Victoria is a relatively small but important Australian wine state. Located in the Southeastern corner of the continent, with a generally cool, ocean-influenced Climate, Victorian wine is remarkably diverse, producing all sorts of wines and styles in different climates. In all, the state covers almost 250,000 square kilometres (over 90,000 square miles) of land (almost the same Size as the US state of Texas), well under a quarter the size of its western neighbour, South Australia, and less than a third the size of New South Wales to the North. As such, Victoria's size - and to some extent, the state's viticultural history - can defy generalization.
Climate and soils vary enormously, from the cool, positive Macedon Ranges just north of the state capital, Melbourne, to the alpine valleys of the Australian Alps in the east, to the vast, flat, Dry Murray Darling, shared with New South Wales in the North West Victoria Geographic Indicator (GI). Despite its vast size, North West Victoria has only the Murray Darling and Swan Hill as wine regions within its boundaries. The majority of regions are clustered in the south of the state, with most in an area radiating out from Melbourne for about 200km (130 miles), generally divided into five other GIs. Melbourne itself is located in the Port Phillip GI, based around the eponymous bay.
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.
white wines from the region of Victoria go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, spicy food or mushrooms such as recipes of blue cord, chicken massala or oven-baked turkey cutlets.
King Charles III’s coronation in Westminster Abbey on 6 May will make him the country’s 15th monarch to have reigned in the lifetime of Taylor’s Port, said the company, which was founded back in 1692. Taylor’s is releasing 1,500 bottles of ‘Very Very Old Tawny Port Coronation Edition’ via fine wine merchants to mark the first coronation in the UK for 70 years. It has a recommended retail price of £425-a-bottle. David Guimaraens, Taylor’s head winemaker, said, ‘The component wines for this ...
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 ...
Trade group Wine Australia delivered an estimate of 1.32 million tonnes for the overall vintage, which is 26% below the 10-year average. It is the lowest vintage recorded since 2000, and producers across the country reported that conditions were the most challenging in at least 20 years. Australia was hit by a third consecutive La Niña event, which led to the wettest year since 2011 and the coolest year since 2012. Relentless rainfall throughout the winter and spring across much of Southeastern ...
