There is a legend, or a myth, or allegory that each and every mango holds inside a little bit of the sunshine that went into creating it. The reality may be somewhat more prosaic, but it is nevertheless conceivable that each and every one of these “king of fruits” does encapsulate the heart of the tropics - a tasty, sweet, refreshing fruit that could arguably be the ambassador for Far North Queensland each with its own little golden sunbeam inside.
As the sun begins its slow descent in the peaceful countryside of Biboohra on the Atherton Tablelands, its rays compete with the mangoes for the spotlight. The mangoes, however, steal the show, outshining the sun not just in brilliance, but in sheer deliciousness.
With this in mind, it is perhaps easy to see why back in 1975 Charlie Nastasi and his sons, Sam and Dino, planted 3,600 mango trees. From those modest beginnings, the farm has flourished to include 17,000 trees, expanding in part, to make room for citrus and dragon fruit that feature in their exquisite liqueurs.
Driving through the gates of the expansive 100-hectare Golden Drop Winery Farm, one can’t help but feel a sense of grandeur. Seventeen thousand mango trees, dressed in their verdant best, all in neat lines emanating from the long driveway, standing tall and proud, welcoming you into this remarkable haven sought by locals and tourists alike in their quest for gold.
The trees lining the driveway are meticulously trimmed, presenting an awe-inspiring uniformity. It’s like an immense work of art, all sculpted by a diligent, multi-generational family. The resulting produce is quite literally the fruits of their labour.
"Every crop has its highs and lows," says Grace Parker, Charlie's daughter. "Sometimes there's so much produce that it becomes a challenge to sell it all. We really hated seeing it go to waste."
As demand and prices in southern markets dwindled, Charlie had a stroke of genius. He saw an opportunity to transform the surplus into a new venture that would add value to the farm and create jobs for future generations.
Thus, Golden Drop Winery was born. The boutique winery, aptly named, bottles the essence of Tropical North Queensland sunshine. Following the passing of patriarch Charlie, his devoted family have continued to nurture the niche market he envisioned, expanding into wholesale, retail and tourism.
Sam and Dino, their wives Jackie and Maria, and Charlie’s wife Lucy all reside and work on the farm, and along with Grace, are involved in the day-to-day operation of the winery and farm.
The winery started in 1999 with three types of wine — dry, medium and sweet. Now, their range includes sparkling mango wine, mango port and a variety of liqueurs, such as mango cello, a range of citrus cellos (lemon mandarin and lime) and a dragon fruit cello.
The farm operates a cellar door for tastings and sales. Tastings are structured, much like any cellar door and guide visitors through the various flavours and taste profiles of the wines and cellos produced on site.
"We chose four mango varieties for their sweetness: Kensington Pride (commonly known as Bowen), Australian Kensington Red, Kiett and Pearl," Grace explains. "The Kensington varieties are used for our wines.”
One taste of Golden Drop’s offerings and you’ll be hooked and it is well worth returning often to see the farm in all its seasonal glory.
Golden Drop also operates a cellar-door-style shop at the Kuranda markets, with tastings available daily.
"We love seeing locals and are committed to supporting local businesses," Grace continues, gesturing to the many local food products on display at the farm cellar door.
"With more people choosing to support local, we're seeing an increase in restaurants buying and promoting regional produce, just as we do. Our products are a true reflection of this area, and we hope to encourage restaurants in Cairns, the northern beaches and beyond to showcase them.
"Our mangoes are available in supermarkets across Australia, and some of our premium produce is in high demand overseas.
"We're also excited about local initiatives such as Tablelands to Tabletop, which supports local farmers," Grace adds.
The farm is a tribute to a hardworking farming dynasty and visiting provides an insight into diversity and innovation. Golden Drop Winery does indeed bottle sunlight, so you can raise your glass and celebrate a taste of the tropics.
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