Goulburn Valley
The broad, warm valley of the Goulburn River in central Victoria: Goulburn Valley is Marsanne and Shiraz country, home to some of the oldest planted Marsanne vines in the world and a winemaking tradition that stretches back to the 1860s.
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 Goulburn Valley wine region is centred on Nagambie, 160km north of Melbourne: about 90 minutes via the Hume Freeway and then west through Seymour. Nagambie is a small town on the lake formed by the Goulburn Weir; Tahbilk winery sits directly on the water and is one of the most atmospheric cellar door experiences in Australia. Mitchelton Estate is nearby. The proximity to Melbourne and the quality of the two major estates make this an easy and rewarding day trip.
Harvest runs February through April: the warm, flat valley produces reliable vintages with the generosity of fruit that the climate suggests. Spring (September to October) is when the lake and the surrounding wetlands are at their most vibrant; Tahbilk's grounds are worth a walk regardless of the season. Summer is hot; the lake provides some relief. Year-round access and the quality of the major estates mean no season is a bad season to visit.
Marsanne is the region's most distinctive contribution to Australian wine: Tahbilk's Marsanne vines, some planted in 1927, produce a wine that is almost aggressively neutral when young and transforms into something honeyed and complex after 10 years in the bottle. Shiraz from the valley floor has depth and warmth; Cabernet from older plantings has its own quiet following. The cellar door experience at both Tahbilk and Mitchelton is polished and purposeful: these are operations that understand their own history and want visitors to understand it too.