Considered one of the world’s great wine tasting designations, Victoria is home to 22 wine regions, each with their own rich growing and drinking traditions. This week, we take a look at seven of the biggest regions and the unique wines they produce.
Mornington Peninsula
The brisk sea breeze which runs through this cool climate wine region produces fresh tasting and well rounded wines. Signature wines in the region include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, and a rich, fruity Chardonnay that makes for very easy drinking.
Yarra Valley
Victoria’s most well known and accessible wine region, the Yarra Valley is a scenic delight with wines that resonate with touring and local connoisseurs alike. There are dozens of wineries in the Yarra Valley which offer delightful sparkling wines from their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes, in addition to their traditional table varieties.
Macedon Ranges
By far the coolest of Victoria’s wine regions, the Macedon Ranges offer the perfect grape growing conditions and the result is a diverse range of wines which run the gamut from light and elegant whites through to bold, well rounded reds. Sparkling wines are also a specialty in this region and come in both Chardonnay and Riesling varieties.
Goldfields
Red wine is absolutely the order of the day in the Goldfields region with varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon being prized for their sophisticated, spicy flavours. The diverse range of microclimates present in this region mean that a wide variety of grapes can be grown, so whites and sparkling wines from this region such as Chardonnay, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc are also beginning to gain recognition.
The Murray
Known as Victoria’s largest grape growing region, the warm and sunny climate in this area produces popular table wines such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Gippsland
One of Victoria’s less developed wine regions, the vast Gippsland region (including Phillip Island) is scattered with a handful of small family wineries. Notable products from this region include bold Chardonnays, and southern Pinot Noirs which are considered to be amongst the best in the country.
Goulburn Valley
Characterised by fluctuating temperatures and an abundance of irrigation sources, the Goulburn Valley is home to some of Victoria’s oldest wineries, which were originally set up in the 19th century to satisfy the thirst of gold diggers in the region. Known for big reds such as Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as aromatic whites like Marsanne and Riesling.
Melbourne on the Move offer a Mornington Peninsula tour that encompasses some of the regions best wineries. To book seats aboard one of our custom coffee coaches for a day on the Mornington Peninsula, please call 1300 55 86 86.