Canobolas

Perched high on the northern slopes of Mount Canobolas, Canobolas Wines is one of the Orange region’s most important and historic vineyards. First planted in 1986 by the Smith family, it helped prove that Orange’s lofty elevations and volcanic soils could deliver wines of international calibre. Today, under the stewardship of winemaker Jonathan Mattick and his family, Canobolas is part of a small but growing movement reshaping how the wider wine world views Orange: not as a curiosity, but as one of Australia’s most exciting cool-climate regions.

Mattick farms the 36-year-old vines organically, working to preserve both the land and the remarkable resource of old plantings. The site is planted primarily to Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, thriving on deep red ferrosols born of ancient volcanic eruptions. High altitude (775–820m) and cold nights stretch ripening into autumn, gifting wines of finesse, energy and age-worthiness.

In the cellar, winemaking is minimal and precise: hand harvesting, wild ferments, whole-bunch pressing for whites, and restrained use of oak. The results are strikingly pure, terroir-driven wines that capture the brightness and structure of Orange with clarity. With a string of critical acclaim behind them, Canobolas is cementing its place among Australia’s new elite producers.

"’22 saw the Mattick family gain ownership of Canobolas Wines and they have instilled a holistic approach both in the vineyard and winery, with minimal intervention at the core, allowing the wines to express nuance of site and fruit purity. The resulting wines are those of power and grace, though the chardonnay is the firm standout."
- James Halliday