With its world-class wines, rustic cellar doors and high-altitude scenery, the Macedon Ranges offers a unique wine experience less than an hour from Melbourne.
The Macedon Ranges is a wine region of hidden vineyards and passionate producers. More than 40 boutique wineries are scattered throughout lush elevated plains, where volcanic formations add interest to the striking landscape.
The focus here is on quality over quantity, and many wines are only available from the cellar door. The region’s quality ethos extends to the food – from award-winning restaurants to homegrown produce, perfect for a picnic at Hanging Rock.
Read on for more about the Macedon Ranges.
With its elevation and wind-chill factor, the Macedon Ranges is the coolest grape-growing region in mainland Australia. This climate allows it to produce high-quality wines but generally only in small numbers.
The Macedon Ranges is a diverse, mountainous region in country Victoria, encompassing several towns as well as parts of the Great Dividing Range and Central Victorian Highlands.
Temperatures don’t often climb high, with summers cool to warm and winters cold and wet.
Soils vary but most are relatively low-fertile mountain soils, typically granitic sandy loams.
This is the star performer, producing some of Australia’s best Pinot Noirs. They’re elegant wines that range from robust to lighter in style depending on weather conditions.
The region makes some of Victoria’s top Rieslings, known for their intense lime flavours and ability to age for many years. The region also produces sparkling Riesling wines.
These are elegant and full-flavoured wines that can often be aged for several years or more.
These wines are genuinely cool climate in style and add diversity to Australia’s Shiraz landscape. They’re distinctive with flavours of pepper and spice in the Macedon Ranges.