BALLARAT
Synonymous with the gold-rush era of Victorian history, Ballarat remains a robust region and its wineries are gaining attention for pinot noir and chardonnay in particular. Although steeped in history, with an impressive architectural backdrop reminding visitors of its rich past, Ballarat is certainly contemporary when it comes to its wining and dining scene, making the area is a hot destination for foodies and wine lovers.
The cooler climate in Ballarat lends itself to delicate pinot noir, distinctively spicy shiraz and the light-straw hues of chardonnay. The vineyards offering these classic Ballarat styles are generally within 30-45 minutes of the Ballarat CBD, approximately within the area north of Meredith and Rokewood, and south of Daylesford and Clunes.
> VISIT BALLARAT WINERIES
Pyrenees
Explore Victoria’s stunning Pyrenees mountain range, where the vineyards nestled at the bottom of rolling foothills provide incredibly inspiring outlooks.
Less than a two-hour drive from Melbourne, this small-but-bright wine region gives travellers the idea they’re in a scaled-down version of the similarly named range joining France and Spain. The rocky landscape with gnarled vines not only looks great through a camera lens, but the region promises wanderers the chance to take some time out at neat picnic locations or on a bushwalk.
The Pyrenees is not only about sweeping vistas, but also rich-red wines, fresh whites and sparkling wines. With its long farming- and wine-growing history, and its backdrop of undulating hills and rugged landscapes, this western Victorian area offers a diverse and exceptional wine experience.
> VISIT PYRENEES GRAPEGROWERS & WINEMAKERS ASSOCIATION
Grampians
The striking natural landscape of the Grampians, with its forested foothills and rocky mountain ranges, is one reason this Victorian destination attracts droves of visitors each year. Adding to that appeal is an intriguing wine region with historic cellars and award-winning wines – a Grampians wine tour promises plenty of rewards. It might be a three-hour drive from Melbourne, but there are so many reasons to visit this beautiful region.
This cooler climate wine region experiences warm, dry summers with a moderating influence from the distant Southern Ocean, and mild, sunny autumns that are ideal for harvesting grapes. A long, slow ripening period, elevated and sloping vineyard sites, hardy, older-vine material, and the marginal Grampians weather produce low-yielding, character-filled grapes. The result is distinctive wines with intensity and elegance.
> VISIT GRAMPIANS WINEMAKERS
Henty
Henty may have built its fame on merino sheep and the wool industry, but today it’s an equally sweet spot for sampling premium wines.
Travellers seizing the longer route for an extended adventure along the Great Ocean Road will be well rewarded with a stopover in the Henty wine region. The township itself doesn’t boast an enormous population or infrastructure, but what it lacks in residential size, it makes up for in the elegant vintages annually produced. The plantings are considered part of the coolest inland climates of any Australian wine region, which is why varieties such as riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir thrive here, with comparable growing seasons to Germany’s Rhine Valley and France’s Burgundy.
Like most of western Victoria, the undulating terrain and extended country plains make for incredibly relaxing scenery, promising an experience worth the detour. Henty provides the same gilt as other wine-focused getaways.
> VISIT HENTY WINE REGION
