Central Victorian Wine Region 

This picturesque wine region is one of the gems of Victoria's wine world. The cool climate is particularly suited to the production of high-quality wines. The Goulburn River begins its journey here in the snow-dressed Alps.

The wine region takes in the whole upper catchment of the river as well as the catchment of the Broken River. To the east of the region lies beautiful Lake Eildon, flanked by the ski slopes.

The Goulburn Valley Highway runs through the region from Lake Eildon to the Hume Freeway that forms the western boundary. It is on the western side that most of the vineyards and wineries are found.

With snowfalls dusting much of the region in winter it truly earns its cool climate status. The vineyards rise to the snowline at around 800m. The region is quite dry, with low summer rainfall necessitating irrigation.

Viticulture did not come to the High Country until the late 1960s in Mansfield. It had up until that time been the preserve of the famous high country cattlemen, sheep graziers and gold diggers.

Wine tourism in the High Country has a lot of natural assets; proximity to the ski fields and beautiful mountain scenery being just two. Towns include Mansfield, the home of Banjo Paterson's 'colt from Old Regret'. There is some wonderful regional produce such as trout, game meat and berries and plenty of restaurants, cafes and hotels to make meals of it. The High Country Harvest Festival, over two days in March, shows off the region's produce.

Harvest Time - March to mid-May.

Further Information The cool temperatures and low humidity producers particularly fine chardonnay, gewurztraminer and pinot noir. - Other varieties grown include:

• Sauvignon blanc
• Riesling
• Cabernet sauvignon
• Merlot
• Shiraz