia 2012, we didn’t want to miss the Canberra District Wine Harvest Festival, so we hurried onto the Barton Highway and set off towards Murrumbateman.

The Wine Harvest Festival brochure promoted 24 wineries in the region, but strangely local favourite Poachers Pantry (which T2 recently visited) was missing. Of course, with 24 wineries and with only three hours available to us before their advertised closing time (5pm), there was plenty to keep us busy. The most difficult part was choosing exactly which ones we wanted to go to!

Auto Italia 2012

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UPDATE: Apparently I didn’t include enough photos when I first posted this, so I’ve uploaded a few more (check out the slideshow).

Auto Italia is held annually in Canberra. It’s a free event, showcasing – surprise, surprise – Italian motorbikes, cars and scooters.

When the weather is as gorgeous as it was today, it makes sense to head along. The skies were blue and neverending, the sun was out (in contrast to yesterday’s miserable efforts) and the backdrops of Old Parliament House and Mt Ainslie (and Departments of Treasury and Finance, of course! Yup it was held in exactly the same place as Foreshore) were perfect for displaying all the sexy vehicles.