Printhie Wines, OrangeCredit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tour of the vineyard with Printhie Wines sales manager Dave Swift in Nashdale, near Orange.
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Uncover a new wine experience among the vines in Orange, a 3.5-hour drive west of Sydney. With rich volcanic soils and vineyards planted at an elevation above 600 metres, the region produces excellent cool-climate wines, from buttery chardonnay to silky pinot noir. Feel enlivened by the crisp country air as you traipse between its atmospheric cellar doors — including these five unmissable venues.
Enjoy a refreshingly cool change
Step inside a beautifully restored 1870s bluestone barn at Philip Shaw, a 10-minute drive from Orange, to sample fine wines with whimsical names and quirky labels that make the tasting experience even more enjoyable. Pair your wine flight with a tasting plate featuring local cheese, prosciutto and accompaniments, or simply savour the high-altitude terroir in every drop of wine carefully selected by your host at the cellar door, perched 900m above sea level. Remember to book ahead for your tasting experience at the intimate venue, and keep an eye on the website for information about seasonal dinners and special events.
Follow your natural instincts
Taste the passion of the Ross Hill Wines team for the planet in every vintage — it was the first winery in Australia to be certified by the National Carbon Offset Standard (NCOS), a process that took six years and means its wines are produced using sustainable principles. Anticipate the exceptional quality of its wines as you relax on the alfresco terrace alongside the hand-tended vines, breathing in the sweet perfume of cherry blossoms that bloom during the springtime. Take a deeper dive by signing on for a food and wine course at Barrel & Larder, an impressive custom-designed school attached to the cellar door, just five minutes down the road from Philip Shaw.
Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk around the scenic grounds of Philip Shaw Wines, Orange.
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Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a walk around the scenic grounds of Philip Shaw Wines, Orange.
Ross Hill Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Ross Hill Wines Vineyard in Orange.
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Ross Hill Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Ross Hill Wines Vineyard in Orange.
Strike the perfect balance
Revel in the expansive views over the vineyards towards the mountains as the late morning sun warms your bones at De Salis Wines, a small family-operated winery located on the northern slope of Mount Canobolas, 11km from Orange. Take a seat around a wine barrel and enjoy a memorable tasting of its premium handcrafted wines made with modern techniques and minimal intervention, seizing the opportunity to learn more about the winery’s minimalist philosophy from the passionate and knowledgeable cellar door team — with no culinary offering here, it’s all about the wine.
Go with the flow
Relish the myriad ways to experience wine at Rowlee Wines, a 10-minute drive from Orange, where the Varietal Wine Experience tasting is just the beginning. Spend more time discovering the nuances of Rowlee Wines with a Sensory Wine Experience, a 60-minute guided journey through the vineyard’s Single Vineyard wines that ignites all the senses. Or gather seven to 22 of your favourite people together for the Group Wine Experience and sip a selection of cool-climate varietals as you snack on a grazing platter.
Alternatively, stretch out in a shady spot on the lawn with a gourmet picnic hamper, which includes a bottle of wine, or make a weekend of it with your partner on the Ultimate Wine Escape, which includes two nights’ accommodation in a private guesthouse and a tutored wine tasting paired with cheeses or chocolates. Crack one of your six included bottles of wine to enjoy as the sun sets over the vines, or take them home and be transported back to your romantic weekend every time you open a bottle.
Explore new terrain
Discover how young wineries can punch above their weight at Printhie Wines, which has won numerous accolades since launching in 2004, just eight years after its first vines were planted, 10 minutes from Orange. Try its lauded Swift sparkling range for yourself at the winery’s chic, charcoal-toned cellar door, where the Sparkling Tasting Experience is just one of three tasting experiences to choose from. You can also take an immersive journey into the world of bubbles on the Sparkling Masterclass, and uncover the art of méthode traditionelle sparkling before settling in for a degustation lunch at Printhie Dining with matching wines.
Or surprise a loved one with an exhilarating helicopter flight to the winery, which includes a private winery tour and tasting, and a decadent contemporary lunch overlooking the peaceful valley before being chauffeured back to your accommodation.
Rowlee Wines, Nashdale Credit: Destination NSW
Group of friends enjoying a vine to table experience at Rowlee Wines, Nashdale.
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Rowlee Wines, Nashdale Credit: Destination NSW
Group of friends enjoying a vine to table experience at Rowlee Wines, Nashdale.
More Inspirational Stories
Horse Riding, Jindabyne, Snowy MountainsCredit: Destination NSW
Horse riding in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains. For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
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Set course for adventure in Jindabyne, a quaint lakeside town in the foothills of New South Wales’ Snowy Mountains, and a great base camp for an energising, nature-based holiday. Delight in a range of exciting seasonal experiences, from action-packed days on the snow to summertime hikes that will leave you feeling fresh.
