Heathcote Wine Region

The Heathcote Wine Region in Central Victoria is located about an hour's drive north of Melbourne. It is noted for its Shiraz, but many winemakers are taking a much broader view of its potential for producing quality wines from a wide range of varieties.

Two outstanding producers of red wines can be found in this region; both produce wines which border on cult status. Jasper Hill to the north of the township and Wild Duck Creek to the south. This latter winery is the producer of "Duck Muck" which has acquired cult status in North America (and a price tag to match).

The Heathcote Wine Region adjoins the Bendigo Region and enjoys a similar, but slightly cooler climate. A unique feature of the region which many commentators mention is the soils which have developed on ancient Cambrian rocks. In fact Heathcote sits on a geological fault line and there are many different soil types originating from an complex local geology. The undulating topography has generated a variety of microclimates suitable for viticulture.

Like many wine regions the history of this region extends back to the gold era of the middle to late nineteenth century. In the 1960s the modern era began with small wineries around the township of Heathcote. Since the 1990s the area to the east of the Mt Camel Range has seen large scale development by larger companies. As well as the wineries listed below, Brown Brothers has a large presence in the region; they are trialling quite a number of varieties in a nursery block.

Wine varieties in the Heathcote Wine Region

The region seems best suited to red wine varieties, but considerable success is being achieved with the Rhone Valley white wine varieties Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne.

Like many red wine growing areas in Australia, the Heathcote region favours Shiraz. But there is also considerable interest in Petit Verdot, Sangiovese and Tempranillo. The warmish climate enables all of these varieties to ripen fully and express their varietal character.

One winemaker in the Heathcote Region thinks that the region will make better Petit Verdot than Shiraz. Time will tell, but we can be sure that some very exciting wines from alternative varieties will be made here over the next few years.

Some of the wineries in the Heathcote Wine Region using alternative wine grape varieties are:

Visiting Heathocte wine region

Many of the wineries listed above have cellar doors open for wine tasting and sales. A few have restaurants or cafes, especially on weekends.

You make a wine tour to Heathcote from Melbourne as a daytrip, or make an overnight stay in some of the accommodation options such as farmstays or B&Bs. This allows you to enjoy the picturesque undulating landscapes without rushing.

You could also include a visit to Heathcote wineries when you visit the adjacent Nagambie Lakes, Bendigo or Macedon Ranges Wine regions.

Here is a map of the wineries in the region