Orange Mountain Estate wines

Orange Mountain Estate Wines is a small family-run cellar door on Radnedge Lane at Borenore, about fifteen minutes west of Orange, and it is one of the region's most genuinely dog-welcoming stops. Dogs are generally allowed inside the cellar door as well as out on the lawns, which makes this a rare wet-weather option in a cool-climate wine region.

The dog setup

Dogs on a lead are welcome across the outdoor lawns with their vineyard views, and usually inside the cellar door too, so a rainy day does not cancel the visit. Water bowls are often out, but bring your own bowl and a few treats to keep your dog settled for a longer tasting. Staff have a solid reputation for welcoming visitors with pets, and the room is small enough that a calm dog settles easily both indoors and out.

Pepsi: The indoor access is the whole reason to pick this one in winter. Pack a towel for wet paws before you head into the tasting room.

The vibe

This is owner-led hospitality over a deep list of more than 20 wines. The signatures are cool-climate viognier and shiraz-viognier, and the topics people raise after visiting include the winemaking process, an ice wine, a cherry liquor and the pinot noir. Tastings run weekends from around 9am to 5pm, with the cellar door closed Monday to Friday, so plan around that or call ahead to arrange a time.

Getting there and parking

The address is 10 Radnedge Lane, Borenore, a short drive from central Orange along the Escort Way, with free on-site parking at the cellar door.

Make a day of it

Borenore sits on the western side of the Orange wine region, close enough to several other dog-friendly doors to build a loop. Mortimers Wines and Ross Hill Wines both welcome dogs and sit within an easy drive, and Heifer Station Wines adds farm animals on the grounds for dogs who like a bit of livestock watching. For a big day out on the Canobolas slopes, De Salis Wines pairs the views with its own resident winery dogs.

More options across the region are listed under wineries in NSW, and other stops around town are under Orange.