Wine regions – Alpine Valleys
Alpine Valleys Victoria
The Alpine Valleys region of Victoria is known for the production of distinctive wine styles. Well structured Chardonnay, ripe Pinot Noir and rustic Shiraz can be found throughout the region.
Spring time in the Alps comes in a blaze
of golden wattle under Mt Feathertop
The Alpine Valleys is one of the most beautiful wine regions in Australia. Four valleys carved out by four rivers, the Ovens, Kiewa, Buckland and Buffalo begin as streams high up on the slopes of the Victorian Alps, part of the Great Dividing Range.
Most of the wineries and vineyards in the region centre round the upper reaches of the Ovens River that flows in a north-west direction through the Ovens Valley. The main towns are Myrtleford, Porepunkah and Bright. There is also a winery at Yackandandah to the north and vineyards along the Kiewa Valley Highway ascending to the east.
The centre piece of the region are the snow covered mountains – Mount Buffalo and Mount Beauty, famous ski resorts, Mount Feathertop and Mount Bogong the highest peak in Victoria at 1,986m. The towering mountains send cold air sweeping into the valleys making the region one of the coolest in Australia.
The valleys are fertile with alluvial soils deposited over ions by the rivers and creeks and range in elevation from 180 metres to 600 metres in altitude.
The region was first planted with grape vines in the 1850s, but development was stymied by the grape pest phylloxera and consumer disinterest in table wines. It was not until the late 1970s that the region began to re-focus on viticulture aided by another consumer revolt, this time against tobacco. Tobacco farmers, many of whom were of Italian descent, turned to viticulture. The region has not looked back since, with small vineyard holdings and wineries flourishing.
Although small in number the wineries of the region make an impressive range of wines. The mainstays are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. These are joined by wines of the Italian and Spanish varieties.
Michelini Wines, Gapsted, Tawonga, Boyntons and Eaglerange Estate produce between them fine examples of Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Marzemino, Sangiovese, Fragolino, (a strawberry flavoured dessert wine), Tempranillo, Saperavi and Durif.
Sparkling wines also feature. Annapurna Estate produce a Pinot Noir Chardonnay blend and Michelini Wines and Ringer Reef produce a sparkling Merlot.
The region also has a preservative free wine producer. Kancoona Valley Wines established by Joseph and Lena Birti in 1989 do not use sulfur dioxide in their wines which is good news for allergy sufferers.
The wines of the region are matched beautifully to the excellent food served in the region’s restaurants, such as the Tuscan inspired menu at Ceccanti. Please see right menu for restaurant listings.
Summer in the Alpine Valleys sees a
patchwork of greens – vines, native forest
and pine forests.
The success of the wine industry has also supported the development of the tourism industry in the region which caters to skiers, the fishing fraternity, cyclists and lovers of the outdoors.
Cellar doors, vineyard cafes and restaurants and accommodation have enlivened the fine food and wine cuture of the region.
This is very much on display in annual events such as the Alpine Valleys Gourmet weekend and Taste of Falls Creek both in January, and a spring and autumn festival in Bright.
A number of wineries also hold regular events throughout the summer; music at Annapurna Estate film nights at Gapsted Wines, and Boyntons Feathertop Winery has regular beer, wine and tapas nights.
It is such a beautiful region, that it is best to see it slowly – by bicycle along a rail trail which has numerous tracks off it giving you the opportunity to traverse the region and visit cellar doors along the way as well as the wonderful Mount Buffalo National Park between Myrtleford and Bright.
If you are travelling by car take the Great Alpine Road and the Kiewa Valley Highway.
Winter snow shrouds the vines
Harvest time: late March to late May
Sites with more information:
- AlpineLink Food & Wine
- Mt. Beauty
- North East Valleys, Victoria
- Pedal to Produce
- Murray to Mountains
Article by Caroline Colton
December 2008 – January 2009
© Wine Diva
