The Orange wine region is unique in that it is the only wine region in the world that is defined by altitude. Wine from vineyards above an attitude of 600 metres and with a footprint surrounding the City of Orange, Cabonne and Blayney shires, make up the Orange wine region. This high altitude affects the growing conditions for the vineyards in the Orange region because the weather pattern gives Orange warm, but not hot, summer days, cool nights and frosty, very cold winters. Autumns are normally dry, which allow for a long ripening period for the wines before harvesting. All these conditions classify Orange as a cool-climate wine growing region. Wines from the Orange area are considered to have more European-style characteristics, the white wines are crisp, aromatic and expressive, while the red wines from Orange are more subtle, lighter-bodied with softer tannins. All wines grown from the area have natural high acidity and light, herbal complexity, and this is why Orange wines are special.