Geelong

Geelong, located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, is only 75 kilometres from Melbourne and as a wine region includes the Moorabool Valley, Bellarine Peninsular and the coastal area of Anglesea.

The Geelong district was originally occupied by the Wathaurong people, and was named after the local word, ‘Jillong’, meaning ‘land’ or ‘cliffs’. Matthew Flinders, in 1802, was one of the first explorers to enter Port Phillip Bay, to be followed only many years later by land based explorers such as Hume and Hovell. Though these had, in fact, been well preceded by the escaped convict William Buckley, who lived among the Wathaurong people for some 32 years. Buckley eventually surrendered, receiving a pardon and was made ‘interpreter to the natives’.

By the end of the 1830s Geelong was a port for the growing wool industry of Victoria. But it was not until the discovery of gold inland around places such as Ballarat that the population of Geelong really grew as goldseekers and their suppliers moved through the port. This was much to the apprehension of the ever sensitive Melbournians, who even went as far as producing a false map for new arrivals that showed the quickest road to the goldfields was via Melbourne.

It was in 1845, at Geelong’s Corio Bay that the so called ‘Geelong Keys’ were discovered. Five keys were found that had reportedly been embedded in the stone of the shore in such a way that Governor La Trobe of Victoria believed they had been there for 100–150 years, possibly dropped by Portuguese explorers. This is not now credited, but did become part of a popular children’s story called ‘The Voyage of the Poppykettle’.

The wine industry of Geelong region was first established in the 1850s by Swiss migrants who it is said came to Geelong due to the encouragement of the Swiss-born wife of the first Governor of Victoria. Geelong was soon the largest grape growing region in Victoria. However, by 1875, as in many of Victoria’s regions, phylloxera and the government’s drastic counter measures destroyed the wine industry. The industry did not make a return until the 1960s when the Seftons established a vineyard in the Moorabool Valley, which was soon followed by a number of similar small family owned operations.

Geelong is located on the western side of Port Phillip Bay. Facing Bass Strait to the south, the result is cool to cold winds throughout most of the year. These strong constant winds provide good airflows that help keep vine diseases low. The Geelong region is also fairly dry with an average rainfall of between 500 to 600 ml per annum, the majority of this falling in spring and winter. This low rainfall means that irrigation is common.

North of Geelong city itself is the Moorabool Valley where many vineyards are found in the vicinity of Bannockburn. Southeast of Geelong is the Bellarine Peninsular, which has a wetter, cooler climate. While along the coast is Anglesea, naturally much affected by the salt in its on-shore breezes.

There are a number of good wineries throughout the Geelong wine region, many with accommodation, such as, Oakdene, Otway Estate, and Kilgour Estate. These can be enjoyed during such events as Toast to the Coast, which occurs over the weekend before the Melbourne Cup. Another opportunity is Skandia Geelong Week, Australia’s largest sailing event, with a strong focus on food and wine.

Another event that draws many to the region in June each year is the National Celtic Festival held in Portarlington. This festival, as you would expect of one focusing on Celtic culture, features much good music, good dancing and of course good drinking. For an even faster pace, the Anzac Day Long Weekend brings the Australian F1 Superboats Grand Prix to Corio Bay.

One of the Geelong regions most interesting wineries is Rowsley Fault Vineyard at Russell’s Bridge in the Moorabool Valley. It was here that an experimental plot of 42 different varieties of grapes was planted in order to determine which would produce the best wines in the locality. (Surprisingly this direct approach is rarely undertaken by Australian winemakers.) This plot is now known as ‘The Collection’ and while obvious varieties such as Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier were the result, also proven of interest were grapes varieties such as Nebbiolo and Rousanne.

Another winery that also shows a similar determination to improve is Austins Wines. Its owner, Richard Austin planted his vines with the aim of developing the world’s best Pinot Noir. With 90 acres of Pinot Noir at Sutherlands Creek, Austin Wines is said to be one of the largest family vineyards of this grape type in Australia.

The Geelong region grows a wide range of grapes, including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and Shiraz. In fact, Shiraz is grown on nearly ever vineyard of Geelong. However, it is the maritime climate of the Geelong region, with its long, cool and usually dry autumns, that makes for excellent Chardonnay conditions, and those of Geelong are usually very flavoursome and fruity.