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.
Marsanne is a white grape variety that originated in Montélimar in the Drôme, several centuries ago. Marsanne is also found in Cassis, Savoie, Languedoc-Roussillon and Saint-Péray in the Ardèche, where it produces remarkable sparkling wines. The warm, sunny climate of the Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence, as well as the dry, stony soil, are ideal conditions for its development. Its bunches are quite large and provide small, juicy berries that are sensitive to grey rot and strong winds. These two grape varieties complement each other perfectly: together they give light wines with little acidity, aromas of yellow fruit, white fruit and flowers with notes of honey and liquorice. This is for example what the appellations Saint-Péray, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Côtes-du-Vallée du Rhône, Corbières, or Cassis express... which represent about 700 hectares.
