Can you recommend some must-visit cellar doors in Orange?
Orange boasts a welcoming and intimate wine scene, featuring more than 30 cellar doors where you are often hosted directly by the winemakers, growers, and their families.
Here are some highly recommended cellar doors to visit, depending on your wine preferences:
For the Pioneers and Crisp Whites:
- Bloodwood: A true trailblazer, this is where commercial planting in Orange began in 1983 by Stephen and Rhonda Doyle. They are highly recommended for their crisp Rieslings, Pinot Grigios, and Sauvignon Blancs.
- ChaLou and Rikard: Both vineyards are highly praised for their zesty whites, particularly Rieslings that offer fantastic crispness, texture, and complex flavour profiles.
For Chardonnay Enthusiasts:
- Swinging Bridge: Helmed by Tom Ward, this cellar door is a major focus point for Chardonnay, offering multiple expressions from their perfectly placed vineyards.
- Canobolas Wines: With a renewed energy under Jonathan Mattick, they are setting new benchmarks by crafting Chardonnays that are built to age for decades.
- Byrne Farm: Experienced winemaker Jeff Byrne moved from the Hunter Valley to tackle new challenges in Orange, and his stunning new Chardonnays make this a brand to watch.
- Patina: A must-visit if you prefer a classic, rich Chardonnay with heavy butteriness and oak.
- Angullong: Their 'Fossil Hill' Chardonnay is celebrated as one of the best value offerings in the entire region.
For Top-Tier Sparkling Wines:
- Swift Sparkling: If you love bubbles, this is an essential stop; they have accumulated a "pool room" full of wine trophies for their exceptional sparkling drops.
- Colmar Estate, Highland Heritage, Logan, and Slow Wine Co: These estates also release highly praiseworthy sparkling wines that showcase the region's high elevation and natural affinity for Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay.
For Structured Reds & Mediterranean Varieties:
- Angullong: Sitting at 600m above sea level, this vineyard excels at ripening Mediterranean varieties. It is the perfect stop for medium-bodied, full-flavoured Barbera, Montepulciano, and Sangiovese.
- HOOSEGG, Brangayne, and Canobolas: Excellent choices for discovering the region's beautifully structured, medium-weight reds, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Shiraz.
- Patina: This cellar door takes a unique approach by only releasing their red wines after they have spent time in the cellar, making it a fantastic place to experience the longevity and quality of aged Orange reds.
To make the most of your trip, you might also consider booking a private cellar door tour with local operators like Uncorked Wine Tours or Orange Trike Tours.
