In terms of the number of wineries Victoria is the leading state in Australia wine industry.
Australia’s wine regions are organised into zones and Melbourne is the centre of Port Phillip Zone. Within the zone are five wine regions, all within easy range of a day trip.
Mornington Peninsula
This region has a cool maritime climate. It is surrounded on three sides by the sea. After years of trying to grow Cabernet and Shiraz with mixed success many wineries have now decided to specialise in Chardonnay, Pinot Gris or Pinot Noir. Vineyards with more favoured locations on the peninsula do make excellent wines from Cabernet and Shiraz but the region is known for its diverse varieties.
Innovative winemaker Kathleen Quealy is credited with establishing this region as a suitable region for Pinot Gris at the T’Gallant winery during the 1990s. Also based on the Peninsula is Gary Crittenden who pioneered the use of Italian grape varieties including Arneis, Barbera and Sangiovese.
Now the region boasts scores of small wineries dotted through a picturesque landscape.
Yarra Valley
Here is arguably Australia’s premium cool climate region. It is planted to a range of varieties including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These are used to make varietal wines and also premium sparkling. The ideal conditins for this type wineof attracted the attention of Moet & Chandon the world’s largest champagne producer. They make sparkling wine at their Yarra Valley winery under the Domain Chandon label.
There are over a hundred wineries in the region producing a range of styles using varieties including Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon blanc.
Sunbury
This region occupies the rolling plains just to the north of Melbourne. Its warmish dry climate is very suitable for the iconic Australian red wine variety Shiraz. This region is slowly emerging after a century of slumber after the Phyloxerra pest destroyed vineyards in the nineteenth century.
Macedon Ranges
Mount Macedon dominates the skyline to the north of Melbourne. These ranges are home to the coolest wine region in mainland Australia. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are used here to make sparkling wines. Other varieties used in the region include Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot for red wine production and Sauvignon blanc and Riesling for whites. The cool climate is reflected in the elegance and crispness of the red and white wines.
Geelong
South-west of Melbourne this region is less well known but is rapidly developing a reputation for fine wines at reasonable prices. Geelong was a thriving wine region in pre Phyloxera days and over the past couple of decades it has begun to reclaim its place among Victoria’s wine regions. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are the most common red varieties, while white wines are made from Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Riesling.
Enjoying Wine in the city
There is a growing and everchanging number of wine bars in Melbourne. A few in the city that you might try are Cookie, Jwow, Press Club, Punch Lane. Watson’s Wine Bar is a Melbourne institution. It is located in Carlton’s Lygon Street. Although Lygon street is noted as Melbourne’s ‘Little Italy’ Watson’s is a cut above the pasta and pizza places.
Melbourne is the acknowledged food capital of Australia. There are restaurants for every budget. Most have a licence to serve wine and an increasing number have a reasonable selection of Victorian wines by the glass.
Wine Events
Melbourne is very food and wine oriented. There are many events, festivals and markets throughout the year featuring regional wine and food specialties. Each month a Regional Showcase is held were visitors and locals can enjoy the wines from a particular Victorian wine region. This is an unrivaled opportunity to ‘visit’ up to thirty different wineries in the course of an evening stroll in Melbourne’s Federation Square.
