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The areas surrounding Melbourne are renowned as some of
the major wine-producing areas in Australia. Within a couple of
hours drive of the city one finds sea-side resorts, gentle rolling hills
and higher snow-capped mountains, and the diversity of climate and
geography make for a wide range of fine wines.
The local wine regions have earned a reputation for
their world-class wines of an extraordinary diversity of style.
These range from some extraordinarily complex and intensely flavoured
shiraz wines and elegant cold-climate pinot noirs, to fruity chardonnays
and crisp sparkling wines.
A little further afield, the area around Rutherglen to
the northeast of Melbourne produces the uniquely Australian fortified
Tokays and Muscats.
The wine industry around Melbourne has some of the
longest established and some of the most technologically advanced and
innovative wineries in Australia.
Today nearly all wineries are very well set up for
visitors with cellar door tasting and purchasing opportunities.
From late October through to March there are wine
and food festivals all around the region. The city of Melbourne itself
is also host to several major international wine fairs and trade shows.
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