Orange’s Cooks Lot has released three reds and three whites in its Allotment range of cool-climate wines. The six wines aim to capture the pure varietal expression of the Orange region, drawing on fruit from a carefully selected network of specialist growers.
“We source our grapes from a range of like-minded growers across a spread of elevations,” explains owner and winemaker Duncan Cook. “The winemaking is all about vibrancy, freshness and fruit purity, without too many winemaking distractions.”
The eponymous winery was established by Duncan in 2002. “Over the past 24 years, we have developed long-standing relationships with a handful of grape growers,” he says. “Each variety is selected from vineyards we’ve worked with for many years, matching elevation to variety. The Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon come from vineyards lower on the foothills of Mount Canobolas (Gaanha-Bula), while the Pinot Noir and whites are sourced from higher up the mountain.
“When we established the winery, we initially explored planting our own vineyard with varieties we believed would thrive. However, further research led us to a different conclusion, we didn’t want to limit our wines to a single site.
“By building strong relationships with our growers, we can source grapes grown at elevations that best suit each variety. Site selection, including soil type and aspect, plays a key role as well. Over the past couple of decades, we believe we’ve assembled an exceptional mix of sites and growers.
“These growers are among the finest in the region and, through good management, innovation and economies of scale, they supply us with beautiful fruit at very competitive prices, undoubtedly better than if we grew it ourselves. This allows us to focus on what we aim to do best: making Orange regional and varietal wines that deliver both quality and genuine value.”
2025 Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 689’ Sauvignon Blanc::Trophy, Best Sauvignon Blanc, 2025 Orange Wine Show & Trophy, Best Sauvignon Blanc, 2025 NSW Small Winemakers Wine Show
2025 Cooks Lot ‘Allotment 333’ Riesling:Gold Medal, 2025 Australian & NZ Boutique Wine Awards
