By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
When the daylight dwindles and SPF50+ gets switched for single-degree temps, there’s only one sensible thing to do: swap beach days for bistro bites and barbeques for bold reds!
This Winter, Laundy Hotels is making the trade-off easier than ever with Taste of Winter - a fabulous food and wine celebration taking place across 23 of its standout NSW venues, including 14 favourites in Sydney.
Running until Sunday, August 31, Taste of Winter is a deliciously curated experience that invites Sydneysiders to discover the soul-warming magic of the season’s flavours. Each participating venue is showcasing a hero wine from legendary regions like Orange, Mudgee and the Hunter Valley, plus international heavy-hitters like Burgundy, Mendoza and Tuscany.
The kicker? Each glass is complemented by a limited-edition dish designed to match the wine’s regional origins and attitude.
You might start your trail at Arturo’s in Woolloomooloo, where Italian-style snacks and salumi meet the smooth, spice-kissed notes of a Soumah d'Soumah Barbera Nebbiolo. Perhaps head to The Light Brigade, where you can sip Il Fiore Prosecco with coastal-inspired fare like snapper ceviche tostadas and fish tacos – sunshine on a plate, even if it’s blowing a gale outside.
In Rozelle, The Red Lion Hotel goes full French with a Chateau de Verennes Beaujolais and a trio of Parisian-leaning plates: saucisson, beetroot-cured eggs and chicken liver parfait.
Meanwhile, Sinclair’s in Penrith turns up the sophistication with a local Audrey Wilkinson Semillon poured alongside baked scallops and housemade crumpets topped with sweet corn and fennel jam.
For those who like their wine with a view, Watsons Bay Hotel delivers a luxe seafood spread to match with Maison Saint AIX Rose - think tuna tartare, lobster rolls and juicy Tiger prawns with house cocktail sauce.
That’s just a taste (pun intended) of what’s on offer. From pizzerias in Mona Vale to brewery eats in Marsden Park, there’s something for every craving and postcode.
To make the most of your culinary escapades, grab your Taste of Winter passport and start collecting stamps at every venue you visit. Each pairing earns you one stamp. The more you collect, the closer you get to winning $10,000 in cash.
Make it to all 23 venues and you’ll also be in the running to win a two-night stay at Watsons Bay Hotel. Consider it the tastiest kind of travel incentive!
Laundy Hotels’ Danielle Richardson puts it best: "Winter is the perfect time to show a different side of our venues. Whether you're at a local in Western Sydney or a hidden gem in the Southern Highlands, we’ve created experiences that make winter something to look forward to.”
