Vineyards
HUNTER VALLEY
Located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, 160km north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley has a warm and humid climate, with 750 mm annual rainfall concentrated over the vintage months of mid January to early March. However, the heat is tempered by afternoon cloud cover and weak sea breezes. Heat degree days total 2070, and Mean January temperature is 22.7. The soil varies widely from friable red duplex soils through to deep friable loam soils.
Major Varieties: Semillon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Late January to early March
TUMBARUMBA
Which winegrowing region has no wineries and no cellar doors of any consequence but has about 8oo hectares of vines? Here, few vineyard owners have a wine brand of their own but its grapes are in demand for ultra-premium wines made by Australia’s biggest and some of Australia’s smallest wine companies. The place is Tumbarumba: one of New South Wales newest, highest-potential but least talked-about grape growing areas.
Located off the beaten track, heavily forested and at an altitude ranging between 500 and 950 metres, lies one of Australia's coolest and most picturesque vineyard regions. The alpine climate is perfect for the production of premium quality wine and top end sparkling wine.
This remote, cool climate region is one of the highest in New South Wales. The vineyards are planted in the foothills of the Australian Alps, with 985mm annual rainfall spread evenly throughout the year. Heat degree days total 1010, and Mean January temperature is 19.3. Soil types vary across the region from fertile basalt to soils formed from the ancient granite rock dominating the region. It is a region ensconced in the lore of high country grazing, gold digging and the engineering feats of the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme. The wine industry in contrast is a very modern tale, beginning in 1983 when Juliet Cullen and Ian Cowell planted Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc in the Maragle Valley. The mid 90’s saw the region's biggest expansion of vineyard development with nearly thirty vineyards producing grapes for sparkling and premium wines.
Location: Southern New South Wales, 100km South-West of Canberra
Altitude: 500-900m
Climate: Cool - One of the coolest and highest wine regions in Australia, with 985mm annual rainfall spread evenly throughout the year. Heat degree days total 1010, and Mean January temperature is 19.3
Soils: Decomposed granite and basalt
Major Varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Harvest time: Late March to May
HILLTOPS
The Hilltops region is one of Australia's most exciting viticultural regions. Cool climate conditions allow for the production of deeply rich Cabernet Sauvignon, complex Shiraz, and a growing number of exciting alternative varieties.A region to watch with great interest.
The Hilltops Region centres on the town of Young famous for its cherries. The first vines were planted in the 1860s by Croatian immigrant Nichole Jaspprizza with the express purpose of supplying grog to diggers on the surrounding goldfields. More family joined him in later years to work his extensive vineyards and orchards. The modern era began in 1969 when Peter Robertson planted vines and produced his own wine on his property Barwang. Other vineyards followed in the 1970s. The region is planted with small parcels of interesting grape varieties including Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Zinfandel. Not surprisingly cherry liquor is produced here. Vines are grown at an elevation between 450 and 600m on a mix of deep gravelly red soils, basalt and sandy granite derived soils. The climate is continental, cool and dry with snow in winter and annual rainfall of 650 mm occurring from mid spring to mid autumn. Heat degree days total 1880, and Mean January temperature is 22.5.
Harvest takes place during late March to May.
Hilltops
Location: Southern New South Wales, 100km West of Canberra
Altitude: 250-450m
Climate: Hot - A continental climate with substantial diurnal temperature variation, annual rainfall of 650 mm mainly in the spring. Heat degree days total 1880, and Mean January temperature is 22.5
Soils: Rich and deep, typically dark red granitic clays impregnated with basalt.
Major Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz
Harvest time: Late March to May
