Central Victoria

Guide to the Central Victoria Region

Victoria may be Australia’s cool-climate wine state, but it turns out some killer big reds, too. Central Victoria is inland enough and flat enough to be hotter and drier than most of the state. The reds reflect this with their muscular tannins and ripe, full-bodied character. Reds here are mostly Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, though many winemakers are playing around with Italian varieties these days. The region’s whites include Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, both of which can show a mineral quality on certain sites with soils rich in quartz.

Central Victoria includes the regions of Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote, Strathbogie Ranges, and Upper Goulburn Heathcote is the most significant of these regions, and it’s known for its rich, red Cambrian soils and acclaimed Shiraz.