Private Picnic Lunch Experience in Orange with Wine

At Printhie Wines, you get to choose your own picnic spot among vineyards, apple orchards, and rolling hills, then settle in with a hamper, wine tasting, and a bottle to take home. It feels more personal than sitting at a fixed restaurant table, since your group controls the pace and setting.

I like the private format, which suits a date or a quiet outing with a close friend. I also like that the food comes from the winery kitchen, with a cheese board, dessert, and other sweet and savory items rather than a token snack box.

The main consideration is the weather. This is an outdoor picnic, so a wet or poor-weather day can change the plan. The advertised visit lasts about two hours, but staff may allow you to stay longer on the property.

Key details at a glance

• Choose your own picnic setting: Use the estate map to find a place among vineyards, orchards, and open hill views.
• Private for your group: You are not joining a large shared picnic or sightseeing bus.
• Kitchen-prepared food: The hamper includes savory items, sweets, a cheese board, and dessert.
• Guided Printhie tasting: Sample selected wines before choosing the bottle included with your picnic.
• Good value at $68.14 per person: The price covers the picnic, tasting, and a full bottle of wine.
• Flexible outdoor timing: The planned experience takes about two hours, though you may be able to linger.

Finding your own picnic corner at Printhie Wines

The experience begins at the Printhie Wines Cellar Door, at 208 Nancarrow Lane in Nashdale, a short drive from Orange in New South Wales. This is both the meeting point and the place where the activity finishes, so you do not need to change locations during the experience.

After arriving, you receive a map of the estate. That small detail matters. Instead of being assigned a table beside other groups, you can look over the property and pick the setting that fits your mood. You might prefer a spot close to the vines, a quieter corner near the apple orchards, or a place with a broad view across the rolling hills.

That choice gives the outing a relaxed, unhurried feel. You are not being moved from one scheduled stop to the next. Once you have found your place, the picnic becomes the main event: blanket, food, wine, and conversation.

The map also gives you a reason to look around before settling down. This is not a formal walking tour, and no route through the estate is specified, but you can take a little time to explore the grounds and decide where you would most enjoy eating.

What comes in the picnic basket

The food is a major part of the value here. Your basket includes a mix of sweet and savory treats, with a cheese board and dessert specifically highlighted among the contents. The food is prepared in the winery kitchen, which makes the picnic feel more like a proper lunch than a collection of packaged snacks.

The exact menu can vary, so you should not book expecting a fixed list of cheeses, pastries, or desserts. Still, the structure is clear: you receive enough variety to make a relaxed meal of it, with different flavors to pair with the wines.

For a couple, this makes a nice shared spread. You can pick at the savory food, return to the cheese, and finish with something sweet instead of rushing through a single pre-set course. For friends, the range of small items makes sharing easy.

The picnic is not described as a full multi-course restaurant meal. If you arrive very hungry, keep that in mind. Its appeal is the combination of a light gourmet lunch, wine, and time outdoors, rather than a large feast.

The Printhie wine tasting

The tasting is guided and includes selected Printhie Wines. One useful point from the experience is the breadth of the tasting menu. You are not limited to one small pour and a quick explanation before heading outside. The tasting gives you several wines to consider before selecting your included bottle.

That bottle is one of the strongest parts of the package. After tasting the available options, you choose your favorite, and it goes into the picnic basket for you to enjoy or take home. This gives the tasting a practical purpose. You are not simply sampling wines with no decision attached. You get to identify the style you prefer and leave with a full bottle.

I also like the way the tasting fits the picnic. You can approach it first, use it to choose your bottle, then carry that choice outside for a slower drink with lunch. The food, setting, and wine are connected rather than feeling like three unrelated extras.

The available wines are selected by Printhie Wines, and the supplied details do not list individual varieties or tasting notes. If you have a particular grape or style in mind, ask the cellar door staff what is available on the day.

Why the private format matters

Private does not simply mean fewer people. It changes how you use the two-hour visit. You can talk without trying to keep up with a group, choose a quieter place, and spend more or less time at the tasting according to your interest.

This format is especially suited to a date. The setting gives you something to look at and talk about, but the picnic itself leaves room for quiet stretches. You are not locked into a public table or a shared schedule.

It also works well for two friends who want an outing with a sense of occasion. The hamper makes it feel organized, while the private booking keeps the mood casual. You can sit with the food, stroll around the estate, and return to your picnic without having to follow a group leader.

The tradeoff is that you do not get the social energy of a larger wine tour. If you want a lively group, several wineries, or a full day of cellar doors, this is too focused and too short. It is best understood as a private winery lunch, not a broad Orange wine-region tour.

A realistic two-hour flow

The exact order can vary, but you can expect the experience to follow a simple pattern.

