The Cellar Door Experience

Whether or not you’re a wine afficionado, you must pay a visit to at least one of the cellar doors in Orange. Have a taste-test, learn about winemaking and buy a bottle if you desire—or simply enjoy the scenery and offerings at one of Australia’s top cool-climate wine regions.

Borrodell Estate

Open from Thursday to Monday, Borrodell Estate is one of the most popular cellar doors in Orange. Perched above the vast countryside on Mount Canobolas, the vineyard produces magnificent cool climate wines like chardonnay and pinot noir. Tastings take place at the SkyBar, the aptly-named cellar door which, at 1030m above sea level, is one of Australia’s highest. Wine tastings can be arranged between the hours for 11am and 3pm for groups of up to six, and guests can select either six set wines for $20 or three wines of their choice for $12. And if the wine is going down a treat, try your luck at getting a table at Borrodell’s Sister’s Rock restaurant. Situated at the peak of the vineyard with views over the pinot noir block, Sister’s Rock is commonly listed as one of the best restaurants in Orange. And the best part is Borrodell is located just across the lake and only a ten-minute drive from our luxury Orange accommodation.

Heifer Station Wines

Heifer Station Wines is the perfect venue if you’re looking for a relaxed, family-friendly cellar door in Orange. Once one of Orange’s biggest cattle stations, the property is still home to a number of cattle which graze peacefully among the vineyard and a herd of friendly alpacas. Children will love meeting the animals at the ‘Funny Farm’ petting zoo—which is conveniently located just next to a wine tasting room in an old woolshed. Kids will meet hens, goats and even Tilly the Shetland pony, while you sample their champion Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz. At this cellar door, you’ll learn plenty about cool climate wines and get a real feeling for what it could be like to live out there on the land. You’ll need to book for your wine-tasting, but there’s something for every customer ranging from $15 for a 50-minute tasting to $315pp heli-tour and picnic experience.

Philip Shaw Wines

Philip Shaw’s ‘Koomooloo’ vineyard features a beautiful bluestone barn and immaculately landscaped gardens—a lovely spot to take a stroll on a warm, clear day. The best Philip Shaw wines are said to be found within its ‘numbers’ collection; four memorable or award-winning wines including a 2017 cabernet sauvignon and a 2021 pinot noir—all of which can be purchased at the cellar door. If you’d like to try before you buy, book in for a wine-tasting session. For $25 you can try a selection of wines along with a grazing plate, or book a wine-tasing only, without the food, for just $15.  Philip Shaw doesn’t serve food but the cellar door is open seven days a week from 11am until 5pm. Also ideally situated, the Koomooloo vineyard is just a 10-minute drive from our Orange accommodation.

Ferment

If you’re short on time or just keen to sample wines from as many different local vineyards as possible, book yourself in for a wine-tasting session at Ferment – the Orange Wine Centre. This little gem is located on Hill Street in central Orange and offers wines from a whopping 19 different cellar doors in the region. The signature, curated and hoosegg tasting experiences consist of six tastes per person—or you can simply book a table and purchase wine by the glass or bottle of your choice. What better way to taste the quality and diversity of wines that can only be found here in Orange?

Posted by Lakeview Retreat on September 01, 2022