Alpine Valleys
The river valleys of northeast Victoria's Alpine region: the Alpine Valleys grows everything from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir on the cool upper slopes to Shiraz and Tempranillo on the valley floors, producing wines that reflect the dramatic altitude changes within a single region.
Experiences
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We are continually curating new experiences. Check back shortly as we expand our presence in this region.
The Dossier
The Alpine Valleys encompass the Ovens, Buffalo, and Buckland river valleys, centred around Bright, Myrtleford, and Porepunkah: about 320km northeast of Melbourne, or 3 hours 30 minutes via the Hume Freeway and Great Alpine Road. Bright is the undisputed hub: one of regional Victoria's most well-developed tourist towns, with strong accommodation, excellent restaurants, and a food and wine scene built for visitors who stay two nights minimum.
Harvest runs March through May, with upper-elevation sites coming off last and producing the most structured wines. Autumn is the region's showpiece season: the exotic deciduous trees planted throughout the Ovens Valley by 19th-century settlers turn gold, amber, and red in April and May, drawing significant visitor traffic. The Bright Autumn Festival in late April and early May is the region's signature event. Spring (September to October) is lovely and uncrowded; winter brings ski traffic to Mount Hotham and Falls Creek.
The diversity of altitude across the Alpine Valleys produces a genuine range of wine styles: cool-climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the upper valleys, and warm-climate Shiraz, Tempranillo, and Barbera from the lower floors. The food scene in Bright is the strongest of any town in northeast Victoria: the Bright Brewery, a cluster of quality restaurants, and the Alpine produce culture of the Ovens Valley make it a complete destination. The Great Alpine Road connecting the wine region to the ski resorts is one of the great drives in the state.