Emergency Info Victoria's Most Exciting Wine Region
Information thanks toThe Upper Goulburn Winegrowers Association
The Upper Goulburn wine region stretches from Tallarook to Mansfield and Marysville to Merton. It is unified by its main river, the Goulburn River, and its topography, which is generally hilly rising to Mt Buller and the Great Dividing Range in the east. It is a uniquely pristine area of mountains and rivers, and the first choice of Melbournians for relaxation and adventure on weekends and holidays.
The wineries of the Upper Goulburn make a visit all the more exciting. This is a super-premium wine-producing area. Yields are low, the soil ancient, gravelly and contain lots of minerals, and the cool climate produces fine, stylish, wines with elevation being the key determinant of style. The many gold medals gained for the region's wines are for white wines as well as reds. The whites range through crisp, tangy, herbal, sauvignon blanc, elegant, aromatic riesling and pinot gris to spicy gewurztraminer. Chardonnay is usually refined, stylish, and often European in character.
For the connoisseur, cool climate red wines are an adventure in themselves. They're never like "peas in a pod" but vary marvelously with vineyard attitude, orientation and soil. The pinophile will find wine styles vary from perfumed and elegant to full bodied. The merlots have character, while cabernet is fruity and delicious. Accolades have been received for Upper Goulburn Shiraz, their many awards and gold medals making a thorough examination of all the offerings well worthwhile.
Along with the superb wines the area is noted for stunning scenery. The Upper Goulburn is overflowing with natural assets - beautiful mountains for skiing in winter and bushwalking in summer, waterfalls, an extensive river system, national parks and nature trails. It is a region that caters for nearly every activity. And the towns are famous - Marysville has been a favorite for weekenders for centuries, and all Australians know about Banjo's ..."colt from Old Regret" that got away at Mansfield, the town that Ned Kelly made famous.
The Upper Goulburn is a diverse, super premium, wine region, where most of the vineyards are planted at elevations of between 300 and 500 metres, and are often blanketed with snow in winter. Here the cool climate and frequent frosts keep yields low thus concentrating flavour and contributing complexity. Chardonnay is the major white wine of the region. It has considerable weight and richness, showing flavours of stone fruit, nectarine, citrus, and melon. The riesling and gewürztraminer wines are superbly elegant and aromatic, while the sauvignon blanc is tangy, crisp and racy.
The red wines are refined and textured, with complex cool climate flavours sometimes reminiscent of Europe. Pinot noir is popular with different styles from strawberry and cherry flavours on the higher slopes, to the richer plum flavours lower down. The shiraz wines have reached a high standard and regularly win medals. They are fine, perfumed, elegant, and represent great value. The region also produces some remarkable sparkling wines. The Upper Goulburn Wine Region is a exciting to explore for wines that are interesting, diverse, and very good value.
