The Auswine Forum

Hi Good Peoples,

I am planning to visit Victoria in October for a week. Any suggestions for must not miss wineries (and for the bloody comedians out there pleassssee don't recommend those that specialise in c-though and Pinot!!)

Especially interested in the smaller guys that are not well known.

Many thanks in advance.

Ruc,

Sadly for you, at this stage most of the movement in recent time has been in the cooler climate varieties like Pinot and the odd white.

Beyond the well-known brands that you'd expect, there have been scattered movements in the Pyrenees/Bendigo areas although the emphasis here has tended to cater for high points out of 100 and the export market.

My recommendation would be to go for the classics and check out a couple of new players in each region. For example Berry's Bridge in Pyrenees and Clayfield in the Grampians.

Ric

You will obviously have to pass through Bendigo at some time. I have had some examples of the Waterwheel winery from there which came up very well.

Just a thought. I am looking forward to some samples when a young friend moves to this area.

Graham

If you plan to go to Craiglee (highly recommended), its best to ring through beforhand.

TORB,

Craiglee is a definite! And so is Shadowfax after my last visit, both of which are only 20-30 mins from the city (in opposite directions unfortunately).
The Yarra Valley has many but ones to include are Yering Station, Coldstream Hills & Oakridge.
Mornington Peninsula also is full but I suggest Dromana Estate, Stoniers amongst others.
As for the Goulburn Valley, Mitchelton and Tahbilk are certainties and both close to each other.
With regards to the Bendigo & Heathcote areas, I am heading up next week so will be able to give you more info then.
Enjoy!
Popov

Armstrong Vineyards (not open but give them a call) in the grampians. Tony Royal produces one wine, a shiraz, which i really like.

Seppelt Great Western

Best's

Dalwhinnie

are a few others

JWR

Osickas winery is a tiny non-irrigated family owned winery which is 30 years old. Think they sell just 2 wines: a yummy shiraz and delicious cab sav. Located in the Greytown area 3 minutes off the Nagambie-Heathcote road, so if visiting Tahbilk and Heathcote wineries you may well be driving (almost) past the winery.

Rick,
Pyrenees - Summerfield, Berry Bridge, Warrenmang
Heathcote - RedEdge, Wild Duck Creek, Whistling Eagle, Sanquine, McIvor.

deleted

Torb

Bailey's of Glenrowan. Rustic cellar door and shiraz.

Bannockburn/Craiglee. Moody but entertaining proprietors!

If you drive up to Bendigo Harcourt Valley and their Barbara's shiraz can be good. Bendigo?Heathcote obvious choices.

A night's drinking in the Grampians a must. Great place with regional wine and good food.

TORB,

If you are stopping in Rutherglen I would recommend that you try:

1. Jones for their Shiraz (only open on Fri/Sat/Sun I think at the moment)
2. Cofields for their Sparkling Shiraz if you like the bubbles.
3. Pfeiffers for there Cabneret, Shiraz, Merlot, VP and Tokay (my partner works here so I could be a bit bias).
4. Stanton and Killeen for their Muscats and VP and they also make a pretty good sparkling red which they have only started selling.

I guess if you like Duriff then Warrabilla and Morris should be on the agenda. There are obviously others you can visit for good fortifieds but these are my favorite cellar doors.

Ben

Hi Ric

Had an afternoon in the Yarra Valley a couple of years ago. Di Bortoli's worth a visit just for the Black Noble and their estate Cab's worth trying. Very touristy though. Coldstream Hills cellar door was in a tin shed - worth a visit for the cab, but like you, not a big fan of merlot nor pinot though tried both and thought them fine examples of the varieties.

Went to a few wineries in the Goulburn Valley. Mitchelton is worth a visit. If you've not been there before, don't miss Tahbilk - marvellous ambience (almost as big a word as dichotomy?) with access to the old cellars. Loved the undulating floorboards. If you do go there (again?) and get to try the 1998 1860s Vines, would be interested to read your TN.

Have fun!

daz

Ric,

was up at the Yarra Valley about 5 weeks ago, Coldstream was rather generous indeed, got to try reserve Merlot's & Cabernets from several vintages. Oh yeah and the PiNot & Cthroughdnay are also quite good.

Ric,

Do you like big reds?

NE Vic lesser known well worth the visit:-

Warabilla - Durif is brilliant

Andersons - Cab Sauv and Sparkling reds

Cofield - Sparkling Shiraz, Shiraz, forts

Pfieffer - A pinot even you might like

All Saints - A change of owners has been a breath of fresh air. Great durif, interesting ruby cabernet, good to excellent shiraz, and again a pinot you may like.

John Gehrig - Durif & forts

Fairfield - if they are still open & have stock. 97 Durif is a killer. VPs excellent.

Plus the usual Rutherglen/Glenrowan suspects.

Mornington, not worth the drive unless you want to try the 2 shiraz I found reasonable though poor value. The best cabernet was at Red Hill but the fruit was from elsewhere.

Great Western always worth the drive.

Torb

Having been an interested reader of your posts on various forums and occasional visiter of your web site i would suggest you stick to the central Victorian regions including Bendigo,Heathcote, Nagambie, Great Western and The Pyranees.

Whilst there are many good cool climate reds i'm not sure that a trip to the Yarra Valley, or either of the peninsula's would be worth the time if you only have 7 days particularly as many of the better reds produced in these areas are produced by winery's without cellar doors or not available for tasting if you do turn up.

If you decide to go to Heathcote only a few wineries have cellar doors that i'm aware of including Shadowfax, the Heathcote Winery and Munari and possibly Barnadown run however the nearby Bendigo region is much better served and may make a short detour to Hathcote worthwile.The Emou inn in Heathcote has good food and offers tastings of local selected wines as well.

It is then only a relatively short trip to the Great Western and Pyranees regions which i would think are absolute musts.You could also pick up Sunbury on the way to Melbourne fron any of these areas if this is on your itinerary.

As Per Davo: Pfieffer - A pinot even you might like

He could be right as it is pretty big pinot and quite savoury to my mind. The vines are old about 40 years so must be close to being the oldest on the mainland and are cropped at low levels. Providence in TAS say they have the oldest in the country with pinot planted in the 50's