In Victoria’s high country, the Alpine Valley is a pristine wine region, with snow-capped mountains, icy-cold rivers, lakes, and streams meandering through the valleys. It’s home to growing some of this country’s best cooler-climate grape varieties and produces some of the best sparkling wines.

Spectacular landscapes, and striking seasonal contrasts aids the growing season for the cooler grape varieties, extending the vine-time, but also allows for exceptional precision when it comes to fruit-ripeness.

Vineyards in the Alpine Valley includes four mountain valleys, which is home to growing more than 30 grape varieties, from classics to the lesser known. With a long history of grape growing here, we have been able to source the most exquisite fruit from the growers whose vineyards thrive here. 

36° 63'S Latitude, 146° 59’E Longitude, with over 260 hectares (known to be) planted to vine. Vineyards planted range from between 155 meters through to over 1,972 meters above sea level. With highly fertile soils, formed on mineral-rich river deposits, and granitic rock.

The top grape varieties grown in the Alpine Valley Geographical Indication (GI) include cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, chardonnay, merlot. The region is also leading the charge in Australia’s varietal revolution with plantings of alternative grape varieties such as sangiovese, barbera, nebbiolo, marzemino and others.

On the lower south-western side of Victoria’s high country, the King Valley is a dynamic destination for both historic winemaking families, and a new wave of young, adventurous, and inspired winemakers. It’s one of Australia’s most scenic and diverse, with vineyards and wineries along the region’s slopes growing a plethora of grape varieties and producing a huge range of wine styles.

With its strong Italian heritage, the King Valley is also known to be the home of Australian prosecco, sangiovese and other Italian varietals. Not being able to hide behind the rain-shadow from the East, the King Valley shines all year round. 

36° 70’S Latitude, 146° 24’E Longitude, with over 1,535 hectares (reported) planted to vine. Vineyards planted typically sit around 214 meters to 650 meters above sea level. With deep, red clay loam soils, the vines can hold onto the required water throughout the growing season. Where during the warmer vintages, irrigation can be used, but as the vines age, the yield lessens, but the quality of fruit produced is exceptional. The vines tend to reach deeper into the sub-soil, tapping into the water table below. 

As a large, plateaued valley (relatively), that stretches a substantial breadth. The continental climate does vary between the cooler upper slopes, to the warming, valley floor. Creating a diversity of wine styles, but also allowing for a huge number of grape varieties to thrive there.

The top grape varieties grown in the King Valley’s GI includes glera (often used in prosecco), pinot grigio, and sangiovese. Producing fresh and lively sparkling wines, and vibrant food-friendly Italian wines – the King Valley really does deliver the goods!

We source fruit from key producers in the region, we’ve found growers with exceptional fruit quality, year-after-year, and experience growing those grape varieties that thrive in the region. With a hands-off approach to additives, and over-working the fruit, our team looks to allow the finished wines to present a true expression of the pristine northeast Victorian Alps.

Our team produces wines that hint to the cooler days, and nights. With crisp and vibrant acidity in our white and sparkling wines, our winemakers look to retain the zesty natural acidity when selecting each parcel to pick, just at the right moment.

With our red grapes (pinot noir and merlot), our team looks for supreme fruit quality, and berry ripeness. As our vineyards are at a much higher altitude, and naturally cooler climate (than say Mornington Peninsula, or Macedon Ranges), this allows our red grapes a long ripening season. Where the fruit can be left on vine to allow skin and seed ripening, Baume reaching the exact level our team are looking to achieve. As a cooler growing region, it produces concentrated aromas, and delicately perfumed finished red wines. Producing texturally ripe, silky, and structured red wines, with blue and black berries, and gentle spice – much like that in our beautiful rosé wines. 

We believe, great wine can and should be relatively hands-off. A lot of what should have been done all happens in the vineyards, and during the growing season. Our amazing team has access to exceptional fruit across the beautiful northeast Victorian Alps. The team nurture this, to allow for true grape expression, and character, to shine bright in each bottle. Ready for you to enjoy a glass – or three, with loved ones.