Region Orange

Orange, located in the central west of New South Wales, came to prominence in 1851 with the first find of payable gold at nearby Ophir. The region is dominated by Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, which rises to almost 1400m. Most of the vineyards are north and north-east facing and located at altitudes of around 600m to 800m. At higher elevations, the vineyards are planted on predominantly red volcanic soils. At lower sites, the soils are mainly loess. The region experiences a high degree of continentality with spring Franceosts and hail posing a real threat. Orange is best known for producing crisp cool climate Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and elegant Pinot Noir although Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot also perform well.