What is it you look for when you’re in wine country? Is it the same stuff you find in bottle shops and bars everywhere you go? Or is it something that speaks to you about the region?
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Orange, NSW has more than earned its reputation as a wine town. Its 80+ wineries have won countless awards, the 30-odd cellar doors in its realm are some of the finest, and festivals and events draw thirsty thousands here every year.
This little chunk of the Central Tablelands certainly punches above its wine weight class.
We’ve been lucky enough to visit Orange many times and we love visiting new cellar doors, trying new wines we haven’t heard of before.
And we’re always finding new ones.
This happened recently when we were introduced to Cooks Lot Winery, owned by winemaker and ex-chef Duncan Cook.
We were surprised to find out that Duncan has been here since 2002. We wonder how our paths haven’t crossed before.
Establishing himself high on the slopes of the iconic Mount Canobolas (Gaanha-Bula), Duncan intended to make Cooks Lot an estate winery — that is growing the grapes and making the wine in one place — but quickly changed his mind.
He realised that there were lots of other growers across the region with superior grapes, and that he would be able to focus on the wine-making if he didn’t have to worry about viticulture and harvests.
Looking for accommodation in Orange? Check out our review of the Oriana Motel here!
If you want a quick tour, here’s our Essential Guide to Orange, NSW.
And if you want more ideas and great rates on where to stay in Orange, click here.
Cooks Lot Winery — six new wines from the mountain
Duncan has used his close connections with growers well, sourcing premium fruit from across the elevations. Shiraz and Cabernet grapes are from the lower foothills of the mountain, while Pinot, Riesling and Sauvignon come from the higher reaches.
The result is a range of cool-climate high-altitude wine with the full, broad vocabulary of the Orange region and at a very competitive price point.
Shop these wines directly from Cooks Lot here – all $25.00 RRP.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 666’ Pinot Gris 2025
This wine comes with quite the blush. I’ve seen rosés lighter than this.
Light on the nose, but surprisingly full-flavoured on the palate, especially for a Pinot Gris. Firm white peach/nectarine notes and a lovely creamy texture that turns crisp and dry at the end.
As the wine warms up, ripe pear flavours develop and that creamy body sits nicely with these rounder flavours.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 689’ Sauvignon Blanc 2025
This feels like it’s what Marlborough NZ Sauvignon Blancs were once famous for. Less typical tropical fruit on the nose, more strawberry lollies and pencil shavings, but still with a bit of passionfruit underlining it all.
Good structure, sweet, but not overly so, balanced and a clean refreshing dry finish. This is an Sauvignon Blanc that SB drinkers will love.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 333’ Riesling 2025
This is an incredibly pale Riesling — no colour to it at all.
Light citrus and crisp pear on the nose, and more lemon and tartness on the palate drive to a fine minerally finish. This is an endlessly drinkable Riesling that would match perfectly with light fish dishes and sushi.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 1111’ Pinot Noir 2025
A glowing ruby red colour with light berry aromas, I was expecting a light-medium Pinot.
But on the palate, this is quite big for a Pinot, especially from high-altitude Orange. A bold, rich texture with hints of dark choc at end — unlike most Pinots we’ve tried.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 1010’ Shiraz 2025
Lovely deep dark red colour with dark cherry aromas and a bright structure with somewhat grippy tannins.
This is a lighter bodied, easy-drinking Shiraz and a good expression of cool-climate altitude Shiraz from Orange. Especially at this price point, this is an excellent wine.
Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 8888’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2025
Soft, elegant and lighter-bodied than conventional big, brash SA cabs.
This wine is still full of the pepperiness, dark berries and rich plum you want in a Cabernet, but has more sophistication than many of the bolshy iterations to be found on the market.
