Melbourne
The second largest city in Australia, Melbourne is also one of the biggest
of the wine capitals, with a population of more than 3.5 million. It is
one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Australia. One in four Melburnians
was born outside Australia – not counting the first-generation Italians,
Greeks, Vietnamese and others whose languages, food and customs are now
part of Melbourne life.
Melbourne is regarded as one of the world’s most liveable cities,
thanks to its temperate climate, its exceptional parks and gardens, its
vibrant musical and cultural life, its world-renowned sporting events, and
its excellent food and wine. It is host to the Australian Open in January,
the Melbourne Grand Prix and the Food and Wine Festival in March, the
Comedy Festival in April, the Slow Food celebration in September, the
Melbourne Arts Festival in October, the Melbourne Cup Carnival in October
and November (the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s richest horse race, and
the entire country stops for it). There’s football in the winter,
cricket in the summer, food and wine throughout the year, and the
International Chamber Music Festival – regarded as one of the world’s
best – every four years.
It is the capital city of state of Victoria (population about 4.6
million, including Melbourne), the smallest mainland state and one of the
most productive in agricultural terms. It is not the largest wine
producing state, but it has more wineries than any other state, and more
recognised wine growing regions, each with its own Geographic Indicator.
There are winegrowing areas throughout Victoria – and there are five
distinct areas within 90 minutes’ drive of the central business
district.
Melbourne’s river is the Yarra, which rises about 90 kms to the east
and then snakes along for 245 kms to travel to the sea, providing for a
vast range of animal, botanical and human activity on the way. In the city
itself, there’s a long and informative promenade along its banks –
through Birrarung Marr, Melbourne’s newest parkland, whose name is in
the language of the indigenous Wurundjeri people (it means ‘bank of the
river of mists’). Follow the riverbank past the Flinders Street Railway
Station, along the business and restaurant developments of Southgate and
Crown Casino, the Aquarium, the Convention and Conference centre, and past
the Polly Woodside, the restored barque at the Melbourne Maritime Museum,
all the way to Docklands, the newest residential and commercial
development.
There’s an equally vibrant journey along the beach-side suburbs from
Port Melbourne through to the lively St Kilda, with its sea-baths and
great restaurants, to the swimming beaches of Elwood and Brighton.
Melbourne’s history as a city began in 1835, and its early planning
included the central distinctive grid pattern, as well as its parklands.
The laneways that link the main streets are a treasure trove of
restaurants, bars and cafés amid warehouses converted to apartments and
lively small shops.
When gold was discovered near Ballarat in 1851, it was the start of a
boom for Melbourne that lasted for decades. The wonderful public buildings
– the State Parliament, the former Treasury – and the historic
buildings within the city are a legacy of those great days when the city
was known everywhere as Marvellous Melbourne.
The first vineyards were planted in the Yarra Valley in 1838. In 1863,
a newspaper made a prophetic statement: “In a few years hence,
winegrowing will be the leading occupation throughout the colony, nor
shall we hesitate to enter into comparison with the wines of France, Spain
and Portugal.”
It took more than 130 years for cities in those countries to become
partners in the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
The wines
Melbourne is the gateway to Victoria’s diverse range of wineries and
vineyards. Victoria has 22 wine regions, and over 400 wineries, many of
them boutique producers. A considerable proportion of them can be found in
the five distinct wine areas that are within easy access of the city
itself.
The range of climates and microclimates results in enormous diversity
of varieties and styles. Smaller producers are often experimental,
planting new or emerging grape varieties. There are about 70 grape
varieties planted in Victoria’s wine regions.
In the maritime climate of the Mornington Peninsula, for example, where
pinot noir and chardonnay predominate, there is also sauvignon blanc,
riesling, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, pinot grigio, arneis, and a other
range of other varieties. Unlike the European wine capitals, there are no
indigenous grape wines. The Yarra Valley, known for its long-lived
cabernet sauvignon, is also a major producer of sparkling wine,
chardonnay, pinot noir, and shiraz. Some marsanne is also grown, although
the largest plantings in the world are in the Goulburn Valley, north of
Melbourne. Shiraz is grown throughout the State, from cooler regions to
the fuller-bodied style of Heathcote and the Pyrenees. Victoria also grows
a range of Italian varieties, partly because of vibrant Italian
communities throughout the state. In the north-east of Victoria, in the
Rutherglen area, there are also remarkable fortified wines made from
muscadelle and muscat grapes – some of the wines used in blending are 60
years old.
In 2006, Victoria produced about 270 million litres, about 15.5 per
cent of total Australian production. It has a higher proportion of the
total value, corresponding to quality. Red wines form the largest share of
exports, and the biggest export markets are the UK and the US.
See: Melbourne
Image Gallery
Contact: melbourne@greatwinecapitals.com
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