Wine regions - King Valley
King Valley Victoria
Take the journey from the plains to the snowline.
The King Valley region produces a range of wine styles due to the variance in elevation. Chardonnay has proved highly successful with its rich, yet mellow flavours and Cabernet Sauvignon is flavoursome and generous with soft tannins.
Take the King Valley Road from Wangarratta, following the course of the King River to its source in the Great Dividing Range and you would have travelled the length of the region. Your journey would see you begin at Wangaratta, a mere 150 metres above sea level, ascending in a south easterly direction to Brown Brothers' Whitlands Vineyard on the snowline. And if you thought while on high you would never be warm again, by the time you got down to the valley floor you would once more be feeling the heat.
The King Valley wine story began in the 1970s when Guy Darling and John Levigny planted vines. Brown Brothers came in to buy the grapes and has remained an important buyer and grower since - their Milawa Epicurean Centre and Cellar door is a highlight of food and wine culture in the King Valley. The real growth spurt, however, came when many local Italian farmers switched from tobacco growing to vines as that industry began to decline and wine came into the ascendant.
Although primarily a vineyard region there are numerous cellar doors so the wine traveller will not be disappointed. Add to that great local produce such as Milawa cheeses, mustards and olives and a proliferation of restaurants, accommodation ranging from five star to B&Bs, and the beauty and proximity of the ski slopes and you soon realize that this region is blessed.
The region holds three wine and food events each year, Weekend Fit for a King over the Queen’s Birthday weekend in June, the Shed Wine Show in October and La Dolce Vita, a weekend of wonderful hospitality 14-15 November.
King Valley Cucina - were wonderful
produce
meets great cooks
Getting to the King Valley
A number of major roads and highways feed into the King Valley, including the Hume Freeway, the Maroondah and Midland Highways, and the Great Alpine Road. King Valley is readily accessible from the major towns and villages in North East Victoria, providing an opportunity for half day or full day excursions from this holiday area. All major access roads are fully sealed and you will be treated to spectacular views.
Albury Airport has daily flights between Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney operated by Qantas Link, REX, Virgin Airlines and Brindabella Airlines.
All major rental car agencies are based at the airport.
The Wangaratta railway station is on the main Sydney-Melbourne rail link.
Soils
The valley ranges from a broad river basin in the north around Milawa and Moyhu, to the ranges in the extreme south peaking at around 800m. There is an abundance of suitable land, with most vineyards established on relatively gentle slopes, typically facing north and north east.
The soil is mostly a deep red clay loam, at times tending more to grey or brown in colour, but having the same structure.
Climate
The valley’s continental climate provides warm days and cool nights, influenced by the katabatic breeze that sweeps northward down the valley from the high country. The climate changes progressively from north to south, from lower northern elevations to higher southern elevations, with a progressive increase in rainfall and decrease in heat summations. Ripening is progressively delayed, the style of wine changes, and at the highest altitude the earlier-ripening varieties are favoured by growers.
Grape varieties
Due to the great climatic variability King Valley is one of the most diverse regions in terms of grape varieties grown and wine styles. In more recent years, Fred Pizzini has led a growing trend towards planting Mediterranean varietals, for example, Barbero, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Arneis and Mezzamino.The total vineyard area in the King Valley is around 1,800ha, about half of all plantings in North East Victoria.
White grapes
King Valley pioneer
Otto Dal Zotto
Arneis is relatively new to the valley, producing an unoaked wine with a profusion of flavour possibilities - citrus, ripe pears, apple and lime.
Chardonnay is the valley’s most widely planted and popular white grape variety, used for sparkling wines and wood aged dry whites, from varying from rich and opulent through to the more restrained styles.
Pinot Grigio is also one of the newer varieties in the valley, producing a delightfully spicy wine with flavour nuances varying from pear to spiced apple custard to toasted almonds.
Prosecco is an Italian variety from northern Italy used for producing a much loved aromatic sparkling wine.
Red grapes
Cabernet Sauvignon: there are more plantings in the valley of this variety than any other, and for good reason. The wines display classic mint and blackcurrant flavours and blossom beautifully with ageing.
Barbera another Italian that calls the King Valley home. Savoury blackberry and herb flavours with natural acidity.
Marzemino A spicy Italian with hints of violets behind the summer berries.
Nebbiolo a wine with generous tannins and acid underlying the cherry, roses, and strawberry tart flavours. A reputation for being a long-lived wine.
Pinot Noir the upper reaches of the valley in particular provide fruit that is steeped in flavour to provide the basis for the valley’s remarkable sparkling wines.
Sangiovese the valley is nationally acknowledged for its high quality Sangiovese - a medium to full-bodied red that resonates with flavours of aniseed, prune and dark cherry.
Saperavi the Russians are coming! A wine with a seriously deep red colour and blackberry, mulberry, and ripe cherry flavours. Plush tannins and good grip are indicators of ageing potential.
Shiraz the French variety that Australia has made its own. King Valley styles display white pepper and spice with lifted berry and ripe plum flavours.
Tannat a full-bodied French variety richly textured with a dense red colour. Spicy and mouth filling.
Tempranillo the main variety of Spain and one of the world’s classic grapes. It produces deeply coloured and highly flavoursome wines (think dark cherries and blackberries) on a medium palate.
Location: 36°21'S, 146°19'E
Christmont and the Great Dividing Range
Altitude: 155 - 860m
Harvest: Early March-Late April
King Valley Vintage Report 2009
Season
Bud burst occurred mid to late September following the third consecutive dry winter with well below average rainfall being recorded throughout the valley. An extremely dry October (less than 5mm) was followed by above average rainfall in November and December promoting shoot growth. Above average temperatures occurred from bud burst to mid November followed by slightly below average temperatures until late December.
Flowering occurred in mid November, and was longer than normal due to the cool conditions. January and February saw well above average temperatures coupled with very dry conditions which resulted in shoot growth cessation well before the onset of veraison in mid January.
The extended heat wave in late January and early February caused great concern for all. However, the knowledge gained from extensive canopy and water management trials and bunch zone temperature monitoring conducted over the past three years ensured that growers were fully prepared. Ample water applied prior to the heatwave together with good leaf cover over bunches resulted in minimal heat damage to the fruit.
The February bushfires to the south and north were also a major concern for grapegrowers and winemakers alike. Fortunately, the high intensity / short duration nature of the smoke haze - as opposed to the high intensity / long duration nature of the 2006/07 bushfires, resulted in minimal smoke effect. Extensive grape and wine sampling was conducted in order to ensure that high quality King Valley grapes and wines were produced.
Yields
Yields were average in both white and red varieties and ripening progressed well due to a higher leaf area to fruit weight ratio and good leaf health.
Harvest commenced mid February for sparkling whites, followed by table whites throughout March.
Red varieties ripened in an orderly fashion with the last of the fruit being harvested in late April.
Summary
Despite the difficulties of the season, fruit quality was very good to excellent and winemakers are very pleased with the quality of the wines. Red varieties featured great colour, ripe flavours, soft juicy palate and ripe tannins with Barbera, Sangiovese and Shiraz being real standouts. Some white varieties suffered a little but still displayed good varietal character and flavours.
Vintage report courtesy King Valley Vignerons Inc.
2009
Other content and images courtesy of Kevin Bascomb and Kevin McGennan.
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