ChaLou Wines

ChaLou Wines is a small-batch, family-run cellar door at 569 Emu Swamp Road in Canobolas, about 15 minutes from Orange, and it makes the dog welcome explicit: well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at tastings, and there's a fair chance their resident black Labrador Barnacle greets yours at the gate first.

Dogs at the cellar door

The tasting experience centres on the deck and outdoor seating looking over the vines, and that's where dogs belong. This is a working vineyard and farm, so the leash stays on and your dog stays close, for the safety of the wildlife, the vines and everyone's afternoon. Indoor access varies with the day and the weather, so check with staff on arrival. Pet amenities are minimal, so pack your own water bowl. Bookings for tastings go through the venue's website, and it's worth mentioning the dog when you do.

Pepsi: met Barnacle, judged him a good egg, then supervised the Pinot Noir from under the table.

The vibe

Owners Steve and Nadja pour their own cool-climate wines: estate Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and skin-contact whites made bud to bottle in genuinely small batches. The tone is personal and unhurried, closer to being talked through a wine list at a friend's place than a commercial tasting room. Hours run 11am to 4pm on Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, closed midweek, so plan the dog-friendly circuit around those days.

Getting there and parking

From Orange, take Icely Road out of town and turn left onto Emu Swamp Road; the winery appears on the left with on-site parking. The road climbs through orchard country on the slopes below Mount Canobolas, and the last stretch is a narrow rural lane, so watch for oncoming cars and wandering wildlife, especially at dusk.

Pair it with

The slopes around Mount Canobolas hold a cluster of dog-friendly cellar doors. WORD OF MOUTH - Cellar Door and Brangayne of Orange are both nearby on the same side of the mountain, and See Saw Wine in Nashdale pairs an organic lineup with a relaxed lawn that suits dogs. If you want a day's anchor with animals to visit, Heifer Station Wines on the Escort Way keeps a small farm paddock alongside its tastings.

Find more pet friendly cellar doors across New South Wales, or see what else is dog friendly around Emu Swamp.