While I love the hustle and bustle of Sydney, it can get a bit too much sometimes. So when I was desperate for a weekend in the country, all of my friends suggested visiting Orange to try their many great restaurants and wineries.
This immediately piqued my curiousity, as I’ve visited Orange, but only as a day trip while I was studying in nearby Bathrust.
So to see whether Orange could be the perfect spot for a country escape, I packed my bags and hit the road.
The homestead was first built in 1896. (Image: Instagram)
WHERE I STAYED
To kick off my Orange adventure, I checked into the Yallungah Boutique Hotel – which is a heritage homestead that’s been transformed into a stylish and contemporary hotel.
Located just minutes away from the town centre, and staffed by an extremely friendly crew – the hotel quickly became a home-away-from-home where I could relax and unwind.
I was also fortunate enough to book the Steeple Suit, located on the top floor of the original homestead, which dates back to 1896 and offered amazing views of the property’s beautiful front garden.
Yallungah also offers a delicious breakfast on its B&B rates, which was the perfect way to start each morning before setting out to explore the region.
The view from ChaLou’s cellar door is worth the visit alone! (Image: Instagram)
WHAT I DRANK
As someone who grew up in the Hunter Valley wine growing region, I am used to big and flashy vineyards.
So for my Orange trip I was very excited to see how the region’s many vineyards would stack up compared to back home. And they did not disappoint!
My first stop was ChaLou Wines, which is an independent bud-to-bottle winery run by husband and wife team Nadja Wallington and Steve Mobbs.
During my visit, Nadja and their friendly cellar door assistant Kathryn walked me through their impressive (and delicious!) range of wines, from their fragrant Savignon Blac to their luscious Syrah.
I’m no wine connoisseur, so luckily I had Nadja and Kathryn on-hand to explain every flavour that I was tasting in a refreshingly approachable way.
Plus, getting the opportunity to hear all about Nadja’s extensive and fascinating experience as a winemaker as well as learning the history of ChaLou makes it a must-visit for anyone travelling to Orange.
Rowlee Wines specialises in cool-climate varieties. (Image: Instagram)
Next on my list was Rowlee Wines – a larger vineyard nestled in the foothills of Mount Canobolas that specialises in cool-climate wines.
During my tasting, which was led by the vineyard’s owner and managing director, Nicole Samodol and cellar door coordinator Densey McInerney I tried their impressive collection of Reisling, Arneis and Pinot Noir.
Rowlee also boasts an impressive collection rarer wine varieties in Australia including the dry and floral Gewurztraminer that originates from the South Tyrol region of northern Italy – as well as the gritty and full-bodied Nebbiolo from the Piedmont region of Italy.
Rowlee is a must-visit for wine lovers who want to sample lovingly-crafted wine varieties that are more commonly found in Europe.
Beef tartare at Rowlee.
Scotch fillet at Rowlee.
WHAT I ATE
While I was at Rowlee, I also stopped into their restaurant for a spot of lunch.
For those looking for the perfect shared menu, Rowlee offers a $95pp estate menu or a $135pp reserve menu – both offering five delicious courses.
For $85pp more, Rowlee will also pair each course with the glass of wine, which makes it perfect for special occassions.
But as a solo adventurer, I chose to pick my own entree and main. Starting off, I tried their miso, quinoa and ginger infused beef tartare which was soft, tender and very tasty.
For my main course, I treated myself to their grain-fed scotch fillet served with beetroot, tallow and jus which melted in the mouth.
Wild mushroom risotto at Monty’s.
For dinner, I made my way to Monty’s – a relatively new wine bar and restaurant in the heart of town.
Greeted by their very friendly waitstaff, I was quickly seated and served up a delicious, fluffy and warm house-made focaccia with whipped butter.
For my main course, I chose Monty’s hearty wild mushroom risotto, which was perfect for keeping me warm on a freezing cold winter’s night.
To help wash down their mouthwatering food, I ordered treated myself to my favourite cocktail, a classic margarita which was perfectly made.
With a focus on using seasonal and local ingredients – and an ever-changing menu, Monty’s is an exciting choice for diners looking for a truly unique, intimate and relaxed experience.
The Peacock Room. (Image: Instagram)
Before leaving Orange, I also paid The Oriana a retro motel that has been transformed into a luxurious boutique resort.
While I wasn’t staying at The Oriana, I was warmly greeted by its friendly owner Espen Harbitz, who quickly guided me into the resort’s vibrant and velvet-lined restaurant, The Peacock Room.
For my entree, I chose beef tartare again which was tender and salty this time, thanks to the capers, dijon and cornichons it was served with.
When it came time for the main course, I was excited to try the maremma duck – and luckily it did not disappoint.
What seemed like a whole duck was elegantly served alongside glazed baby vegetables, black cherries and a celeriac potato puree. It was a real highlight not only of The Peacock Room, but my entire visit to the region.
The Orange Wine Festival returns next month. (Image: Instagram)
Over my long weekend, Orange went from a town that I occassionally visited with friends for a cheeky Kmart trip to a truly world-class destination for amazing food and wine.
With it’s friendly locals, gorgeous landscape, relaxing and comfortable accommodation options, and plenty of great restaurants, vineyards and bars – Orange (and the rest of the Central West) really is the best for a trip to the country.
And with the Orange Wine Festival coming up from October 16-25, I definitely need to book a return trip!
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Harry Mulholland
News writer
Dining and Cooking