GRAPE ESCAPES

All around the country, under the Tropic of Capricorn, Australia is blessed with vineyard regions within a few hours’ drive from our cities. For the uninitiated, a road trip into wine country serves as a sampling board of local experiences. Dig deeper and the journey will weave together complexities of scenery, hospitality, food, and wine to become the ultimate expression of terroir. We asked six of the nation’s leading sommeliers to guide us through their favourite wine region in their state and where to find the most delicious drops.

“It’s a magnet for younger winemakers who are drawn to making contemporary wines.”

ORANGE, NSW

Guide by Chris Morrison, group wine director, QT Hotels & Resorts

Young, cool and high as a kite, the Orange appellation is defined by a boundary line that wraps around Mount Canobolas starting at 600 metres above sea level. Less officially, it’s also distinguished by creativity. As Chris Morrison explains: “As one of Australia’s newest wine regions, Orange is progressive and open-minded.”

When grapevines started taking off on the upper contours of the retired volcano in the 1980s, there was no blueprint for winemaking at such altitudes. Just opportunity and a willingness to innovate. “It’s a magnet for younger winemakers who are drawn to making contemporary wines and establishing themselves as winemaking evolves.” For Morrison, who has racked up 25 illustrious years in the wine business, there is always a special place for Orange’s “elegant, fresh wine styles” on his esteemed wine lists.