Heifer Station Wines

Heifer Station Wines pours its tastings from a century-old wool shed on a 65 hectare property at Borenore, 10 to 15 minutes west of Orange along The Escort Way. It is a relaxed, family-run cellar door with big lawns, vineyard views and a small farmyard, so a visit works as much like an afternoon out as a tasting.

The dog setup

Dogs on a lead are welcome across the lawns and outdoor seating, and tastings are an outdoor affair, so do not count on taking your dog indoors. The thing to plan around is the resident menagerie: sheep and chickens roam the grounds and there is a pony and a petting area near the shed. A dog with a strong chase instinct needs a firm hold here, while a social dog that ignores livestock will have a great time.

Max: loose poultry wandering the lawns is the real test at Heifer Station. Keep the lead short near the petting zoo and pick a quiet corner of grass before you settle in with a platter.

The vibe

The wines are cool-climate pinot noir, chardonnay and merlot grown at altitude, with wine and cheese platters, lawn games and the rustic shearing-shed setting doing a lot of the work. It suits a slow visit on a fine day when the lawns are at their best rather than a quick dash-in tasting.

Getting there and parking

Set your maps to 1034 The Escort Way, Borenore. There is ample free gravel parking right beside the cellar door, and the drive from Orange centre is straightforward country road the whole way.

Pair it with

Make a day of the region's dog-friendly cellar doors: Cargo Road Wines welcomes dogs on its balcony toward Mount Canobolas, and Philip Shaw Wines and De Salis Wines both take dogs in their outdoor areas.

More options are in the New South Wales dog-friendly wineries guide and the Orange destination page.