Cellar doors to warm up in 

Orange's cool-climate wine region is, in many ways, made for winter. The reds are soul warming, the fires are lit, and the people pouring your wine know exactly what this season asks for. Most cellar doors across the region welcome you with a fireplace and a platter - the perfect antidote to a cool afternoon drive.

Macquariedale Organic Wines sits at one of the highest points in the region, overlooking the sweeping Towac Valley below. On a crisp winters day, that view is something else. Pull up a chair beside the fire, order a cheese platter celebrating the region's producers, and take your time. Make sure you say hello to Bella the border collie!

Step inside Mortimers Wines and step back in time. A heritage schoolhouse built in 1866, a cosy fireplace and beautiful cool-climate wines to sip on - just what the doctor ordered on a cold Orange day

Angullong in the historic village of Millthorpe is worth an afternoon all on its own. The bluestone cellar door is beautifull and cosy, with up to ten wines to taste work through beside a warm fire. And once you're done, wander the cobblestone streets of Millthorpe - boutique shops, that classic country-village stillness, all of it somehow more beautiful in the cooler months with the scent of woodsmoke drifting through the village air.

ChaLou Wines is an authentic  and lovely bud-to-bottle winery, with an intimate and inviting cellar door, vineyard views, a lovely Labrador named Barnacle (cellar door dogs are a major theme here), and of course an indoor fireplace. Nadja and Steve, the owners, make you leave feeling connected to the wines and their story.

Stockmans Ridge takes the fireplace up a notch - both indoor and outdoor options, live music on Saturdays, and the ability to book your own firepit. Cold air, good wine, open fire, live music… now that's a Saturday well spent.

Check out all cellar doors here.

Places to Stay (and never want to leave)

The best kind of winter accommodation is the kind where you debate whether to leave at all. Where the fire is warm enough and the bath is deep enough and the view outside the window is beautiful enough that the plan slowly becomes no plan at all. The Orange Region has that in abundance.

Sona Molong is the ultimate group getaway - sleeping up to ten guests in bespoke, luxury accommodation with both indoor and outdoor fireplaces. It's set in the charming village of Molong, close to the wineries and close to that particular kind of country-town quiet that's hard to find anywhere else. Boutique shops and friendly locals will great you on every corner.

Borrodell Cider Suites earns its place on any winter list. Sustainable studio spaces with king-sized beds, heated concrete floors, spa baths, floor-to-ceiling windows and a cosy glowing fireplace - all set amongst fruit orchards with views stretching across the Towac Valley.

Dragonfly Cottages sit on the top of a hill, looking out over expansive vineyard views to the west - utterly breathtaking in winter (and all year round for that matter). There are alpacas to say hello to, a gas log fire to settle beside, and large windows that make the view feel like part of the room. Cold outside, warm inside, countryside stretching as far as you can see.

Nottingham Farm is a true farm stay - 100 acres of rolling countryside, an indoor wood fire, an outdoor firepit, and a deep luxurious bathtub to sink into. Open plan, farm views, and that slow pace that only comes when you're genuinely away from it all. Perfect for families or groups who want a proper country weekend escape.

Loft House at Heifer Station is NY loft meets NSW countryside, and it works brilliantly. Heated bathroom floors, a cracking fireplace, an outdoor fire pit, and rolling vineyard views from the windows. A short walk takes you down to the Heifer Station cellar door for tastings - say g'day to Truffle the pig, the highland cows and all the lovely farm animals on your way.

Check out all accommodation here. 

Bars, restaurants & cafes to warm your soul

There's something about winter that makes good food and wine taste even better. Maybe it's the cold air outside, or the way a bowl of something warm feels like an actual hug. The region's food and drink scene is full of the kind of places perfect for a slow weekend - wine bars tucked down busy streets, heritage pubs with roaring fires, Italian restaurants that feel like you've stepped into a family home. Here's where to find them.

Salters Café, nestled at the entrance of the iconic Dirty Janes has comfortable vintage interiors, a hearty soup special always on the menu, and a warm cuppa perfect for a takeaway to warm your hands while you wander through one of the region's most inspired creative spaces.

The Union Bank is a picture-perfect scene in all seasons, but one of the cosiest spots to dine on a cold day. Settle in for a long lunch or a late dinner by the fire, order the mulled wine and enjoy a menu that celebrate the region's produce in a space that feels both grand and genuinely snug.

Fiorinis Osteria Italiana is the definition of cosy dining. A homely restaurant set in a cottage on the foothills of Mount Canobolas, it's a place where the warmth hits you the moment you open the door and feels like stepping into an Italian family home. Elevated seasonal dining and an inspired wine list in the cosiest of spaces.

Montys, Orange's newest addition, has arrived with exactly the right energy for this winter. Moody dim lighting, comfortable, and perfect for long lunches that stretch into the afternoon. In the heart of town, and already earning its place as a go-to for a wholesome date night.

Jones & Smith Distillery in the small village of Lucknow, east of Orange, is a discovery that will make your road trip feel worthwhile. Award-winning gin and whiskey flights, a hearty meal, and a crackling fire to sit beside in a space that feels far removed from anywhere.

Ferment - The Orange Wine Centre is something entirely its own: essentially nineteen cellar doors in one room. Set in a beautifully restored Masonic Hall, it's an intimate wine bar with heritage bones, a roaring fire and a glass of whatever catches your eye. For visitors wanting the full expression of the Orange wine region without driving the entire loop, this is the place to start - or to end!

Discover all things food & wine here.

Time to start planning

There is something genuinely magical about the Orange Region in winter. Forget the beach getaway, this winter belongs to open fires, crisp country air, hearty plates of local produce and plump glasses of cool-climate wines. Whether it's a solo retreat, a couple's escape or a group getaway, the region has a cosy room, a cellar door, and a table waiting.

And if you're looking for the perfect reason to lock in dates: the Orange Region Fire Festival arrives in August (7-16), exhibiting a glowing blend of performance, art, food, wine and community spirit in an array of events. Now is the time to start planning that cosy winter escape you've been waiting for.