Why Wine-Lovers Should Head to Victoria, Australia in 2020
Victoria simplifies the wine travel experience with its newly minted Five Wine Destinations Project
Victoria may be Australia’s second smallest state, but with more than 600 cellar doors, it’s home to the largest number of individual wineries — all of which are easily accessible from the cultural and culinary hub of Melbourne. With its temperate climate and diverse geography, Victoria is regarded as one of the most versatile wine-growing regions in the world, producing stellar varietals that range from pristine pinot noir to elegant Australian prosecco and beyond.
Wine Victoria has recently taken the guess work out of planning the ultimate wine trip to Victoria by distilling the quality and breadth of its premium wine experience into five distinct wine destinations: Yarra Valley, Shiraz Central, King Valley Prosecco Road, Pinot Coast, and Muscat of Rutherglen. Each with its own unique flavor, food, and local culture, the regions encompassed in the Five Wine Destinations Project not only showcase the state’s best wine-growing areas, but also the best of the Victoria travel experience, from its rugged mountains to its stunning coastlines.
The destinations at the heart of Five Wine Destinations Project are:
• King Valley Prosecco Road – the home of Australian prosecco and rich Italian heritage, complete with a refreshed suite of innovative wine tourism offerings, including yoga in the vines at Dal Zotto Wines and a Pop and Fizz prosecco pairing class.
• Pinot Coast – offers award-winning cool-climate maritime pinot noir from three wine regions – Geelong, Mornington Peninsula and Gippsland – encompassing 466 miles of stunning coastline.
• Muscat of Rutherglen – an Australian fortified treasure crafted by skilled generations of winemakers. Tourists can discover Muscat of Rutherglen via the newly launched Muscat Mile touring route. This features a range of muscat experiences at various wineries, such as muscat and food or cheese matching and behind-the-scenes cellar door tours.
• Shiraz Central – home to cool-spiced shiraz in an Australian bush setting, encompassing seven distinct wine regions: Grampians, Pyrenees, Ballarat, Bendigo, Heathcote, Goulburn Valley and Macedon Ranges.
• Yarra Valley – a world-class food and wine region on the doorstep of Melbourne, known for its chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, shiraz and innovative restaurant scene.
