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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9 dreamy cellar doors to visit in Orange
Printhie Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
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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 nine 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, hand-made lavosh 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, before coming away with a bottle of the prized No06 Chardonnay. Remember to book ahead for your tasting experience at the intimate venue, and keep an eye on the winery’s Instagram for announcements on 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.
Join the daily behind-the-scenes tour before adding a bottle or two of the winery’s excellent Eastern View Chardonnay to your collection. Book a Pairing tasting plate of seven food matches to selected Ross Hill wines. Or 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. Soak up the atmosphere for longer by staying at Loco at Ross Hill, a converted train carriage that housed the winery’s original cellar door.
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 (there’s a tasting fee of $20 per person). Seize 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 – before snaffling one of De Salis’s signature fumé blancs.
Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a wine tasting session with winemaker Daniel Shaw at Philip Shaw Wines, Orange.

Philip Shaw Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a wine tasting session with winemaker Daniel Shaw at 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.
Go with the flow
Relish the myriad ways to experience wine at Rowlee Wines, a 10-minute drive from Orange, where the Varietal Wine Tasting is just the beginning. Spend more time discovering the nuances of Rowlee Wines with a Sensory Wine Tasting, a 60-minute guided journey through the vineyard’s renowned Single Vineyard wines that ignites all the senses.
Linger over a long lunch or an indulgent dinner at Rowlee Dining & Bar, or make a weekend of it with your partner on the Ultimate Wine Escape, which includes two nights’ accommodation in a private guesthouse, a Sensory Wine Tasting, a picnic hamper lunch and a half-dozen Single Vineyard wines. Crack one of your 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. Try its lauded Swift sparkling range for yourself at the winery’s chic, charcoal-toned cellar door, where you can 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 four-course degustation with matching wines at Printhie Dining.
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.
Reach new heights
Feel like you’re on top of the world (or at least on top of Mount Canobolas) when you sample Borrodell Estate’s divine wines at its SkyBar cellar door/wine bar. Take your time grazing on a cheese or charcuterie platter paired with an estate wine on the SkyBar terrace before splashing out on a souvenir bottle from Borrodell’s Museum series, such as the 2014 Museum Pinot Noir.
Indulge in a long lunch at Borrodell’s acclaimed Sisters Rock Restaurant, which looks out over a block of pinot noir grapes and the slopes of the Towac Valley, or make a romantic weekend of it in the winery’s Cider Suite, which features a deep spa bath and huge windows looking out over the vines.
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.
Borrodell Vineyard, Canobolas Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Borrodell Vineyard's orchard in Canobolas, near Orange.

Borrodell Vineyard, Canobolas Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a visit to Borrodell Vineyard's orchard in Canobolas, near Orange.
Get a feel for winery life
Seek out the architect-designed, artisan-built cellar door at the family-run Strawhouse Wines to sample the estate’s dry-grown semillon, sauvignon blanc and shiraz, as well as small batches of grenache and viognier grown on-site. (Be sure to book your cellar door visit in advance.)
Immerse in the rhythms of this small-scale winery by staying in the one-bedroom Strawhouse Vineyard Apartment right next to the cellar door, yet a discreet distance from the straw-bale family home that gives the winery its name. Settle in for a cosy stay and book an exclusive private wine tasting at the cellar door – perhaps pick up a bottle of the unfiltered Edith Rouge shiraz/grenache blend to pair with your pre-ordered picnic hamper of fresh local produce for an idyllic lunch.
Sip some singular wines
Deepen your appreciation of cool-climate winemaking as sommeliers guide you through a curated flight of six wines during an hour-long tasting session at Swinging Bridge Wines. Delve deeper into this innovative, family-owned winery by booking the Explore Swinging Bridge experience, where you’ll enjoy a guided tour of the estate’s Hill Park vineyard and a curated single-vineyard tasting flight. (You may well be inspired to snaffle a bottle of the flagship Hill Park ‘Block 7’ Chardonnay from the Single Vineyard range.)
Lose track of time during the Indulge at Swinging Bridge experience as you’re guided through a comprehensive wine tasting paired with a five-course degustation lunch, after a walking tour of the Hill Park vineyard. For the ultimate day out, Swinging Bridge owner and vigneron Tom Ward will take you on a private tour of the Orange wine region, exploring the vineyards contributing to the Single Vineyard range, before returning to enjoy a seven-course degustation lunch during the incredible Immerse with Swinging Bridge offering.
Combine a tasting with a petting zoo
Watch your kids’ eyes light up when you bring them along to Heifer Station Wines, one of the more family-friendly cellar doors in Orange. Graze on a cheese plate matching the estate wines you’re tasting – pinot noir is the star here – as your little ones devour a kids’ platter of fruit, a warm toasty and treats like marshmallows and popcorn. Then take them next door to the winery’s Funny Farm petting zoo to meet Tilly the mini Shetland pony, alpacas, chickens, goats and shaggy Highland cattle. Make a weekend of it by staying in the luxe two-bedroom Loft House, which features indoor and outdoor fireplaces and looks out over the Heifer Station vines from its hillside perch.
Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange.

Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
The scenic grounds of Swinging Bridge Wines, Orange.
Heifer Station, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tailored picnic package at Heifer Station, Orange.

Heifer Station, Orange Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tailored picnic package at Heifer Station, Orange.
MORE INSPIRATIONAL STORIES
More Inspirational Stories
Gilbert Family Wines, MudgeeCredit: Destination NSW
The Gilbert Family Wines cellar door in Mudgee.
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Sip, Savour & Stay in Mudgee
Gilbert Family Wines, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
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Captivating countryside, memorable wining and dining experiences, indulgent luxury stays and a rich history – this is the Mudgee magic that keeps visitors coming back. A 3.5-hour drive from Sydney in the Central West of New South Wales, Mudgee lets you choose your own adventure, whether you’re drawn by its sights, food and wine scene, social calendar or all of the above.
See Mudgee from a new angle
A stroll through Mudgee’s picturesque main streets puts this region’s layered history within reach. Admire storied buildings such as the grand Mudgee Post Office – built in 1862, it was one of the state’s first major country post offices; while the red-brick clock tower at the top end of Market Street is a war memorial dedicated to those who served in World War II. Seek out Cobb & Co Court Boutique Hotel, which was built in the 1850s on Market Street and originally served as an overnight refuge for the coaches that provided transport in the region.
Get a feel for regional artistic talent at Mudgee Arts Precinct then marvel at the 60,000 local artefacts on show at Mudgee Museum, also on Market Street. A wander through Lawson Park on the banks of the Cudgegong River serves up the silhouettes of a sculpture walk featuring a permanent display of work from local and visiting creatives. The collection is added to each year following the annual Sculptures in the Garden competition, which is held in October within the beautiful grounds of Rosby Wines and Gallery, where you’ll find cosy accommodation, too.
Hire an e-bike from Ezyride E-bike Hire Mudgee and take an exhilarating ride to Flirtation Hill Lookout. Soak up the panoramic views of the precinct before cruising back down with the wind in your hair. Or be wowed by a truly spectacular experience on a hot-air-balloon flight with Balloon Aloft. Soar 600m into the sky as the sun rises and soak up an hour of jaw-dropping rural scenery before descending for a delicious breakfast.
Create your own wine trail
Home to more than 60 wineries producing vintages with a remarkable intensity of flavour, Mudgee’s wines tell stories of the region’s past, with the first vines being planted in 1858. Follow the thread of this history starting at Gilbert Family Wines, run by fifth-generation winemaker Simon Gilbert and his son Will. Settle into The Cellar by Gilbert with a grazing board to go with your wine-tasting flight or opt for a long lunch in the winery’s produce-focused restaurant with generous plates like 12-hour beef brisket with olives and tomatoes and a side of halloumi fries.
Head three minutes down the road and you’ll find yourself at the cellar door Vinifera Wines, a family-owned vineyard producing a range of organic, terroir-driven wines from Spanish varietals, including tempranillo, garnacha and graciano. A two-minute drive from here, you’ll find the stunning Yeates Wines, which produces small-batch drops from one of Mudgee’s oldest vineyards – the vines’ deep roots contributing to the consistency of flavour in the winery’s renowned shiraz and cab sauvignon offering. If you can’t resist the allure of reclining beside the glassy waters of the dam, you can book a stay within the cellar door grounds.
Swing past McIntosh Estate to marvel at the vines’ remarkable transformation from unkempt, abandoned rows into solid producers of excellent wines. Then be equally inspired by the glass-box tasting room perched on the side of a hill at Logan Wines, where antipasto plates and uninterrupted views across the vineyard beautifully complement the wines you’re tasting.
Next, make a beeline for Rylstone to visit a winery pioneered by the De Beaurepaire family, who chose this region for the limestone-rich soils and climate that mirrored that of their homeland in Burgundy. De Beaurepaire Wines is a single-estate vineyard sitting above the slopes of the Cudgegong River with the majestic mountains as a backdrop to its 170-year-old sandstone-stables cellar door.
Or, if you’ve reached your vino limit, you can get into the spirit at Baker Williams Distillery, where handcrafted spirits and liqueurs blossom thanks to native lemon myrtle and locally grown oranges. If beer is more your quencher, head to Mudgee Brewing Co, which draws on Mudgee’s beer-making heritage that started off around 1853, or Three Tails Brewery and Smokehouse where you can pair a pint with Texan-style barbecue meats and burgers.
Rosby Wines & Guesthouse, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tour of the Sculptures in the Gardens with Amber Norton-Knight of Rosby Wines & Guesthouse, Eurunderee.
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Rosby Wines & Guesthouse, Eurunderee Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a tour of the Sculptures in the Gardens with Amber Norton-Knight of Rosby Wines & Guesthouse, Eurunderee.
Logan Wines, Mudgee Credit: Amber Hooper
Man enjoying a glass of wine and the scenic country views from Logan Wines in Mudgee.
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Logan Wines, Mudgee Credit: Amber Hooper
Man enjoying a glass of wine and the scenic country views from Logan Wines in Mudgee.
