Cool climate wine experiences

Rutherglen in Victoria and Orange in New South Wales have two things in common, both are home to beautiful farming country and superb cool climate wines. Orange has an elevation of around 860 metres, making it one of the highest regional towns in Australia and Rutherglen is just a two-hour drive from Mount Buller in the Victorian Alps.

When you arrive at Rutherglen you are greeted with a sign that cheekily claims, “Sydney may have a nice harbour, but Rutherglen has a great port” and I have to agree that their ports and fortified wines are some of the best I’ve tasted. One of my favourite spots is Cofield Wines and their Topaque is delicious, as are their reds with the Shiraz and Durif my picks. Cofield has a relaxed, family and pet-friendly vibe. Large chess sets and games dot the lawns, along with ample seating for small or large groups. The restaurant serves up fantastic, French-inspired meals and I heartily recommend the beef cheeks while my husband loved the duck.

The Buller family have been a wine-making force in Rutherglen for more than a hundred years and there are several Buller vineyards to visit including the newcomer, Dinah Wines. Operated by Richard Buller the cellar door has only been open for a few months, but the wine is already making an impact. I’ve said before that tasting wine is just one part of the experience, the other is the conversations you have with the winemakers and staff. We love going to small and new wineries and chatting with them about their journey, family history and passion for viticulture. When we visited Dinah it was a freezing day and we were welcomed into the cellar door to warm up by the fire while sampling the wine and chatting with Richard and his team. Dinah is named after Richard’s grandfather, Reginald’s favourite draft horse, Dinah. A photo of Reginald ploughing the land with Dinah adorns the wall in the big green shed that overlooks picturesque paddocks and vines. My favourite drops were the Prosecco, the Estate grown Shiraz, Clio 2013 Reisling and the Caldwell Tawny. We also ventured to Buller Wines, All Saints Winery and Pfeiffer Wines but ran out of time to return to other favourites – Chambers, Scion and Campbells. Every year Rutherglen hosts special events such as the Taste of Rutherglen in mid-March, the Roam Rutherglen Winery Walkabout held over the June long weekend and a new event, the Dark Side of Wine in August. These events are very popular so book tickets and accommodation well in advance. As we had our fur baby with us, we stayed at a lovely dog friendly AirBnB within walking distance of pubs, restaurants and shops.

Like Rutherglen, Orange is a favourite regional weekend get-away for my husband and me and we spent some time at wineries ahead of attending the Orange Readers and Writers Festival which is part of the Orange Fire Festival that runs through August. Only a few hours from Canberra and Sydney, there has been an explosion in Orange wineries in recent years. Our favourite is Word of Mouth, where Peter and Deb will happily chat about their wine, their community and life in general and they have a reputation for excellence amongst their peers. Dog friendly, this small cellar door punches above its weight and we always have a fabulous experience. Peter shared his newly bottled 1k 2023 Rose with us, and while he suggested it would taste even better after some time on the shelf, I loved it. I also enjoyed their 2023 Reisling, and the 2022 Chardonnay, Shiraz and Manseng.

We also visited Phillip Shaw Wines, a pretty vineyard that is a popular venue for weddings and events. To celebrate winning the Banjo Paterson Writing prize, my husband booked dinner at the beautiful Borrodell Vineyard restaurant, Sisters Rock. The views are spectacular, with the restaurant and cellar door overlooking the city of Orange and the surrounding countryside. Borrodell also offers boutique accommodation or take your pick from several AirBnBs, Turner’s Vineyard or you can stay at the historic Hotel Canobolas.

While the cost of living crisis is forcing many of us to stay at home and prioritise our spending, if you can afford a weekend away why not explore some of our beautiful regional areas like Rutherglen and Orange? You won’t regret it.

Photos (Top L to R): Rutherglen, Victoria – Cofield’s cellar door, Pfeiffer Wines and with Richard Buller at Dinah Wines. All Saints vineyard and exterior cellar door and lunch at Cofield. Dessert at Cofield, Ki our kelpie enjoying the grounds at Buller Wines and the cellar door at Buller Wines. All Saints cellar door and Bad Country out and about at Phillip Shaw Winery, Orange.

Orange, NSW – Phillip Shaw winery and welcome to Wiradjuri Country. Dinner at Sister’s Rock restaurant, Borrodell Vineyard and the cellar door at Word of Mouth Wines. The grounds at Word of Mouth Wines and the chocolate and licorice cake at Sister’s Rock was divine.