BE.. Part of the Story
Every estate has a history. Ours begins with the land.
The Story of Borrodell
It started with repair.
Erosion gullies were stabilised. Thousands of native and European trees were planted. Wetlands were restored so water could move naturally through the land toward Lake Canobolas. Over time, birds returned. Then animals. Then frogs. A working landscape, brought back into balance.
The orchards came first - apples, cherries and plums sent to markets across Sydney and beyond. Borry also helped establish the Orange Farmers Market, contributing to what the region has since become known for.
In the 1990s, when Gaye joined Borry, the next chapter began. The focus shifted from commercial fruit growing to cool-climate wine, planting varieties suited to the altitude and alpine conditions.
The orchard never disappeared. It evolved. Today it includes more than 180 varieties of heritage apples, quince and plums - many once grown in historic European orchards.
In 2001, over 500 oak trees were planted and inoculated with Black Périgord truffles, establishing one of the earliest mainland truffières in Australia.
As the land matured, so did the estate. Accommodation followed in 2002. The restaurant opened in 2005. In 2006, the underground cellar became a place for truffle dinners, music, and long-table gatherings.
Today, Borrodell remains a working estate. Gaye continues the vision - sharing the land, its produce and its rhythms with those who come to experience it.
A Legacy of Orchard Families
The name Borrodell honours the farming families who shaped the Orange region long before the estate took its current form.
The Borrodell family arrived from Essex and established orchards near Sisters Rock. The Gartrell family came from Cornwall via California during the gold rush before settling into fruit growing in the district.
When Borry and Gaye named the estate, it was a deliberate nod to that lineage - a recognition that the story didn’t start with them.
The Woman on the Label
Some stories are carefully documented. Others remain a mystery.
The woman who appears on every Borrodell label was discovered by a friend of the family, an art restorer working with a major Australian gallery. The portrait arrived for assessment unsigned, leaving the identity of both the artist and subject unknown.
What remained was the painting itself - a striking figure, poised and self-assured, with a gaze that seems to meet your own. We may never know her story, but we continue to admire the skill of the artist who created her and the quiet intrigue she brings to the estate.
Over the years, she has become part of Borrodell's identity. Guests often ask who she is or what she might be thinking. The answer, of course, depends on who you ask. Although it has been known that after a few glasses of wine and some deep reflection, she occasionally starts to wink.
Today, Borrodell remains a working vineyard, orchard and trufferie set high on the slopes of Gaanha Bula / Mount Canobolas. Visitors come to stay among the vines, gather around the table, wander the orchards and experience the rhythm of the seasons. Still family-run. Still evolving. Still led by the land.
