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Geelong Wine region

Geelong Wine Region is located about an hours drive to the South West of Melbourne, Victoria.

A brief History

Geelong was a premium wine region in the Victorian Gold Rush Era from the middle of the 19th Century. Like several other Victorian wine regions during that time there were several Swiss vignerons who had an influence on the region.

Then in 1875 the wine louse Phylloxera was discovered at Fyansford in this region and all the vines were removed in a vain attempt to stop the pest.

The vineyards were not replanted, primarily for economic reasons. Demand for Australian table wine was in the doldrums for the next eighty years, and there was more money to be made from other agricultural industries.

From a wine point of view, Geelong was a forgotten area for the best part of a century.

In 1973 Len Evans compiled the Australia and New Zealand Complete Book of Wine. This was the definitive book about Australian wine in the 1970s. The only mention of vineyards in the "Geelong area" in that book referred to plantings at Drumburg, near Portland, hundreds of kilometres west of Geelong. But in fact the revival of fortunes had started in the late 1960s with the establishment of the Anakie vineyard and the Idyll vineyard.

Lethbridge Winery in the Geelong Wine Region. Photo: Lethbridge Wine

The revival

After nearly a century, the Australian wine industry was revived, and the Geelong region is now starting to regain its reputation. The climate is cool and many of the vineyards, particularly those on the Bellarine Peninsula, benefit from a cooling maritime influence during summer and autumn.

Most Geelong region wineries are of boutique scale. Pinot gris is the most common alternative variety, perhaps reflecting the penchant for Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio in the region and because vignerons saw the success that this variety is having in the Mornington Peninsula just across the Port Philip Bay.

Over the past few decades the fortunes of the region have gradually improved, but there has never been quite the same excitement generated by the revival of the Yarra Valley region on the other side of Melbourne.

A reader's question about Geelong region

A reader has asked about suitable Italian varieties to grow in the Geelong Region.

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Alternative varieties in The Geelong Region

Austin's Wines Prosecco
Banks Road Malbec, Sangiovese
Barwon Ridge Wines Marsanne
Bromley Nebbiolo
By Farr Gamay
Ceres Bridge Estate Nebbiolo, Tempranillo
Curlewis Arneis
Del Rios Marsanne, Tempranillo
Dinny Goonan Family Estate Malbec
Domlina Savagnin, Tempranillo
Grassy Point Coatsworth Wines Cabernet Franc, Malbec
Lethbridge Wines Aglianico, Fiano, Greco, Lagrein, Malbec, Meunier, Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Zinfandel
Livewire Wines Arinto
Provenance Wines Nebbiolo
Rowsley Fault Vineyards Gamay, Graciano, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Zinfandel
Santa & d’Sas Fiano, Prosecco, Sangiovese
Shadowfax Vineyard and Winery Cinsaut, Nebbiolo, Mondeuse, Roussanne, Sangiovese
Terindah Estate Zinfandel
The Minya Winery Gewurztraminer
Vinous Australia Tempranillo
Waybourne Trebbiano

Updated 30 Nov 2021

VisitinG the Geelong Wine Region

Planning a wine tour of the Geelong wine region is easily done. You can visit the region en route to Victoria's Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road.

While the region can be visited as a day trip from Melbourne there are plenty of accommodation and fine dining options that could induce you to stay for an extra day or two.

Use the search box below to find the best options for accommodation in the region.

An Offer from our online Wine Shop Partner

Med Red offer. Includes two bottles of each of six wines, different producers, different regions, different alternative varieties and blends. Plus a bonus bottle. All at an affordable price.

Details here