8 reasons to visit Melbourne wine
regions
- Over 500 wineries in 22 different regions with terroirs
ranging from maritime, to cool, high altitude and warmer inland
areas. Five wine regions are within 60 to 90 minute’s drive of
Melbourne, including the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula,
Macedon Ranges, Sunbury and Geelong.
- Welcoming wineries – many Victorian wineries are
dedicated to looking after visitors, ensuring that they receive
great service and have a memorable (and enjoyable) experience,
whether a wine beginner or expert.
- Winery Restaurants – once you leave the city of
Melbourne, some of the best regional food is to be found at
wineries. Whether they are serving a cheese platter of their
favourite local cheeses, hand-made pizza straight from the
wood-fired oven or a comprehensive restaurant menu, often
showcasing great regional produce.
- Rutherglen Wine Region – Warm days, cool nights, the
Murray River and ancient river red gums (eucalyptus); Rutherglen
is worth the trip before you even taste the internationally
renowned Muscat and Tokay. “No other wine can rival these
wines for sheer complexity, decadence in flavour and hedonistic
pleasure.” Robert Parker, Wine Advocate. And tasting them in
the cellar with a fifth or sixth generation winemaker is hard to
beat.
- The Yarra Valley – this region produces wines of
great elegance, restraint and balance, particularly the
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with Yarra Valley Cabernet a treat
for those ‘in the know’. Only an hour from Melbourne the
region is also known for its undulating landscape, a patchwork
of vineyards and paddocks, framed by the misty blue ranges and a
wonderful range of produce stores, cafés, restaurants and
winery accommodation.
- TarraWarra Estate – Set on a hill with sweeping views
of the picturesque Yarra Valley, the modern, architecturally
impressive buildings house not only the cellar door and wine bar
café but the nationally significant TarraWarra Museum of Modern
Art. The collection represents many of Australia’s most
important contemporary artists.
- Tahbilk Winery – The nineteenth century winery
buildings are classified by the national trust and some would
say the Shiraz vines, planted in 1860, should be declared
national treasures. Now visitors can also explore (on foot or by
boat) the extensive, restored wetlands that wind through the
property, with their beautiful native Australian fauna and flora
including vibrant water lilies, ancient eucalyptus trees, birds,
koalas and kangaroos.
- Seppelt Great Western – The original vineyards were
planted in 1865, later that century local miners were engaged to
carve three kilometres of underground tunnels (called drives)
where sparkling wine is still matured, along with Seppelt’s
renowned Shiraz. The nearby Grampians National Park is an
ancient landscape where Aboriginal rock art can be viewed.
8 icons not to miss in Melbourne &
surroundings
 Melbourne
– a city of unique charm with a diversity of cultures, from
Italian and Greek to Middle Eastern and Asian. Sporting capital of
Australia, home of the famous Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, many
excellent restaurants and cafes (many hidden in historic laneways),
beautiful parks, wonderful wines and tram cars, a city that can have
4 seasons in one day!
Royal Exhibition Building – built in the Carlton Gardens it
was completed in 1880 for Melbourne’s first International
Exhibition. Today it is one of the world’s oldest exhibition
pavilions and in July 2004 became the first building in Australia to
achieve World Heritage listing.
Melbourne Cup – the worlds most prestigious “2 mile handicap
“ horse race for 3 year old thoroughbreds over 3,200 metres and
known as “the race that stops a nation” Held on
the first Tuesday in November Australia stops to follow the running
of the Melbourne Cup. The first Cup was run in 1861 for a prize of
170 pounds, today the race is worth around $5.1 million dollars.
Aboriginal Culture and Heritage – experience traditional and
contemporary Aboriginal culture with its spiritual beliefs,
significant sites, renowned art and 60,000 years of history. Visit
art galleries and cultural centres, taste bush foods and visit rock
art sites in the Grampians and Wilsons Promontory National Park.
Healesville Sanctuary – one hour from Melbourne and set in 31
hectares of bushland. See Australian wildlife species such as
koalas, kangaroos, dingoes and the unique platypus in their natural
habitats in a natural zoo setting, go behind the scenes and see what
is involved in food preparation and visit the wildlife
hospital.
The Great Ocean Road – discover the breathtaking coastline of
south-west Victoria on one of the worlds most scenic roads passing
through areas such as the Twelve Apostles – the striking and
dramatic limestone stacks, Bells Beach on the Surf Coast and the
Great Ocean Road itself. Visit the historic fishing village of Port
Fairy on the Shipwreck Coast.
Penguin Parade, Phillip Island – Victoria’s world famous
Penguin Parade starring the worlds smallest penguin. Each night at
sunset they emerge from the sea and waddle ashore to their sand dune
burrows.
Ballarat & Sovereign Hill – gold was discovered in
Ballarat in 1851. By the following year the population had exploded
to some 20,000 diggers mining the gold fields in the area. Sovereign
Hill is an authentic re-creation of Ballarat during the Victorian
gold rush. Learn of the dramatic events leading to the “Eureka
Stockade”, a revolt by gold miners against a corrupt Police force
and the cost of gold digging licences.
8 taste sensations in Melbourne
 Australian Cuisine – still evolving as it absorbs the
influences of the waves of immigrants into the country. Firstly
the English then Italian, to Middle Eastern to Asian to Indian
to African and combinations thereof. Melbourne is known for its
many dining precincts and excellent quality for all budgets.- Top Chefs – fine dining in Melbourne is about
internationally trained, innovative chefs coming home to develop
their own style. Multi-award winner Shannon Bennett of the
acclaimed Vue de Monde trained with Albert Roux and Marco Pierre
White. Andrew McConnell made his name at Shanghai’s M on the
Bund, and there are many more to discover.
- Fifteen - Jamie Oliver chose Melbourne to establish
Fifteen, his fourth international restaurant offering diners a
fabulous dining experience and underprivileged youths a chance
learn chef’s skills and develop a passion for their trade.
- Markets – an abundance of the best quality, freshest
produce. Available from the city’s main markets, such as Queen
Victoria Market and Prahran Market as well as a multitude of
Farmers’ Markets throughout the suburbs and regional areas,
good quality ingredients are available for everyone.
- ANZAC Biscuits and Pavlova – the woman of Australia
developed ANZAC Biscuits made with oats, coconut and golden
syrup to send to their men fighting overseas in World War I. The
Pavlova was created to celebrate the visit of the famous Russian
Ballerina Anna Pavlova in 1926. A meringue base is covered with
whipped cream and fruit.
- Beer – Australians love beer and there are many
styles produced, whether by the big name breweries or smaller,
boutique breweries. The first legal brewery was in Tasmania in
1822 and is still going strong.
- Bull/Boar Sausages - Bull/Boar sausages are listed in
the international Slow Food Ark of Taste, these sausages made
with beef and pork (boar) were originally made by Swiss-Italian
immigrants working the goldfields of Victoria in the 1850’s.
- The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival –over two weeks
in March each year local legends pair with international guest
chefs, winemakers and sommeliers to entertain, surprise, educate
and fascinate 250,000 domestic and international guests at more
than 150 events in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
To organise your tour and
experience Melbourne's many delights, please contact our
preferred agent:
Focus on Tours
37 Seymour Ave
Armadale
Victoria 3143
Australia
Ph: (61.3) 9576 1712
Fax: (61.3) 9756 2590
www.fourcornerstravel.com.au/focus
liz@fourcornerstravel.com.au
More information about Melbourne...
Best of Wine Tourism Winners
Wine Touring Routes
Melbourne Photo Album
Links and resources for
the independent traveller.
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