CentralVictoria">Victoria, as the name suggests, occupies the middle portion of the state's wine map. It is the most diverse of all Victorian wine zones in terms of the number of wine styles it is capable of producing.
Geographically speaking, Central Victoria is a relatively small zone in comparison to its neighbours, in Particular Big Rivers to the North. However the variable landscapes ranging from vast plains to moderately elevated terrains, Dense forests and the slopes of mountain ranges are attributed to the versatility of wine found here.
Unsurprisingly, some of the most recognizable names of the Australian wine industry have their vineyards in Central Victoria.
The zone is comprised of several regions and subregions. The large expanse of Goulburn Valley and Bendigo in the flatter northern part of the zone (on the border of NewSouthWales) have a warmer, drier Climate that is conducive to Rich, Heavy styles of wine. Here, Shiraz is king, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay providing other options for winegrowers.
The Strathbogie Ranges and Upper Goulburn areas are cooler due to their position among the mountains of the Great Dividing Range, and excel in more aromatic varieties like Riesling and Pinot Noir. Heathcote, on the western edge of the zone, is cooler thanks to the influence of the Mount Camel Range. These topographical variations mean particular grape varieties are suited to specific locations, as suggested by their GIs (Geographical Indications).
White Viognier is a grape variety that originated in France (Rhone Valley). It produces a variety of grape specially used for wine making. It is rare to find this grape to eat on our tables. This variety of grape is characterized by small bunches, and grapes of small size. White Viognier can be found in many vineyards: South West, Languedoc & Roussillon, Cognac, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley, Burgundy, Jura, Champagne, Savoie & Bugey, Provence & Corsica, Loire Valley, Beaujolais.
red wines from the region of Central Victoria go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or poultry such as recipes of cataplana with seafood, lamb confit with new potatoes or yassa chicken (senegal).
On the nose in the region of Central Victoria often reveals types of flavors of pepper, earth or vegetal and sometimes also flavors of dried fruit, tropical fruit or microbio. In the mouth in the region of Central Victoria is a powerful with a nice balance between acidity and tannins.
When I started my nomadic winemaking project, in 2018 at Niepoort Vinhos in Portugal’s Douro region, I had no idea how large a part Spain would go on to play – I certainly never intended to make it the locus of my project. So how did it happen? Yes, there was an element of chance and taking opportunities where they arose. But also, among the talented winemakers to whom I pitched collaborations, I sensed an openness and a readiness to collaborate which seemed particular to Spain. Held in June las ...
Flood concerns have continued to hit parts of Australia, with the country’s Bureau of Meteorology warning today (17 November) that ‘major flooding’ was ongoing in communities in New South Wales, as well as along a number of rivers in Victoria. In the wine world, there were were concerns that flooding of vineyards in Victoria last month is now being repeated at some New South Wales wineries after continued spring rain in the south-east of Australia. There was even flash flooding ...
The open letter, spearheaded by Wine Traders for Alternative Formats (WTAF), highlights the environmental impact of glass manufacturing and recycling. It notes that switching from glass to alternative formats could save ‘well over a third of the carbon footprint of wine consumed in the UK’ – the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road overnight. Alternative formats such as boxed wine, canned wine, kegs, paper bottles and pouches all have much a smaller carbon footprint than glass. Oliver ...
