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Central Victorian High Country

Introduction
Region Summary
Principal Wine Styles

More information on tourism in Victorian wine regions.

Choose winery:   Select Option Antcliff's Chase Baarrooka Vineyard Cathedral Lane Wines Cheviot Bridge Delatite Dominion Wines Growlers Gully Henke Lost Valley Winery Maygars Hill Winery Melaleuca Grove Mount Cathedral Vineyards Murrindindi Penbro Estate Plunkett Rees Miller Estate Tallarook The Falls Vineyard

Introduction

While the name of this region may be new (previously the Strathbogie Ranges), and while there is no evidence of grape growing in the last century, many of its vineyards are well known. The three best known are Delatite, established in 1968, and Mount Helen, about 1975 (its first wine was made in 1979); Dominion Wines is the newcomer, commencing the planting of its 91-hectare vineyard in 1996, and erecting its large winery in 2000.

The three largest vineyards are Plunkett Wines (100 hectares), Dominion and Mount Helen (83 hectares). Next comes the 40-hectare vineyard of Domaine Chandon (established in 1994), then Delatite (24 hectares) and Murrindindi Vineyards (15 hectares).

While a relatively large region, it is unified by its elevation and by the hilly topography. Much of the region is above 300 metres, with peaks to 1800 metres, although most of the vineyards are planted between 300 and 500 metres.

Since 1990 six new vineyards have been established, and between 1992 and 1997 plantings are estimated to have increased by 300 per cent. It seems likely that this rate of growth will continue through to the year 2000 and beyond.

Overall, it is a premium to super-premium wine-producing area. Yields are significantly lower than (for example) those of the King Valley, and the cool climate produces generally fine wines. Much of the region is above 300 metres, with peaks to 1800 metres, although most of the vineyards are planted between 300 and 500 metres.

With the qualified exception of Delatite, which is on one of the ski routes for Victorians, it is off the beaten track for tourists, something which may ultimately prove to be one of its greatest strengths. As at July 2001 an application as a region was awaiting a determination by the Geographic Indications Committee.

by James Halliday