Nadja Wallington and Steve Mobbs ready to begin boutique wine company amid COVID-19 pandemic

In July, the couple - who met in Wagga - purchased a vineyard in Orange. Already they have begun cultivating what will become their first vintage next year.

"It's something we've been working towards for the past 12 to 18 months but it's come together now in the middle of the pandemic," Ms Wallington said.

Having both grown up on the land and around winemakers, the decision to set up their own vineyard makes logical sense. But the pair admits their likely to face a few unforeseen challenges in the next few years.

"It is a strange time, but we see a wine business as a longterm thing. It's a decision towards creating a lifestyle, it's not something that's going to turn a profit overnight," Ms Wallington said.

"Living on the land is a real privilege and making an income from it even more so."

With the property now under their control, Mr Mobbs said "we're pinching ourselves" to see their dream coming together.

"There's so much to do and it's so daunting but it's so very exciting," Mr Mobbs said.

The nation's winemakers have faced challenge after challenge this year, beginning with the 'black summer' bushfires.

With recent announcements regarding China's importation of Australia wines, the industry has faced another significant blow.

"We're a very niche business, we're not really set up to compete with the big companies," Ms Wallington said.

"Obviously what's happening in China is worrying for our whole industry and it probably will affect us down the track, but there won't be a direct effect immediately."

Whatever happens next, Ms Wallington and Mr Mobbs are certain they will be able to face it together.

At least, it's how they've faced every other challenge that's come their way since they first made each other's acquaintance at Charles Sturt University in Wagga.

They each completed Bachelor of Wine Science degrees at the university. Mr Mobbs started in 2005 and finished in 2008, while Ms Wallington completed the course between 2007 and 2010.

"We met at uni while doing our wine courses and kept in touch since when we were both travelling around," Ms Wallington said.

"We'd had similar experiences so we connected on that and then in 2014, we both got jobs in Orange. Now we're buying a property together, setting up a business and getting married.

"They say you meet someone at church, school or uni, so it was bound to happen."

While the nature of their relationship has changed significantly since their first meeting, their passion for life on the land has remained a constant.

"When I went to CSU to study, I didn't realise [winemaking] was such a worldly thing, but there is a whole world to winemaking," Mr Mobbs said.

"I loved the culture, the history, the science, the travel. It encompasses so much of the world. But as I've gotten older, now it's the vineyard that I love. Being outdoors, I love having a job where I can be outdoors with the aroma of it all.

"Then there's the wine itself, you can delve into that glass and talk for hours about just one wine."