Australia's smallest mainland state, Victoria, is a dynamic and diverse wine producer with 21 distinct regions marked by climate and terroir.
Wine production in Victoria, on the southeast coast of Australia, dates back more than 170 years. With its ancient soils and distinct climates, Victoria is home to more regions and innovative wineries than any other state on the continent. From picturesque mountains to beautiful coastlines and welcoming towns, the state's 21 regions – spanning 227,444 square kilometres – encourage winemakers to push boundaries with experimentation to meet the changing demands and curiosity of wine enthusiasts.
With more than 800 estates – each known for its creativity and exceptional-quality wine – and almost 3,000 winegrowers, Victoria boasts Australia’s largest concentration of small, family-owned wineries, offering a broad range of wine styles ranging from Yarra Valley Chardonnay and Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir to Heathcote Sangiovese, King Valley Pinot Grigio, and Rutherglen fortified wines.
Central Victoria – from the Grampians to the Pyrenees
Covering the Victorian Highlands, Central Victoria encompasses the regions of Ballarat, Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote, Macedon Ranges, Pyrenees, Strathbogie Ranges, Sunbury, and Upper Goulburn. Known for its diverse microclimates and fertile volcanic soils, this area, which benefits from sunny days and cool nights that promote slow ripening, is celebrated for its unique Shiraz, each region offering its own expression.
The Macedon Ranges is Australia's coolest mainland wine region. It produces bold and balanced Shiraz, bursting with spice, red and black fruits, and hints of French oak, whilst Bendigo produces deep, full-bodied and elegant Shiraz and Heathcote's calcium-rich soils create rich and velvety wines. The Goulburn Valley enjoys a climate moderated by inland water, yielding ripe, fruity Shiraz, and the Grampians' granite and quartz soils are perfect for elegant, peppery wines.
However, the region is not just limited to Shiraz; it also offers some outstanding other varietals. For example, family-owned wineries in The Grampians have been producing an array of award-winning cool climate wines for over 150 years. Shared knowledge passed down through the generations has resulted in a catalogue of wines ranging from the familiar to the innovative, from uniquely Australian sparkling Shiraz to vibrant Riesling.
Coastal Victoria: Geelong, Mornington Peninsula & Gippsland
The coastal region in Victoria stretches 750 kilometres of Australia's coastline and is perched on South Australia’s most Southern edge, wrapping around Melbourne. With a history dating back 200 years, the area encompasses Geelong, Mornington Peninsula, and Gippsland, and boasts 261 wineries, many of which are celebrated for their outstanding Pinot Noir. This location on the cool southeast maritime corner of Australia provides the ideal ripening conditions for this delicate and seductive grape, resulting in fresh, pristine, diverse, layered, subtle and complex Pinots. However, the region is increasingly getting recognition for its Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Shiraz, and Sangiovese.
A sizeable region, Geelong's winemaking dates back to the mid-1850s and today is home to 150 vineyards and 60 wineries. Geelong is classified as a ‘cool climate’ wine region, inherently providing an extended ripening period. This, coupled with a rich ‘terroir’, similar to Bordeaux and Burgundy, makes for a winning combination. A particularly rare and unique feature of the Geelong wine region is the fact that all wineries are family-owned and operated, and there are no corporates.
The Mornington Peninsula is best known for its medium-bodied, dry wines, especially Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. Vines were first planted in the late 1800s, gaining international acclaim before setbacks in the early 1900s. In the 1970s, revitalisation efforts brought back Pinot Noir cultivation. Today, the region thrives with small, family-owned wineries, including the award-winning Paringa Estate, which has consistently turned out some of Australia’s top Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and cool-climate Shiraz for 40 years.
Less known than the others, yet twice the size of Wales, Gippsland has winemaking roots in the 19th century. The region is known for its premium wines and is considered one of Australia's most pristine wine regions. It offers many different microclimates producing wine styles with structure and elegance. Although many other varieties are in the ground, the region’s strengths shine through with aromatic white wines, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Rutherglen, the Home of Muscat
Located 294 km north of Melbourne and stretching over 411 hectares, the Rutherglen wine region runs alongside the Murray River and has produced wine since the 1850s. Today, Muscat of Rutherglen is considered an Australian treasure. This unique fortified dessert wine is made from the Muscat à Petits Grains Rouge variety and is aged in oak barrels to deliver a wine with a rich smooth texture and intense raisin, toffee and butterscotch flavours.
The first vines were planted by Lindsay Brown in 1851 at Gooramadda, leading to the region's expansion. Many of the original winemaking families still reside in Rutherglen to this day, with the oldest dating back to 1858.
In addition to its namesake grape, the region also produces wines made with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Durif, and boasts a dazzling array of emerging and new-wave Portuguese, Spanish and Southern Italian varieties.
Yarra Valley: Victoria’s most famous wine region
Just an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is Victoria's oldest wine-growing region, with 160 wineries and 300 vineyards. First planted in 1838, it is known for its innovative winemakers who produce exceptional cool-climate wines.
The region features two main soil types: the northern side has grey to grey-brown, loamy sand to clay loam soils, while the southern side has fertile red volcanic soil. Chardonnay is the flagship white variety, celebrated for its complexity, while Pinot Noir represents 40% of production, offering diverse styles based on varying conditions.
Cabernet Sauvignon strengthened the industry in the 1960s, with top wines from mature, low-altitude vines benefiting from warm days and cool nights. Yarra Valley Shiraz stands out for its elegance and balance, though it accounts for less than 10% of production. The best Shiraz comes from old vines in warmer sites, achieving critical acclaim.
The Italian influence
The King Valley in the northeast of Victoria has one of the greatest concentrations of varieties of any wine region in Australia. An Italian bias reflects the region’s history, and it is often referred to as Australia’s home of Italian wine styles, which combine Italian heritage and cool climate viticultural styles to produce superb wines. The valley’s continental climate provides warm days and cool nights, influenced by the katabatic breeze that sweeps northward down the valley from the high country. A range of microclimates are available, from the slightly warmer valley floors to the bracingly cool upper slopes. This variance in elevation is why the King Valley region can produce such a wide range of wine styles.
The epicentre for the Glera variety and the hub of Prosecco in Australia, King Valley is famed for its outstanding Sangiovese, Nebbiolo and Barbera. Sangiovese is one of the Italian varieties which King Valley grape growers have planted with relish. The region now leads the way as Australia’s premier region for this red wine, a reputation that grows with every vintage, reflecting the great passion for creating wines to enjoy with good friends and food. The wine shows savoury, dark cherry flavours and earthy characters with fine tannins and cleansing acidity.
Despite its relatively small size, Victoria offers an unparalleled spectrum of wines, from table wines to bubbly and fortified wines, coupled with culinary experiences. The state's innovative wineries, many of which employ eco-friendly and sustainable practices, ensure that there is something for all wine enthusiasts to enjoy.
For more information about the diversity of Victorian wines, visit
winevictoria.org.au.
