North East Victoria">Victoria is one of six large wine zones in the Australian state of Victoria. The most famous style of wine to come from North East Victoria are the caramelly, Rich fortified wines from Rutherglen and Glenrowan. Full-bodied, Dry wines made from Shiraz are another specialty of North East Victoria.
The zone comprises five regions that have a diverse array of mesoclimates and terroirs.
The topography in the northeast corner of the state covers the western foothills of the Great Dividing Range, and vineyards sit among the mountains as well as on the plains. Higher altitudes in the Alpine and King Valleys lead to more Aromatic, Elegant wines – indeed King Valley is most famous for its Sparkling wines made from Glera, the traditional Prosecco grape variety. Beechworth, a small GI (Geographic Indication), is responsible for some of Australia's most prestigious red wines.
To the west, where the land flattens out toward the Goulburn Valley, the climate is warmer and drier.
Here, the land is dedicated to growing Muscat and Topaque (France's Muscadelle) alongside Shiraz, making Australia's most important style of fortified wine. Glenrowan and Rutherglen wines have a long history in the region, dating back to the Gold Rush of the mid-19th century, and are now found on wine lists across the world.
Pinot grigio is a grey grape variety mutated from Pinot Noir. It has its origins in Burgundy, where it is called pinot-beurot in reference to the colour of the grey robes worn by the monks of the region. Established in Alsace since the 17th century, pinot grigio was called tokay until 2007. It is made up of bunches of small berries that vary in colour from pink to blue-grey. It is particularly well suited to the continental climate because it is resistant to the cold in winter and to spring frosts. This variety also likes dry limestone soils with plenty of sunshine in the summer. pinot grigio is well suited to late harvesting or to the selection of noble grapes, depending on the year and the concentration of sugars in the berries. Pinot grigio wines are distinguished by their aromatic complexity of white fruits, mushrooms, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, etc., and their great finesse. In the Loire Valley, pinot grigio is used in the Coteaux-d'Ancenis appellations. It gives dry or sweet wines with pear and peach aromas.
