Rolling hills under a blue eucalyptus haze provide the picturesque setting for the vineyards of the Pyrenees region. Each winery has its own personality and the diversity of wine styles offers the tourist a pleasurable challenge to discover them all. Every vintage shows greater promise, in particular for cabernet. Rich purple berry fruit flavours are tinged with intriguing hints of mint and eucalyptus. Tannins are surprisingly supple but add enough structure to allow gentle ageing. Chardonnay and sauvignon blanc add exciting interest, with distinctively soft stone fruit flavours and a refreshing acidity.
Ballarat
www.ballaratwineries.com
As one of Australia's best preserved goldrush towns Ballarat charms the visitor with its sights and stories. And now it charms the senses. As the coolest of the three regions it is not surprising that Ballarat is developing a reputation for fine pinot noir and chardonnay. As well as contributing to premium sparkling wine, these varieties are showing distinction as still wines. Vignerons and winemakers producing the notoriously fickle pivot noir grape have learned to take advantage of the low temperatures and yields. The results are subtly fragrant, complex wines of many layers.
Against the magnificent backdrop of the Grampians National Park this region continues to develop its reputation for premium table wines. Once best known for the Great Western township and its eponymous sparkling wines, Grampians region now has a wide variety of styles and a progressive
Some of the world's oldest shiraz vines are here and still bear fruit, whilst aromatic rieslings, complex pinots and newer plantings of less traditional varietals such as sangiovese and pivot grigio show exciting potential. Strong berry fruit flavours, supple tannins and gentle oak treatment are hallmarks of the wines.