“Is Beechworth the most exciting wine region in Australia?”
“Is Beechworth the most exciting wine region in Australia?
The cool, hilly pocket of northeast Victoria is already groaning with wellestablished quality producers.
Just look at the list: Giaconda produces arguably Australia’s finest chardonnay; Castagna’s Genesis sets the standard for sinewy Syrah; Sorrenberg’s is easily the best Gamay in the country – and the roll call of other impressive wineries goes on: Fighting Gully Road; Battely, Pennyweight, Savaterre… Look, too, at the remarkable number of new names that have been added to this already.
impressive list in the past couple of years, including Domenica ( a particularly stunning white Roussanne blend), A Rodda (the lovely, which has started bottling wines under its own claretty Cuvee de Chez), Project 49 (delicious Chardonnay) and Warner Vineyard, which has started bottling wines under its own label, as well as continuing to supply grapes to Giaconda and Jamsheed….. While he’s waiting for his own Nebbiolo and Tempranillo vines to grow, another vigneron, Simon Grant, has also bought some Fighting Gully grapes to make his first release, the elegant, ever-so-slightly minty 2013 Traviarti Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vinny and Sharon Webb planted their Baarmutha vineyard in red loamy soil not far from Fighting Gully Road in 2006. In 2013 they blended grapes from their young block with some grapes from older wines planted in granite sand to produce the 2013 Baarmutha Shiraz, a lovely… red wine, with flavours of plum compote and spice…… I’ve long had a soft spot for Beechworth Cabernet Sauvignon.
Indeed, I have always rated the Giaconda Cabernet as one of that winery’s best wines.
So, it’s no surprise to find that of the first crop from new Haldon Estate, my pick is the intense, savoury 2013 Cabernet – and no surprise to learn Haldon’s co-owner Tracey Richards was assistant winemaker at Giaconda for many years….” For more information on the vineyards, visit http://www.beechworthvineyards.com.au/ Excerpts from Max Allen of @maxallenwine, The Australian, 20 June 2015.
offers full and half day tours of Beechworth and the surrounding areas as well as customized tours to suit you. They also offer wine tours such as:
Option 1. 10:00am – 5:30pm 1. Pennyweight Vineyard, Beechworth
2. All Saints Estate, Wahgunyah
3. Campbell’s Winery, Rutherglen
4. John Gehrig Wines, Gooramadda
Option 2. 10:00am – 2:30pm 1. Pennyweight Vineyard
2. Guided tour of Beechworth Gorge
3. Giaconda Vineyard
4. Amulet Winery Relax, Restore and Revive.
At Freeman on Ford you can truly relax, restore and revive. Many of our guests savour this feature of our business and have become regular guests. Indoors you can: read, play music, watch a video or Foxtel or indulge in a board game and, of course, enjoy your sumptuous afternoon tea. Outdoors you may choose to laze by the pool or relax in the spa..
Further afield there are numerous specialty shops, gourmet destinations, historic buildings, tours, walks and bike rides.
Once you park your car at Freeman on Ford, you are in the heart of town where you can savour the delights of Beechworth.
A Guest by the pool playing quoits.