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Three Whites & Two Mice
Three of Orange's most distinctive white wine producers, a celebrated local cheesemonger and a day that is far more than the sum of its parts.
$280 per person, including GST · All-inclusive · Private groups up to 6
A different kind of Orange day
Three Whites & Two Mice is built around the idea that the best days in wine country are not about ticking off cellar doors — they are about the connections between them. The progression. The conversation. The moment a wine and a piece of cheese make complete sense together.
James hosts the day privately for up to six guests, handling every detail from collection to return. You bring the curiosity. He brings the knowledge, the relationships and the pacing that turns three excellent stops into one coherent, memorable Orange experience.
One booking. One all-inclusive price. One private Mercedes.
No designated driver. No itinerary coordination. No watching the clock.
The Experience
Three producers. Artisan cheeses. A very unique day.
01
Patina Wines
First Stop — Cool-Climate Whites
We begin with Patina, a family-owned estate on the volcanic slopes of Mount Canobolas and one of Orange's most respected names in cool-climate white wine.
Winemaker Rod Windrim has spent decades coaxing extraordinary Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc from these high-altitude soils. The Halliday Wine Companion has described Patina's Chardonnay in terms that are rarely applied to Australian whites — sunshine, daisies, butter mellow, spellbinding. Rod is in the process of opening a dedicated cellar door at the former Logan/Montoro site in Orange, bringing this exceptional estate even closer to the people who love its wines. This is a producer with deep roots in the Orange story and wines that reward attention.
Patina's new dedicated cellar door is expected to open in October 2026. James will confirm the current tasting arrangement when you enquire.
02
Swinging Bridge
Second Stop — Award-Winning Whites
From Patina, the day moves to Swinging Bridge — a family-owned estate with commanding views of Mount Canobolas and a reputation for some of the most awarded cool-climate wines in the region.
Winemaker Tom Ward has built Swinging Bridge into one of Orange's most recognised names, winning Best Wine of Show at the Orange Wine Show in both 2023 and 2024. Here, the group enjoys the Savour experience — a curated tasting of Swinging Bridge's whites paired with canapes. The Hill Park Chardonnay is the flagship, made in small quantities from carefully selected vines and consistently one of the most talked-about wines in the region. Alongside it, expect elegant Pinot Gris and Riesling that reflect the precision and care behind everything Swinging Bridge produces.
03
Ferment & Second Mouse Cheese
Final Stop — Wine, Cheese & Conversation
The day finishes at Ferment, Orange's collective cellar door — and this is where the Two Mice come in. SJ from Second Mouse Cheese joins the experience, bringing a carefully chosen cheese selection that brings the afternoon to a warm, unhurried close.
Ferment is unlike anywhere else in Orange. Rather than representing a single producer, it celebrates the entire region — wines from dozens of Orange makers sit side by side, curated by owner Simon Forsyth with genuine knowledge and care. The Enomatic tasting system lets you explore at your own pace, from a tasting pour to a full glass. Second Mouse Cheese is a natural partner for this finale. SJ has joined Three Whites & Two Mice as a formal contributor to the experience, bringing a cheese selection chosen to complement the white wines of the day and the character of the afternoon. It is a finish that is generous, relaxed and very much about the pleasure of good things in good company.
The Two Mice
The name is a small piece of wit with a real point behind it. The second mouse gets the cheese — and in this case, the second mouse is you. The patient guest who has taken the time to explore Orange properly, to follow the thread from vineyard to glass to table, arrives at the end of the day to find that the best part was worth waiting for.
Second Mouse Cheese is not an afterthought. It is the punctuation mark at the end of a very good sentence.
What's included
- ✦Private Mercedes transport with door-to-door collection within Orange
- ✦James as your personal host throughout the day
- ✦Tastings at Patina Wines, Swinging Bridge and Ferment
- ✦Second Mouse Cheese selection at the Ferment finale
- ✦Local knowledge, producer introductions and thoughtful sequencing across the day
- ✦Bottled water and in-vehicle comfort
- ✦All venue bookings and day coordination handled by Home, James
Specific tasting formats and food inclusions are confirmed at time of booking. Contact James for smaller or larger group enquiries.
Pricing
$280 per person, including GST
Private experience for up to 6 guests
Three Whites & Two Mice is priced as a fully all-inclusive private experience. One price covers transport, hosting, tastings and the Second Mouse Cheese finale. Contact James to discuss your group and preferred date.
Who it's for
- —White wine lovers and curious palates
- —Couples and small groups of friends
- —Birthday celebrations and milestone occasions
- —Corporate hosting and client entertainment
- —Visitors who want to understand Orange wine, not just taste it
- —Anyone who appreciates good cheese as much as good wine
Maximum six guests — keeping the day personal, relaxed and genuinely hosted.
How the day feels
Three Whites & Two Mice is not a tour in the conventional sense. There is no commentary delivered from the front seat, no rushed schedule and no sense that you are being moved from stop to stop on a timetable.
It is a privately hosted day in which James brings the context, the introductions and the pacing — and the producers bring the rest. Patina's depth and history. Swinging Bridge's precision and awards. Ferment's breadth and warmth. And Second Mouse Cheese to bring it all together.
Intelligent, unhurried and quietly memorable.
Ready to explore Orange whites?
Three Whites & Two Mice runs for small private groups of up to six guests. Contact James to discuss your group, preferred date and any questions about the experience.
Or explore our other Signature Experiences: Ladies Who Sparkle and Reds & Whisky.