Macedon Ranges

The Macedon Ranges wine region is just 65 kilometres or a quick 40 minute drive north-west of Melbourne. Mount Macedon town has long been popular with Melbourne’s middle classes as a holiday location and is well-know for its beautiful gardens laid out in an imitation ‘English’ style and its large, mostly 19^th century, homes.

Mt Macedon itself is part of the very southern end of the Great Dividing Range and reaches up to 1,000 metres. It was named Mount Macedon by Thomas Mitchell in 1836, or rather renamed, as the explorers Hume and Hovell had already called it Mount Wentworth in 1824. Mitchell could see some of the buildings of early Melbourne and thought of King Philip of Macedon. This was not the end of this philhellenic naming, with nearby Mount Alexander named obviously after Alexander the Great, and the Campaspe River more eruditely after a mistress of this same King. Even the most famous landmark of the area, the not quite infamous Hanging Rock was originally named Mount Diogenes.

The area was soon settled by ‘overlanders’ in the years after this, beginning in 1834, with John Aitken who brought merino sheep over from Tasmania. John Aitken’s property was called Emmeline Vale after his wife Emmeline. Gold in the 1850’s produced closer settlement and a village know as Middle Gully developed to supply inns, beer, blacksmiths’ and stores for those heading to the gold fields. It was this Middle Gully that became the town of Mount Macedon, which continued to thrive at the later end of the 19th century due to its nearness to Melbourne as those who could afford it would build houses to use as a summer retreat from Melbourne.

The Macedon Ranges wine region is an area of elevated plains bordering the dominant Mount Macedon and its most famous geographic feature, Hanging Rock. At altitudes of from 400m to 600m, the region has cooler temperatures on average than nearby Melbourne, while its rainfall is also much greater. The cool autumn months in particular allow for an extended ripening of fruits.

Naturally a cool climate region, the highest vineyard can be found at the 680m level and such vineyards produce mainly Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Traminer and in the reds, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz. In vineyards lower down, such as near Gisborne and Romsey, fine table wines from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are made.

The growing of wine does not appear to have occurred to anyone in the Macedon Ranges until quiet recently, when in the 1980s, a number of people originally from outside the region began doing so. Overall the Macedon Ranges region is made up of mostly small to medium sized family owned vineyards. The emphasis here is on wines that are made ‘naturally’ with minimal intervention from the wine maker. The Blackgum Estate can be included in this type; it is a small, scenic vineyard at an altitude of 420m surrounded by hills. Situated 9 kms from Malmsbury, the Blackgum Estate has wonderful views of the Metcalfe State Forest and Coliban River.

Cleveland Winery is one that uses its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to produce sparkling wine with the traditional methode champenoise (Champagne method). A winner of the Sommeliers Trophy at the Victorian Exhibition of Winemakers in 1994, the wines are considered some of the best sparkling wines in Australia. Another special creation is the Grande Reserve Macedon, aged and blended with cognac. If this wasn’t enough there are also loft rooms available so no visiting taster need drive themselves home.

Tarrangower Estate at 470m, overlooks the Coliban River valley and has stunning views of Mount Alexander and Mount Macedon. The property is 9 ha and was originally part of the run of Alexander Mollison, who settled here in 1837. However, late in the 19th century the property passed to the Anglican Church and until 1993 the land was unused for agriculture, resulting in a wealth of native grasses and extremely healthy soil.

Many of the wineries and vineyards have restaurants and cafes, such as Cope Williams, Glen Erin Vineyard Retreat and Mount Macedon Winery. At Gisborne Peak you can match wines with wood fired pizzas while the Ellender Estate provides courses on bread making and wood fired oven construction.

Hanging Rock continues to be an attraction of the area, much boosted by the famous Peter Weir film, Picnic at Hanging Rock, and (perhaps tempting fate), many of the Macedon Ranges region’s wine producers host a picnic at the rock each year. Another major attraction of the Macedon Ranges is a 21 metre high memorial cross near the peak of Mount Macedon. The cross was erected by William Cameron in 1935 as a memorial to those who died in World War 1. From the summit of Mount Macedon can be seen spectacular views that include the City of Melbourne city, and the beautiful Dandenong Ranges.

Sparkling wines undoubtedly suit this cool climate region best, though many excellent table wines are also produced here, including fiery Shiraz, smooth Pinot Noir and graceful Chardonnay.