Ferruginous red wines

fer·ru·gi·nous adj.
1. Associated with or containing iron. 2. Having the color of iron rust; reddish-brown.

This wonderful word is used to describe the red wines from this region. The allusion to iron implies that the wines are an ideal tonic for anaemic or 'thin-blooded' people. They used to be marketed as such. The wines certainly used to be very dense in colour and had a very high tannin, if not iron, content.

Glenrowan is a much smaller region than its neighbor, and there are merely a handful of wineries here. The emphasis is on quality, rather than quantity. The region is justly famous for its fortified Muscats an Tokays. Unfortunately the name Tokay will be phased out. The wine is made from Muscadet grapes, but a new standard name has not been determined.

The soil is largely derived from the eroding granite of the Warby Ranges and hence deep and well drained. Vineyards thus require little or no irrigation. The warm climate allows ripening of late maturing red wine varieties, and while the scene is currently dominated by Shiraz, there is plenty of scope for other varieties.

Glenrowan wineries using alternative grape varieties are

• Judds Warby Range Estate Durif
• Goorambath Orange muscat, Pinot gris, Tannat, Verdelho
• Taminick Cellars Alicante Bouchet, Durif, Trebbiano
• Bailey's of Glenrowan Muscadelle
• Morrisons of Glenrowan Durif, Fiano, Garganega, Tempranillo, Viognier, Zinfandel

A wine tour of the Glenrowan wine region is easily made from Melbourne, just a couple of hours drive away.

But it may be more interesting to take a couple of days. You can stay at the Kelly Country Motel Glenrowan or you can stay in nearby Wangaratta. More info

The rural City of Wangaratta is the nearby, and a short detour on your way to the wine regions of Rutherglen, King Valley, Beechworth or the Alpine Valleys will be well worthwhile.

The Warby Ranges State Park offers excellent bushwalking and nature related activities.

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