First, you arrive at the Printhie Wines Cellar Door and receive instructions for the picnic and access to the estate map. This is the moment to ask about the tasting choices, food, and possible picnic areas.

Next comes the guided tasting of selected Printhie Wines. Use this time to compare the options instead of choosing the first pour you like. Your favorite becomes the bottle included in the picnic basket, so the tasting helps shape the rest of the experience.

You then select a place on the property. The estate includes vineyards, apple orchards, and views toward rolling hills, so the atmosphere changes depending on where you sit. Once settled, open the hamper and take your time with the cheese, savory items, and dessert.

The formal duration is about two hours. That is enough for a tasting and a relaxed lunch, but it may feel short if you want to explore every part of the grounds. The useful wrinkle is that staff may allow you to stay longer on the property, so ask on arrival rather than assuming you must leave as soon as the two-hour mark arrives.

Because the activity begins and ends at the cellar door, the experience is easy to understand. There is no transfer between sites and no complicated route to follow once you arrive.

The $68.14 price and what you receive

At $68.14 per person, the price is reasonable if you value the full package rather than viewing it as a simple lunch. It includes the private setup, packed picnic, guided wine tasting, and one bottle of your chosen wine.

The bottle alone gives the price more weight than a standard tasting. You are paying for food and an activity, then receiving something you can continue enjoying after the visit. The kitchen-prepared picnic also adds value, especially if the hamper includes the cheese and dessert described.

The value is strongest for two people sharing a special outing. A date can easily cost more at a restaurant, yet this gives you open-air views and control over your setting. It is also a good fit if you already plan to visit the Orange area and want one polished winery experience without committing to an entire day.

The price may feel less attractive if you do not drink wine, want a large meal, or plan to visit several wineries in one day. The package is built around Printhie Wines, a private picnic, and one bottle. It is not designed as a budget sightseeing stop.

Since the experience is often booked about 13 days ahead, planning roughly two weeks early is sensible, especially if you want a particular date for a celebration.

Weather, comfort, and practical planning

This is an outdoor experience, and good weather is required. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy reduces the risk, but it is still wise to check the forecast before setting out.

You should dress for sitting outdoors and walking around a winery property. The supplied information does not specify the surface, seating, shade, or shelter available at each picnic area, so ask the cellar door staff about conditions when you arrive.

The mobile ticket makes the entry process simple. Confirmation is sent at booking, and you can use the ticket on your phone. The meeting point is Printhie Wines Cellar Door, 208 Nancarrow Lane, Nashdale, New South Wales 2800.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. Since this is a private activity, only your own group takes part. That can make the outing easier for people who prefer a quieter setting, though you should still raise any specific mobility or access needs before booking because detailed site information is not provided.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted, and cancellations inside that window are not refunded unless poor weather causes the provider to cancel.

Who will enjoy this Printhie picnic most

I would recommend this to couples who want a romantic afternoon without a formal restaurant atmosphere. The private setting, shared food, and bottle of wine give the occasion some polish, while the open grounds keep it relaxed.

It also suits friends looking for a slow lunch during an Orange visit. You can sample the wines, choose a bottle, eat at your own pace, and enjoy the property without spending a full day on a wine route.

This is less suitable for families wanting a major attraction, serious wine students seeking a long technical tasting, or anyone hoping to tour many estates. The experience stays at one winery and centers on a picnic rather than a packed schedule.

It is also worth thinking about the outdoor format. If you need guaranteed shelter, an indoor dining room, or a fixed table, this may not be the right choice. The charm comes from choosing a place outside and accepting the conditions of the day.

Should you book the private picnic?

Book it if you want a quiet, private winery outing with good food, a guided tasting, and a bottle included in the price. The kitchen-prepared picnic and freedom to choose your own spot make it feel more personal than a standard cellar door tasting.

I would especially choose it for a date, a birthday, or a relaxed afternoon with a close friend. Plan around two hours, book around two weeks ahead, and keep your schedule flexible in case you want to linger.

Skip it if you want a large meal, several wineries, or a long guided tour of Orange. For the right occasion, though, $68.14 per person buys a tidy little package: views, food, wine, and time to enjoy all three without being hurried.

FAQ

Where does the private picnic experience begin?

It begins at Printhie Wines Cellar Door, 208 Nancarrow Lane, Nashdale, New South Wales 2800.

Where does the experience finish?

The activity ends back at the Printhie Wines meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The planned duration is approximately two hours. Staff may allow you to spend additional time on the property.

Is the picnic private?

Yes. This is a private activity, and only your group participates.

What food is included?

The picnic hamper includes sweet and savory treats. The food includes a cheese board and dessert, and it is prepared in the winery kitchen.

Is wine included?

Yes. The experience includes a guided tasting of selected Printhie Wines and one bottle of your favorite wine from the tasting.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If Printhie Wines cancels because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.