Pick your own adventure
There's an array of activities on your doorstep in Jindabyne – a five-hour drive southwest of Sydney. In warm weather, get your blood pumping on a mountain bike ride, or try your hand at rock climbing with K7 Adventures. Travelling when the mercury drops? Relish in the wintry scenery on one of K7’s snow-shoe expeditions. Alternatively, get a natural high on a guided horse trek at Snowy Wilderness Resort, set on more than 6,500 acres of awe-inspiring alpine high country just south of Jindabyne.
There’s also a whole lot of adventure to uncover in Kosciuszko National Park during summer. Revel in the sense of achievement hiking the summit of Mount Kosciuszko, Australia’s highest point at 2,228m elevation – it’s an 18.6km return trail from Charlotte Pass, so plan on spending a full day (six to eight hours) out in nature. If you’d prefer a shorter walk, the serene Rainbow Lake walk is a 2.4km-return trail that boasts stunning wildflowers during springtime.
Post-activity, take a deep breath and calm your mind during a hatha yoga session at Jai Yoga. Then further reward your day’s efforts with a celebratory schnapps made at Wildbrumby, which has a distillery door and restaurant overlooking a sculpture garden. Prefer a beer? Jindabyne Brewing bar and tasting room has views across Lake Jindabyne – find a scenic perch and enjoy the ultimate taste of the region as you sip. Another option for a refreshing swig of beer is Kosciuszko Brewery. Located at Jindabyne’s Banjo Patterson Inn, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after an exhilarating day of adventure activities.
Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Hiking in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
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Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Hiking in Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains For media use only in Australian markets to promote NSW.
Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery, Crackenback Credit: Destination NSW
The Wildbrumby Distillery & Cafe is a unique, boutique schnapps distillery located on the Alpine Way in the picturesque Thredbo Valley,
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Wildbrumby Schnapps Distillery, Crackenback Credit: Destination NSW
The Wildbrumby Distillery & Cafe is a unique, boutique schnapps distillery located on the Alpine Way in the picturesque Thredbo Valley,
Try out the local dining scene
Follow your nose to the delectable range of oven-fresh breakfast pastries on offer at Nimmitabel Bakery. The aroma of freshly brewed Axis Roasters coffee is just as difficult to resist at Birchwood, where you can also fill up before a big day in the great outdoors on cheese toasties, muesli bowls, moreish breakfast salads and more.
Self-catering? Head to The Market. At this part café, part market, you can choose between sinking your teeth into wholesome dishes or grabbing organic fruit and veggies and specialty grocery items to take away.
Cosy up at the end of the day at Bacco Italian Restaurant, which has been preparing pizzas and pastas for more than 25 years; kids are well catered for with a dedicated menu of tasty bites. Or take your palate on its own adventure at much-loved Cafe Darya, which dishes up welcoming Persian favourites including dips, pastries and stews. Pair zingy tacos with lip-smacking margaritas at Cucina Grill & Cantina, and treat your travelling companion to an intimate Japanese dinner at Takayama; kick off a memorable meal with a serving of succulent pork gyoza with ponzu dipping sauce.
Stay in quintessential Snowies lodging
Lean into farm life at Avonside Alpine Estate, a dreamy off-grid farm stay with a vegetable garden, chickens, sheep and highland cattle. The two- and three-bedroom cottages unite Scandi style with sustainable design, and boast calming country vistas, too.
Be soothed by the snow gums surrounding Ecocrackenback, just outside of Jindabyne, as you warm up by the fire in one of its 18 self-contained cabins. Or soak up the similarly scenic setting at Moonbah Hut, which offers two charming timber cottages near Jindabyne that sleep four or five guests. With one hut set on a lake and the other by a river, you can begin or end a summer's day with an invigorating dip, while the stone fireplaces, underfloor heating and exposed beams make the cottages feel particularly snug during the winter months.
The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service manages a number of lodges throughout Kosciuszko National Park, including Creel Lodge. Here you can bask in serene Lake Jindabyne views from the breakfast table. As the moon rises over the lake, indulge in the nostalgic pastime of roasting marshmallows over the outdoor fireplace for dessert.
Lake Crackenback, Thredbo Credit: Destination NSW
Kangaroos at Lake Crackenback, Thredbo.
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Lake Crackenback, Thredbo Credit: Destination NSW
Kangaroos at Lake Crackenback, Thredbo.
Lake Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.
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Lake Jindabyne, Snowy Mountains Credit: Destination NSW
Scenic views of Lake Jindabyne in the Snowy Mountains.