A warm welcome awaits you at Highland Heritage, located at the gateway of Orange NSW Vineyards.
Our vineyard grows six varieties of red and white grapes, the wines are available at our cellar door.
Highland Heritage Cellar Door was also voted best Cellar Door in Orange 2019.
A warm welcome awaits you at Highland Heritage, located at the gateway of Orange NSW Vineyards – Mitchell Highway, on the Sydney side of Orange. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff in the Cellar Door offer tastings of our Orange NSW wine, at one of the oldest vineyards in Orange.
We look forward welcoming you at Highland Heritage to share the fruits of our labour.
Our History
With a start in a tin shed in 1946, the founder of D’Aquino Bros Pty Ltd, Carmelo D’Aquino, produced six barrels of wine and became the first winemaking family in the Orange district.
purchased farm for wine
1975
The original land was purchased at auction on 24th May 1975. It was part of a subdivision for rural residential living. It’s original name was to be called “The Willows”.
planted first wineyard
1985
The original plantings were 3 blocks of grapes, 2,200 Chardonnay vines, 2,200 Pinot Noir vines, 2,200 Sauvignon Blanc vines, 4 blocks of raspberries, 10,000 cuttings of varieties and one block of black currants, 600 cuttings.
first production
1988
A few barrels of wine were produced and berries picked for the markets.
first customer
1989
The cellar door was opened in a recycled 40ft container in 1989.
business expansion
1995
A new cellar door and restaurant facility were completed in 1995 and new plantings of grapes were also completed.
vineyard growth
2020
Shiraz 3.22ha. Chardonnay 0.79ha. Pinot 1.83ha. Sauv/Blanc 6.0ha. Merlot 0.80ha. Riesling 0.60ha. Prosecco 0.67ha. (ha= hectares)
Our Story
With a start in a tin shed in 1946, the founder of D’Aquino Bros Pty Ltd, Carmelo D’Aquino, produced six barrels of wine and became the first winemaking family in the Orange district. With a third generation D’Aquino and Roseworthy College graduate now running the company, Rex D’Aquino has continued to expand the business which now incorporates wholesale, retail, and contract bottling whilst still remaining heavily involved in the winemaking.
IT SEEMED NATURAL TO CONTINUE THIS WINEMAKING TRADITION AND HERITAGE…
2190
sunny hours
153
awards won
16
wine types
10000
happy customers
and more
Highland Heritage Range
The Orange Region is at the forefront of cool climate viticulture in Australia, where cool temperatures during most of the growing season, coupled with dry Autumn conditions, are ideal for growing high quality grapes. The Fruit ripens slowly, intensifying colour and flavour, ideal for premium wine making. Highland Heritage focuses on the key cool climate grape varieties of the region and are our flagship wines.
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Patrono Series
In 2016 Rex D’Aquino commissioned the Patrono Series to commemorate the achievements of his grandfather and 70 year of being in the wine industry of Orange. Rex has released Super Premium wines from the cool climate region of Orange in NSW under THE PATRONO SERIES.
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Dessert Wines
What meal is complete without a little “Sticky”?
Our stable of sumptuous Stickies and flavorsome Fortifieds will not leave you wanting. We invite you to indulge.
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We were very well served by a lovely crew, fantastic wine experience and amazing quality wine! Don't miss this place out if you around Orange.
We returned after our initial visit last year following NSW Triathlon Club Champs again. Sue was fantastic, remembered us & again showed us a great showcase of wine describing the history behind each also. Opens early so we could get back to Sydney before traffic too!
Beautiful space for a wedding. The vineyard is great for photos. The food was very good. Staff were great.
amazing!!! such great wines and service
Loved our visit,. Wines and people were amazing!
This was the last Cellar door we visited in the Orange region. I'm glad we saved the best to last. The lady behind the counter ticked all the boxes. Friendly, informative, not pushy, and stayed back after 5 to make sure we had a great experience. We will definitely be back next year, and this time, our first port of call. Cheers.
This cellar door was so easy to find (straight off the main highway) and well worth the visit. The tasting experience was fabulous with an extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic attendant. Definitely worth the stop.