Heathcote

The Heathcote region is found within central Victoria and includes the main centre of Heathcote as well as the communities of Corop, Lake Eppalock, Tooborac and Graytown. Heathcote is 120 km north of Melbourne or a one and half hour drive.

The district began as an area for sheep grazing before, in 1851, gold was discovered in the McIvor Creek, after which a town of the same name quickly grew up. The area was very rich in gold and it was still being mined for many years after. Nevertheless, as with most such strikes, once the gold went, so did the population, falling from a height of tens of thousands to the sleepy numbers the Heathcote region enjoys today.

One of the most exciting events of those times was the so-called ‘Private Escort Robbery’. This occurred in 1853 when bushrangers held up a private and less well protected gold escort on the road between the McIvor field and Bendigo. They shot many of the guards and escaped with over £10,000 in gold and cash. What made the story notorious was the capture and consequent turning of Queen's Evidence of two of the bushrangers, the Francis brothers. One of whom supposedly committed suicide, while the other was allowed to freely leave the colony with his wife after the trial (and hanging) of his confederates.

Less notorious perhaps but of greater value to the region was Henning Rathjen, an immigrant from Germany, who is usually given the honour of having first planted vines in this region in the 1850s. However, as with many Victorian wine growing areas, attack by the dreaded vine louse, phylloxera, destroyed the local industry. Nearly 100 years later, people such as Paul Osicka and Albino Zuber began it all again in the 1960s by planting Shiraz. They were followed in the 1970s with the establishment of such vineyards as those at Jasper Hill, and She-Oak Hill.

The Heathcote area lies on some moderately high slopes of the Great Dividing Range, mostly between 150m and 350m. The soils of the region have good water-holding capacity, which means irrigation is not essential. The northern section of Heathcote receives a little less rain on average than the south, while the south is a little cooler. This diversity within such as small region gives its wines an interesting range of flavours. In general, however, the rainfall is evenly spread over the seasons and the climate is temperate.

Shiraz is undoubtedly the specialty of this region and its Shiraz grapes are sought after by many wineries that are not themselves located within the Heathcote region. Nevertheless, Heathcote has many cellar doors, and many are to be found on what is reputedly the longest main street in Victoria, that of Heathcote town itself.

The region has much to offer those seeking a great taste experience and among the many can be included Coliban Valley Wines, located among the rolling hills of the Coliban River valley. Established in 1997 on four hectares of vine, this vineyard produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, as well as Shiraz. Their 2002 Cabernet Merlot was awarded a gold medal for “The best Cabernet or Cabernet blend”. Another, and high in the running for the most exotically named winery, is the Dead Horse Hill vineyard, established in 1994 on a family owned sheep property. Its four hectares are, like many in the region, grown without irrigation, resulting in lower yields but stronger flavours. Dead Horse Hill Shiraz is made with traditional winemaking methods and matured in French oak.

Craig and Sandra Aitken of the Barfold Estate use a hand plunged, small fermenter method to produce intense wines of great flavour. Located midway between Heathcote and Kyneton, this vineyard was established in 1998, and grows Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Another winery that also uses interesting methods is the Jasper Hill Vineyard, where Ron and Elva Laughton use biodynamic farming. Also not to be missed are Mount Burrumboot and Shelmerdine Estates, which both have vineyard cafés, and the Redesdale Estate which provides self-contained cottages among the vines.

In the town of Heathcote itself can be found the Heathcote Winery, right on the main street of Heathcote, the Heathcote Winery Cellar Door and Art Gallery is located in a restored miners store built by Thomas Craven in 1854. If you pass through the cellar door you will actually find the winery itself. The winery specialises in Shiraz and Viognier, and in 2005, the ‘2003 Mail Coach Shiraz’ won the Top Gold Medal in its class at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show.

While in Heathcote you can also see the restored Gaol and Courthouse, and nearby is the Heathcote-Greytown National Park and Lake Eppalock. If you come in October, be sure to attend the Heathcote Wine and Food Festival.

Shiraz is the region’s outstanding product but other varieties are also made here, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, and also Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Marsanne.

Heathcote wines have strong colour, and dark fruit flavours with a great capacity for cellaring.