A red heart
Nestled between mountain ranges in the heart of Central Victoria, the Heathcote wine region is premium red wine country. The gentle slopes and rich red soils of this temperate region produce red wines including Shiraz, Grenache, Tempranillo, Sangiovese and Nero D’Avola.
Less than two hours’ drive north of Melbourne, the town of Heathcote sprung up during Victoria’s gold rush in 1851. Surrounding the town is unspoilt countryside and national parks, including the largest remaining Box-Ironbark forest in Victoria. At night, this regional retreat becomes a stargazer’s dream. It’s clear, dark skies and uninterrupted starry views have made it a favoured destination for budding astronomers.
You’ll also find more than 70 vineyards and 40 wineries, most of which are small, family-owned affairs. Over the past 15 years or so, a handful of major players have moved in to take advantage of the climate and soils that produce such outstanding grapes. But these big names don’t have a cellar door, so the wines you taste and buy will likely come from intimate cellar doors, where you’ll often get to talk directly to the winemaker.
Foundation and revival
Vines were first planted in the Heathcote wine region by German settler Henning Rathjen soon after Heathcote town was established – and his descendants continue to grow grapes today at Hennings Vineyard. The end of the gold rush kept the region’s wine community quiet until the 1960s, when Heathcote was discovered by Melbournians in search of a weekend retreat, and a group of winemakers breathed new life into the wine scene.
Two of these vignerons were Ron and Elva Laughton who harvested their first vintage in Heathcote in 1982. Since then they’ve set themselves apart as innovators, over time they’ve been recognised as leaders of Australia’s minimal intervention wine movement in the vineyard and winery. Today it’s a family affair at Jasper Hill with Ron and Elva joined by their two daughters Emily and Georgia. From grape to glass they hand craft a diverse range of exceptional wines that showcase the unique Heathcote soil and climate to universal acclaim.
Several decades after the Laughtons’ first vintage, in 2008, the well-respected Chalmers wine family bought 80 hectares of farmland, transforming it into a thriving vineyard. Taking advantage of the diversity of soils and slopes, they grow 24 grape varieties and continue to experiment with wines grown in different blocks and soil types within the vineyard. They also have a grapevine nursery and sell emerging grape varieties from their collection to be planted in vineyards across Australia.
Diversity on the rise
Heathcote is arguably best known for its premium Shiraz, which features bold flavours, purity and excellent ageing potential. The region’s ancient, red-hued Cambrian soils are deep and fairly arid, which means the vines don’t over produce fruit, resulting in small berries with concentrated flavour. Those berries produce well-balanced, intensely flavoured wines.
But Shiraz success isn’t the only wine story here. In recent years, Heathcote winemakers have been making a mark with Mediterranean varieties too, including vibrant reds such as Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Nero D’Avola and Malbec, and full-flavoured whites like Fiano and Vermentino. In a region unbound by centuries of tradition, winemakers aren’t afraid to test new ideas – and this innovative spirit and down-to-earth approach is helping to set the Heathcote wine region apart.
