Balloon festival is up, up and away
INTERNATIONAL EVENT: Graham Kerr says a new international balloon festival could attract thousands of visitors to the region.
BY LISA COX —Central Western Daily Orange NSW
The challenge, which will involve a week of hot air balloon competition and at least $15,000 in prize money, has already attracted interest from balloon pilots from the United States and Japan.
Based on previous balloon festivals in Canowindra, organisers predict the event could attract as many as 4000 visitors to the region and generate tens of thousands of dollars for the local economy.
“Canowindra’s been synonymous with ballooning and is recognised as the balloon capital of Australia,” challenge organiser and chief pilot at Balloon Joy Flights Graham Kerr said.
Cleanskin Wine
Why do people buy cleanskin wines? Well I got to wondering about this…… if there is no label then there is no brand and thus no history so it’s really like a lucky dip as I see it
You see supermarket “no frills” and “black and gold” started out with the cleanskin concept for groceries, except they had to put certain mandatory packaging information on the packet and all of a sudden people started to recognise the packaging and woops you have a brand.
So back to the question….do you buy them because they are cheap, you like a lucky dip or you want to put your own label on it. Maybe you are having a function or a party and don’t care what you serve your friends!
OK what about from the winery’s point of view? Why do winery’s sell cleanskins.?
Now this might start to throw some light on what you the buyer can expect when buying cleanskins.
Excess stock…we made too much of that wine….It’s not selling as well as we had hoped……well the wine really isn’t up to our standards to put our name on it…..the grapes weren’t much good but this is the best we could do…… no-one drinks that style of wine anymore……….there’s a wine glut lets just dump it for the best price we can get……etc..etc..etc
Sometimes wineries that are exporting to several different countries will bottle a wine or a portion of it as cleanskins because they don’t know which label it will be sold under or how the importing country will want it labelled.
Wine labels can cost as much as $1.00 each so untill you have a sure sale why invest another $1.00 a bottle to store it in the warehouse?
So what do you think? Give us your opinion.
Would you buy cleanskins? If so have a look at Toms Waterhole Cleanskins and order on line.
Forbes Claret Club visit
Thirty members of the Forbes Claret Club visited Toms Waterhole Winery for winetasting and endless ploughmans lunch. Resident winemaker Graham Kerr entertained guests with anecdotal wine tales and discussions on the production of fermented foods which include wine, bread, salami, cheese and olives.
Fermented Foods Fest
Toms Waterhole Wines will be hosting our first “Fermented Foods” festival at the winery on 17th/ 18th and 24th/25th October.
In conjunction with Orange Wine Week, we will have visiting French vignerons Phillipe and Aline from La Colline Wines in Orange to assist Graham and Jan in presenting a range of both cool climate and our warmer climate wines over a long ploughman’s lunch featuring local breads, cheeses, salamis, saurkraut, olives and olive oil. To find out more or make a booking for this event contact us.
For Sale Ford Farlane 1967 ZA
This is a complete vehicle but needs full restoration. Last registered 1998.
Has been repainted once. All original badgework still there. Original dashboard and seats.
Receipts available for the following work that has been done:
289 Windsor V8 motor fully Repco rebuilt 1995.
Fully reconditioned brake system, reconditioned power steering components, reconditioned radiator, new universal joints, new carpet.
Towbar fitted. Excellent tyres. Has one damaged rear door panel.
Asking $1200 ONO Located in Canowindra, NSW
If you are interested leave a comment here.
Oh what a week
So Jan and Lisa Starr have put the final touches on our submission for the NSW State Tourism Awards. Imagine it!!
Canowindra has two finalists in these Awards..Pretty good for a town of less than 2000 people!!! We’re humming. Especially since we have also announced that Toms Waterhole Wines with support from other sponsors will also be running another Balloon Festival during the April school holidays in 2010. They are looking for support from schools to enter the model hot air balloon building and flying competition plus there will be kite flying events all week. For the Mums and Dads, Gardners Ground Organic Cowra Chardonnay will feature on the restaurant menus all week Check out our developing programme at www.gjkerr.com.au
More about Canowindra Challenge
Thanks for your interest and comments guys and girls. As Barb has noted we have modified the dates to tag onto the end of the Rice Festival. We are still looking for suggestions for inclusion into the programme so welcome any ideas you might have. In essence there will be daily prizes plus an overall winner for the seven day event. All participants will have to pay their own way since the sponsorship money will all be going into prizes, that’s the sponsors decision. Most of the competitions will be creative events so in reality very few strict FAI type flying tasks. Some ideas on the board at the moment are for a two day campout long jump, an aerial kite grab,,,variation on a key grab, drop a boot on a dam to be retreived and returnrd by crew, and golden stiletto where pilots fly and drop a bike rider who has to ride back to mission control to claim their prize…any more suggestions??
In conjunction with the core event we are providing the free facilities for camping and a training camp to be run, with keynote workshop speakers provided, if there is any interest in doing this? We would need the co-operation of a club or The ABF to provide instructors and examiners if this was to go ahead.
WE will be running a statewide model hot air balloon building and flying competition for school kids plus kite building and flying competitions and building workshops. A model balloon glow is also on the cards. Radio controlled “toys” that fly will also have a place so Justin get ready for some serious competion for your toys!!!
Any input, suggestions and expressions of interest are welcome.
Some dates to note
Canowindra Challenge 5th – 11th April 2010
Easter Friday 2nd – Monday 5th April
NSW School holidays 1st – 18th April
Vic School holidays 26th March – 11th April
QLD school holidays 2nd – 11th April
SA svchool holidays 1 – 18th April
ACT school holidays 9th – 27th April
F.O.O.D Week 100 mile dinner in Canowindra main street Monday 12th April
Orange F.O.O.D Week (wine and food festival) 10th to 18th April
Canowindra Candle glow
Say how would it be if we could do a Balloon Glow with a difference? If we had say two balloons in say five different locations scattered on hills around Canowindra on a perfect night. We can’t say which night because it depends on the weather but have you seen the TV advert with all the white balloons ..computer graphics of course? In addition another say five balloons in Canowindra say at the Caravan Park. all would be coregraphed by radio to provide 20 minutes of visual night balloon glow spectacular. Of course it would need some major filming rights and all participants would be amply rewarded. What do you think? Should be an attraction for a major film or advertising scam???
Search for the best Shiraz crop in 2010
Toms Waterhole Wines wish to advise all Cowra Region grape growers of their intention to purchase the VERY BEST Shiraz fruit that money can buy in 2010. Almost certainly the fruit will come from a low yielding block that is not over irrigated. We will be looking for expressions of interest from growers from late February onwards so that we can watch the development of the fruit leading up to ripening and harvest. We really think we have the formula to make the Best Cowra Shiraz but in any case we sure mean to give it our best shot by starting with the best grapes!!!
Toms Waterhole common has been mown
In preparation for the arrival of the Goologong horse trail riders arriving this coming weekend for a trail ride around Canowindra, we have slashed the long grass on the common surrounding the Toms Waterhole creek. This is to make sure they have a nice campsite for their Saturday night camp after attending a special function of winetasting and woodfired pizza at the nearby Tomswaterhole Winery just two kilometers up the road.
I am wondering how many other groups would like to know of the great free bush campsite at Tomswaterhole? Four wheel drive clubs, pony clubs, grey nomads, motorhomers………….
