The pretty regional town of Orange is a food and wine lovers’ delight. This cool climate wine region is located three-and-a-half hours’ drive west of Sydney and is the perfect place to escape for wine, food and culture, offering highly acclaimed restaurants, fashionable cafes, growers’ markets, designer shopping, art galleries and more. Orange is also home to the annual Orange F.O.O.D Week, Australia’s longest-running regional food festival. Outdoor activities include hiking the track of Mount Canobolas and exploring nearby scenic national parks. Accommodation options range from trendy boutique hotels located in the center of town to luxurious vineyard cottages.
Winery Experiences of Orange
Orange is the state’s largest high-altitude, cool climate wine region. Along with the rich volcanic soil from nearby Mount Canobolas, Orange has the perfect conditions to produce cool climate wines, including award-winning Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.
Philip Shaw: One of the pioneering winemaking families of Orange, the Koomooloo vineyard is home to Philip Shaw Wines and is one of the highest and coolest vineyards in Australia. The cellar door is located in a beautiful 130 year old Bluestone barn, with stunning surrounding gardens where guests can enjoy a range of wine and food tasting experiences.
Rowlee Wines: This estate makes wines exclusively from its single vineyard located in the foothills of Mount Canobolas. Rowlee Wines offers intimate tastings, wine and food pairings, picnics in the vines and luxury accommodation. Surrounded by vineyards, farmland and a conservation area, the winery dates back to the mid-1800s and includes the original homestead and outbuildings. Grapes are harvested by hand and crafted in small batches.
See Saw: Winemakers Justin and Pip Jarrett pride themselves on producing wines using low-impact, sustainable methods. All See Saw wines are organically certified and vegan. See Saw offers experiences throughout the year including tours, lunches and hot air balloon adventures with a Prosecco breakfast.
Swinging Bridge: This family-owned winery specializes in premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. It’s cellar door has been awarded Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine’s Best Cellar Door in the region. Guests can enjoy a sit-down experience with beautiful views of Mount Canobolas. Experiences include wine tastings, a picnic in the vines, or for something really special, the Sydney to Orange helicopter experience.
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