King Valley

The King Valley is located in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in north east Victoria. There are a number of small towns within the region including Cheshunt, Whitfield, Moyhu, Byrne, Docker, Oxley and Milawa. Milawa is 240 kms, or a two and half hour drive from Melbourne.

The region is full of gold rush related towns that have been sleepy farming communities ever since the gold ran out. One such town is Moyhu, which grew up in the 1860s as a centre for local farms and also had a large butter factory. The unusual town name is said to have come from two Chinese farmers, Ah Moy and Ah Yu, coming together to create ‘Moyhu’. During the late 1800s Moyhu was a popular place for races, dances and other social events, but since that time has not changed very much.

Vineyards seem to have come to the King Valley region late compared to other Victorian wine regions, with the first recorded plantings by James Henley at Markwood in the 1880s, soon after some 10 vineyards were reported in the region. However, the depression of the 1890s, phylloxera and changing tastes in drinking saw all these eliminated with the exception of the Milawa winery of the Brown family, which has continued to produce wines. By the 1980’s, with income from tobacco falling, the farmers of the King Valley were happy to switch to vines and to re-establish the wine industry of the region. As many of these tobacco farmers were of Italian origin their switch to wine production brought with it a heritage that has influenced the styles and types of the King Valley region’s wines.

The King Valley region includes the Oxley and Docker plains and the King River, which runs north in a narrow fertile valley before reaching the Oxley Plains where it joins the Ovens River at Wangaratta. Milawa and Oxley, both in the King Valley are at the 600m to 800m mark. But further south, as you begin to ascend the Great Dividing Range, the climate becomes very much cooler and rainfall increases.

Such a range of elevations allows for much diversity and the King Valley varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Meunier, Ruby Cabernet, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Durif, Gamay, Zinfandel, Petit Verdot, Traminer, Verdelho, and White Frontignac. Many of these varieties obviously much influenced by the Italian heritage of the regions growers.

The King Valley region has over 2,500 acres under vines and its cool climate grapes supply many outside wineries. The Brown Brothers, for example, take half the crop of the region, some 10,000 tons of grapes each year. This Brown Brothers winery is also the oldest winery in the region, having operating since 1889. It is just south of Milawa, and an extensive range of table, sparkling and fortified wines can be sampled at its cellar door, which is open daily and has a restaurant, barbecue facilities and a children's playground.

Other scenic wineries include Wood Park Wines, more recently established than the Brown Brothers, in 1989, it can be found in the hills at Bobinawarrah in the lower King Valley and is well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay. Also of interest is Dal Zotto Estate Wines, established in 1987 by Ottorino and Elena Dal Zotto. It is a fine example of the many family run businesses of the King Valley. Dal Zotto wines have won many medals with their Riesling, Merlot, Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sangiovese wines, among others.

Along with these wineries and their cellar doors, the King Valley region provides excellent local produce such as cheeses, mustards and olives. It is also close to the ski slopes for an all round experience. An experience that can be heightened by attending one of the various wine related events, such as the King Valley Virgin Wine, Food and Arts Festival at Whitfield every November. This features a 'Shed Show' where over 80 wines of the King Valley can be tasted and even judged by the public. The event finishes with a dinner at which the winners are announced. There are also art and woodworking exhibitions with prizes, performing arts, petanque (a form of boules or bowls) competitions, and a craft market. Another great event is the Weekend Fit for a King held each year on the Queens Birthday Weekend and including the King Valley Art Show, with over $10,000 worth of prizes.

While in Milawa, it is worth visiting the Milawa Cheese Company. This is a small specialty cheese factory. All its cheeses are hand made using traditional methods at the historic Milawa Butter Factory; all are without preservatives and use only non-animal rennet. There is a cheese tasting room open seven days a week.

The King Valley region produces a wide range of wines due to its geography and also the Italian heritage of its local farmers. Chardonnay has proved particularly successful with its rich, mellow flavours, as has Cabernet Sauvignon.