Ready your appetite
Beyond the delights of the above venues, Mudgee’s rich offering ensures you’ll never be at a loose end when it comes to good food – so many vineyards serve up produce-focused menus to suit their drops. Robert Stein Winery, Vineyard and Farm is one such place, its Pipeclay Pumphouse restaurant a smart setting for a sublime seasonal degustation experience.
The Barn at Blue Wren Farm offers a menu guided by sustainability and seasonality, and the setting is impeccable. Similarly mastering the balance between ethos and aesthetic is award-winning The Zin House. About 15 minutes out of town, the restaurant is part of the Lowe Family Wine Co property and its menu heroes what’s grown in the surrounding gardens and orchards, and has options to pair with the organic and biodynamic wine of the vineyard. There’s even a boutique studio for two at the Shed by Zin.
The cafe culture doesn’t disappoint either. Start your day with gusto at MillBrie, where you’ll spot a breakfast gnocchi alongside a classic stack of pancakes. Or head to Alby and Esthers for on-point coffee and one of the famous Esthers jaffles with leg ham, eggs and Swiss cheese. If a pastry is what you crave, you’ll find it hard to choose at Althea by Zin, which channels a three-generation love of baking into beautiful sweet and savoury options – the Roman pizza slices make for an ideal post-wine-tour snack.
For a more casual evening bites that let you sample from a rotating weekly wine menu, hit up Roth’s Wine Bar and Cellar (the oldest continually licensed wine bar in NSW) in town for a woodfired pizza or pull up a stool at Kelly’s Irish Pub and Balcony Bar for a bite on the balcony and a country welcome.
To get a sense of everything the Mudgee scene has to offer, make a note in your calendar for Flavours of Mudgee in September – the Mudgee region’s biggest food and wine festival featuring more than 60 producers.
Pipeclay Pumphouse, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink at Pipeclay Pumphouse, Mudgee.
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Pipeclay Pumphouse, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Diners enjoying food and drink at Pipeclay Pumphouse, Mudgee.
Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Fine dining dishes available at Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant, Mudgee.
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Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant, Mudgee Credit: Destination NSW
Fine dining dishes available at Pipeclay Pumphouse Restaurant, Mudgee.
Recharge in luxury
Stay close to Mudgee’s heartbeat by checking into Perry Street Hotel – the former 1862 Mechanic Institute that now boasts 13 sleek suites. Still connected yet on the quiet edge of town, you’ll find The Clairfield Hotel – a very-new, very-luxe boutique with a dedicated wellbeing offering care of Jila – lean into sauna and float therapy to leave stress behind. Once you’ve nurtured your body in the spa, head to the attached restaurant, Gigi’s, for nourishment that aims to re-create the nostalgia of a trip to grandma’s thanks to seasonal produce, generously served of course.
For something minutes from the buzz that feels a million miles from it all, Evanslea Luxury Boutique Hotel is a tranquil spot to recharge. Built in the 1860s, the main house sleeps eight (with four extra cottages for couples, too) and makes the most of its riverside location. If the weather permits, you might crave a dip in the pool or, if indulgence is the order of your stay, pencil in a private wine tasting or an in-room massage. Wilgowrah, too, is five minutes from town and offers three distinctly beautiful offerings including a reimagined 1920s church, a refined-rustic cottage and an architectural delight of a ‘hut’.
Evamor Valley, set on a scenic, 34-hectare farm alongside the Cudgegong River, lets you get acquainted with the stunning scenery from the comfort of luxuriously furnished glamping tents, complete with a king-sized bed and a private hot tub for two. For more glamping, you’re spoilt for choice – there are four bell tents and an optional extra hot tub at Glenayr Farm, couple-perfect tents with handmade timber decks at Akuna Estate, or next-level lodgings via a two-bedroom luxury safari tent at Budgalong Spicers Creek. You’ll also find a different version of safari-style serenity at Sierra Escape, where you can choose between a tiny home and timber-floored tents all with outdoor bathtubs – watch for wild deer and roos strolling past as you bathe under the stars.
Go beyond the tent while enjoying similar levels of seclusion in one of Kundalini Lodge’s four luxury cabins set on 10 hectares or have the place to yourself at Piambong Tops. Here, an isolated, architecturally striking cabin offers a stay with thoughtfully curated details. Brew a coffee with the beans included in your booking and tune into the sounds of nature. Or, if you’re thirsty for something else, lock in the two-bedroom Winemaker’s Cottage so you’re a stroll away from the Burnbrae Wines cellar door.
Sierra Escape, Piambong Credit: Guy Williment
Woman enjoying the firepit while watching the sunrise from the Uralla Tent at Sierra Escape, Piambong.
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Sierra Escape, Piambong Credit: Guy Williment
Woman enjoying the firepit while watching the sunrise from the Uralla Tent at Sierra Escape, Piambong.
Sierra Escape, Piambong Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying a relaxing bath with scenic views across the Mudgee countryside from Sierra Escape, Piambong near Mudgee.
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Sierra Escape, Piambong Credit: Destination NSW
Woman enjoying a relaxing bath with scenic views across the Mudgee countryside from Sierra Escape, Piambong near Mudgee.