Victoria
Main grapes: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Muscat, Cabernet Sauvignon
Sub-regions: Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Bendigo, Central Victoria, Geelong, Gippsland, Glenrowan, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote, Henty, King Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, North East Victoria, North West Victoria, Port Phillip, Pyrenees, Rutherglen, Strathbogie Ranges, Sunbury, Upper Goulburn, Western Victoria, Yarra Valley
Climate: In the south, Victoria enjoys a little respite from the heat thanks to the cooling influence of the Bass Strait that divides Victoria from Tasmania – here Yarra Vallet and Mornington Peninsula make some of the state’s most famous wines. However, Central Victoria has little in the way of any moderating influences, so combined with the flat topography this flat, dry area has a tendency to produce super rich and fruity wines. Moving westward, the Grampians and Pyrenees regions are at a fair altitude, so like the southern vineyards they produce wines more typical of a cooler region.
You should know…Victoria comes in third in terms of productivity for Australia’s wine regions, which is somewhat surprising given its enormous size. However, due to a lack of irrigated areas that are actually viable for mass production and an in-built regional philosophy of quality over quantity, smaller boutique wineries are very common here. Victoria is also home to some of Australia’s most sought-after dessert wines, particularly the fortified Muscat and Topaque wines produced in Rutherglen and Glenrowan.
Sub-regions: Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Bendigo, Central Victoria, Geelong, Gippsland, Glenrowan, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote, Henty, King Valley, Macedon Ranges, Mornington Peninsula, North East Victoria, North West Victoria, Port Phillip, Pyrenees, Rutherglen, Strathbogie Ranges, Sunbury, Upper Goulburn, Western Victoria, Yarra Valley
Climate: In the south, Victoria enjoys a little respite from the heat thanks to the cooling influence of the Bass Strait that divides Victoria from Tasmania – here Yarra Vallet and Mornington Peninsula make some of the state’s most famous wines. However, Central Victoria has little in the way of any moderating influences, so combined with the flat topography this flat, dry area has a tendency to produce super rich and fruity wines. Moving westward, the Grampians and Pyrenees regions are at a fair altitude, so like the southern vineyards they produce wines more typical of a cooler region.
You should know…Victoria comes in third in terms of productivity for Australia’s wine regions, which is somewhat surprising given its enormous size. However, due to a lack of irrigated areas that are actually viable for mass production and an in-built regional philosophy of quality over quantity, smaller boutique wineries are very common here. Victoria is also home to some of Australia’s most sought-after dessert wines, particularly the fortified Muscat and Topaque wines produced in Rutherglen and Glenrowan.
