For nearly 30 years Geelong has built a reputation of one of the state’s best wine areas, for the second time round. Back in the 1890’s we had Victoria’s premier wine growing district but the introduction of some imported vines brought the dreaded Phylloxera virus to our vineyards and wiped out the whole industry. Wine growing did not come back to the region until the mid-1960’s when vines were once again planted in the rich Moorabool Valley.
During the 1980’s a few other people tried their hand at wine in the region and with some early successes the industry started to grow. The area once again proved perfect for the cool climate wines like Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Chardonnay. Today over 50 vineyards are producing wine in our region.
Today wine is grown right around our region and the Geelong region is once again regarded as one of the best in the country. Well-known brands like Mt Duneed Estate, Kilgour Estate, Scotchmans Hill, Minya and Otways Estate are just a few from our region. Many of these wines are served in the finest restaurants and enjoyed not just here in Australia but around the world.
Wine harvesting in the region is a little later than that of the northern regions of the state, the Pinot Noir varieties are usually picked around mid-March while the Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are a few weeks later in late April to early May. Being a little later, the fruit has more time to develop its rich and unique taste, giving the wine a quality and smooth taste.
The rolling hills of the Bellarine Peninsula are home to many of the region’s best wineries. The fertile soils, sun, sheltered valleys combined with fresh sea air offer ideal growing conditions for juicy fruit. The area between Drysdale and Portarlington is home to many of the Bellarine’s finest wineries, including Scotchmans Hill, Bellarine Estate, Jack Rabbit and Wyunda Park. While Wallington is also gaining quiet a name for itself with Oakdene Vineyard, Marcus Hill Winery and Wayawa Estate.
The Moorabool area to the city’s North West is home to Moorabool Estate, Moorabool Ridge, Mount Anakie, Shadowfax, Jindalee and Eagle Rise to name a few. Waurn Ponds at south of the city was one of the major wine making areas in the 1890’s and is today home to Mt Duneed Estate, St Regis, Waybourne and Prince Albert Winery. Further down the Surfcoast, Spence Wines at Murgheboluc makes a beautiful drop, so does Bellbrae Estate, The Minya at Connnewarre and Ceres Bridge at Stonehaven. Otway Estate at Barongarook West down from Colac also has a brewery and makes a lovely beer alongside its wine.
Many of the wineries have open cellars where you can taste and purchase a selection of their products. Many of the larger wineries now also feature cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy some of the gourmet meals while experiencing their beautiful wines. Some wineries are open 7 days a week while others only open by appointment, visit the Intown Winery Listing for contact details.