Beechworth, in Victoria, lies between the famous regions of Rutherglen in the north and Alpine Valleys in the south. It is the smallest winegrowing area in northeast Victoria, but it is home to some of the state's most prestigious wineries, producing consistently high-quality wines from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.
Historically, Beechworth's wine industry has experienced a rollercoaster ride, with the first vines planted during the famous Victorian gold rush of the mid-19th Century, before taking a nosedive in the 1800s, largely as a result of phylloxera infestation. By the beginning of the 20th Century the local wine industry had almost disappeared. A much-needed revival came in the 1950s, picking up pace when some of Victoria's best-known wine names introduced their expertise. However, Beechworth was not awarded its own GI (Geographical Indication) until the year 2000.
Like much of northeast Victoria, Beechworth's grapegrowing climate is heavily influenced by altitude. The official grapegrowing zone surrounds the town of Beechworth itself, taking in the hills and valleys in the foothills of the Victorian Alps. This diverse terroir means that site selection is important, and growers must use the land effectively to get the most out of various grape varieties. Overall, the climate can be described as cool, with a diurnal temperature variation that encourages the development of acidity in the grapes, leading to balanced wines. Chardonnay is best planted at higher altitudes, where it has some protection from the hot sun, while the red grape varieties do better lower in the valley where this variation is not as extreme.
Beechworth's climate is conducive to producing wines that are quite unlike the bold, fruit-driven styles that Australia is famous for. The region's highly regarded Chardonnay is imbued with a particular elegance and charm, and has complexities imparted by various winemaking techniques – especially the use of wild yeasts. Many producers choose to label their Shiraz-based wines as Syrah, aligning them with a cooler-climate style of winemaking and separating them stylistically from their South Australian counterparts.
The proximity of the Victorian Alps means that most of Beechworth is underpinned with poor granite soils and some smaller pockets of clay. It is rich in minerals but low in fertility, which helps to reduce grape yields in the vineyards, leading to concentrated wines. There is plenty of drainage in the rocky soils, but enough clay beneath the vineyards that some water is retained, meaning there is little need for irrigation during the growing season.
