Wine regions Australia - Macedon Ranges

Macedon Ranges   Victoria

Hanging Rock, an iconic feature of the region, looms through the mist.

With its icy-cool climate, the vineyards of the Macedon Ranges have been particularly suited to the production of grapes for sparkling wine. High quality table wines are also produced, with spicy Shiraz, elegant Chardonnay and silky Pinot Noir.

The Macedon Ranges region is a short 40 minutes drive north-west from Melbourne. The vineyards and wineries in this region are found to the east and west of the Calder Highway around Gisborne, Kyneton, Glenyon, Lancefield and Daylesford to the west. It is a cool climate region with the highest vineyard, Mount Macedon Winery, at 680 metres above sea level.

The Macedon Ranges are sublime in summer and early autumn. The air is warm and fresh and the nights cool and refreshing.

This is very much a boutique wine region with a significant number of wineries crushing under 20 tonnes. The focus is on quality, low yielding fruit and hands-on winemaking. This of course makes it very interesting for the wine lover, as the opportunity exists to discover superb wines made by little known producers.

It's also a place to pay homage to those who have tipped the scales of fame. Bindi Winegrowers whose mastery of site selection and passion for winemaking has produced great Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.

Also acclaimed are the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of Curly Flat Vineyards and the Rieslings, Chardonnays and sparkling (Methode Champenoise) wines of Granite Hills.

Other award winning wineries in the region include Chanters Ridge, Farrawell Wines, Cope Williams at Romsey, Portee Vineyard and Hanging Rock Wines.

Virgin Hills at Kyneton produces one product only, a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Malbec that takes you into the heart of black cherries. O'Shea & Murphy at Pipers Creek also have a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

There is a diversity of viticulture and winemaking practices in the region. Captains Creek Organic Wines produces certified wines from volcanic soils near Daylesford. Low allergen wines (wines low in sulphur) are produced by Virgin Hills and Big Shed Wines. Cassells Wines practice organic viticulture.

At Big Shed they describe one of their Pinots as having Vegemite aromas which is somewhat surprising, but surprises are what you get when you use wild yeast fermentation.
Tarrangower Estate uses hyper-oxidation (a white wine stabilisation process) to produce richly textured, full-bodied wines.

The principle varieties are Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Traminer and in the reds, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Shiraz.

The region also produces some Pinot Gris, notably Hanging Rock Wines. At Fryerstown Road Vineyard they make Malbec; Ellender Estate at Glenyon produces a fortified Chardonnay and at Cobaw Ridge they make Lagrein an Italian variety.

The wineries and vineyards contribute to the culture of the region through their support for and organisation of festivals, concerts and sporting events. It has also served to enhance the wine, food and restaurant culture of the towns and villages so locals and visitors alike may experience quality produce and cooking.

The wineries and vineyards themselves have restaurants and, cafes. Cope Williams, Glen Erin Vineyard Retreat and Mount Macedon Winery. At Gisborne Peak you can match wines with wood fired pizzas and a number of cellar doors do platters.

There are plenty of cellar doors with their individual charms and specialties such as Ellender Estate's courses on breadmaking and wood fired oven construction. For more cellar doors please go to Wineries & vineyard (right hand menu), then from there select 'Cellar door' from the top right drop down menu.

After you have finished doing the rounds of the cellar doors there is also always a spa to ease you into the evening.

The region abounds in wonderful restaurants and cafes.

A ccommodation facilities range from B&Bs to luxury hotels. For vineyard stays there is Hanging Rock Wines, Glen Erin Vineyard Retreat, Cope Williams and Kyneton Ridge Estate.

There are also wine tours operating in the region so if you would like to leave the car behind and come up to speed fast on the wines of the region and what to do and see then take a tour.
Tour operators listed in menu to your right.

If you are wondering whether Hanging Rock is the mythical and eerie setting for Peter Weir's 1975 film Picnic at Hanging Rock, yes it is. There will be a big picnic there on 26 February with nine wine producers exhibiting; so bring your basket and your compass.

Check out our events listing (to your right) for more events throughout the year and don't forget the annual Budburst Festival in October.

Harvest: April to mid June

Sites with more information: Macedon Ranges Macedon Ranges Vineyards and Wineries Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Picnic Budburst Festival

Looking through the Bindi vineyard to Mt Macedon