Heathcote is a prestigious wine region in Central Victoria, an hour and a half's drive from the state capital, Melbourne. Shiraz is the unchallenged king of Heathcote wines, making world-class, award-winning wines characterized by their rich and deep aroma profile, a dark, almost inky color, ripe, velvety tannins and an amazingly long finish.
The region is sandwiched between Bendigo to the west and Goulburn Valley to the east, with the state border with New South Wales a little way to the north. Vineyards lie in a narrow strip on the sides of the Mount Camel hills, where elevation plays a big part in the climate, as do cool winds from the south. Heathcote summers are comparatively mild, resulting in an extended growing season. The ripening of the grapes is slow and steady, allowing an almost optimum phenolic development – one of the reasons why Heathcote produces such high-quality wines.
A critical – and oft-cited – factor in the area's grapegrowing conditions is the ancient Cambrian soil that is found throughout Heathcote. These calcium-rich red soils are made up of weathered "greenstone" and are prized for their water retention capabilities. While they drain freely, enough water is held in the soil to feed the vine throughout the growing season, and there is rarely need for irrigation in Heathcote. Small, concentrated grapes are the result, and they make rich, concentrated wines. The soils are also notable because they impart deep intrinsic characters – almost a sense of place or terroir – to the wines.
Heathcote shares a similar long history to much of inland Victoria, beginning with the arrival of settlers in the 1860s in search of gold. While the gold rush was lucrative for a while, the settlers found a longer-term industry in farming, and their European roots saw them plant vines for winemaking. However, it took almost 100 years for the area to make its mark on the national wine scene. Today, following years of investment, the local wine industry rivals some of Australia's most advanced wine regions. Heathcote was awarded GI (Geographical Indication) status in 2002.
Heathcote makes some of the best examples of Shiraz produced anywhere in Australia; some classify them as being amongst the best in the world. Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most important red grape here, while Merlot is used mainly as a blending component with Cabernet. Other red grape varieties showcase the region's historical ethnic diversity, including the Italian Nebbiolo and Sangiovese and the Spanish Tempranillo. Viognier is the top white grape, with two other Rhone varieties – Marsanne and Roussanne – making some interesting blended wines.
