Wine regions Australia - Riverina

Riverina   New South Wales

The Riverina is the workhorse of the New South Wales wine industry. Large volumes of technically proficient wine are consistently produced. However the highlight of the region is the luscious dessert wine, Botrytis Semillon, produced by a host of producers, notably De Bortoli.

The Riverina in the Big Rivers Zone is the pump-house of the New South Wales industry. Riverina producers the bulk of the state's grape harvest. The region is larger than all the other NSW's regions combined, extending west to Broken Hill, south-east to Albury and north-east to Parkes taking in the fruit and vegetable baskets of Leeton and Griffith.

One of the earliest growers, McWilliams established their vineyard at Hanwood in 1912. By 1917 McWilliams had established a winery to process the fruit.

After World War II the region became home to many Italian immigrants. These pioneers and their descendants established some of the largest and well known wineries in the country. De Bortoli, Rossetto, Cassela, Miranda, Sergi, Calabria and Zappacosta are just a few named from many who work in the region's wine industry today.

The region is best known for its bulk wine, however, some wineries are carving out a name as boutique producers of premium wines, such as Lillypilly Estate, Terra Nova Estate, Piromit Wines and Murrin Bridge.

Murrin Bridge is the first indigenous wine label produced in Australia. The grapes are grown in Wiradjuri country the indigenous name for country taking in the Riverina. The Murrin Bridge Aboriginal community planted vines in 1998 and in 2001 produced their first vintage. The wine is now widely available.

Major varieties grown in Wiradjuri country (Riverina) include Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Marsanne, Semillon and Verdelho and, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz.

Charles Sturt University's wine school and the Ron Potter Research Centre are based at Wagga Wagga The region has some excellent restaurants and cellar doors. Events include unWINed a wine and food festival held in June.

Harvest time: late February to April

Sites with more information:

• Riverina Winemakers' Association
• Riverina Regional Tourism