Henty is a wine-producing region in the southwestern corner of Victoria, on the border with South Australia. The sizeable region has one of Australia's coolest climates for winegrowing, and crisp, aromatic white wines made from Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay are commonplace. Some elegant, finely-structured red wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are also made in Henty.
The official Henty zone stretches along the coastline west of Melbourne, taking in the coast and the hillier inland regions where cattle and sheep farming are the main industries. It is the largest GI (Geographical Indication) within the Western Victoria zone, dwarfing Grampians to the east. From the slightly warmer, drier area of the region north of the Glenelg Highway, to the decidedly cool, wet enclave of the Lower Glenelg National Park near the Southern Ocean coast, Henty is more of a collection of wine districts than one single region.
Henty's climate is decidely maritime along the coast, and is moderated by cold southerly winds from the Antarctic. Most rainfall comes in the winter and spring, and the growing season is warm and dry with a long, cool autumn. This kind of climate is perfectly suited to aromatic grape varieties, as they are able to retain acidity as they develop flavor complexity, and the resultant wines are intense and balanced as a result. Inland, the climate becomes warmer and slightly drier, and red grape varieties take over. This is still relatively cool compared to the likes of Bendigo, and Henty's red wines tend to be fine and elegant, rather than powerful.
As with the climate, soils and geology in Henty are varied, encompassing ancient lava flows, sea beds and alluvial sand and gravel. In general, vineyards are found in the parts of the region where drainage is not a problem, but there is still plenty of clay to absorb water reserves for the growing season. Ample rainfall in winter means that many vineyards within Henty do not need to be irrigated, encouraging the growth of concentrated berries.
The region was one of the first in Victoria to be settled in the 1830s, and early migrants established agriculture as the primary industry. Despite Victoria's long viticultural history, Henty had its first vineyards planted as recently as the 1960s, and the Henty wine industry has grown slowly over the last 50 years. Seppelt's Drumborg vineyard, planted in 1964, is still operating, and produces a Riesling from the original vines.
The elegant style and subtlety of Henty's grapes are winning favor over the more powerful fruit-driven wines of Australia's hotter areas, with red wines showing spice and eucalyptus notes rather than intense berryfruit, and white wines showing fresh, crisp elegance. Henty's sparkling wines are also notable for their refreshing acidity and citrus notes: the style is much more easily realized away from the glaring heat of the north.
