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.
A delegation of wine producers from Victoria’s King Valley met with members of the Australian parliament in Canberra to reinforce their campaign to maintain access to the Prosecco name. Their visit follows fresh talks between Australia and the EU on a possible free trade deal, which may impact who gets to use the term Prosecco for sparkling wines in the Australian market. A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Sydney Morning Herald that EU negotiato ...
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 ...
Inside the February 2023 issue of Decanter magazine: FEATURES Spain travel: glorious day trips for wine lovers Shawn Hennessey suggests 10 days out from five cities Rioja Gran Reserva: my top 20 Sarah Jane Evans MW’s selection Regional profile: Rías Baixas With Tim Atkin MW in Galicia Six from Spain: regions, dishes and wines A tour of gastronomic delights, with David Williams Catalonia’s exciting winemakers 14 names pushing winemaking boundaries, by Darren Smith Vintage preview: northern Rhôn ...
