Gippsland
The Gippsland wine region covers a large area extending from the NSW/Victorian border, along the coast to Wonthaggi just below Melbourne, then west to the edge of the Great Dividing Range.
It has 400kms of cool-climate coastline, wedged between the mountains and the sea. Development has been dominated by small, family-owned vineyards and wineries.
Throughout Gippsland there are many different microclimates producing wine styles with structure and elegance. Although there are many different varieties in the ground, the region’s strengths shine through with aromatic white wines, chardonnay and pinot noir.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is successfully made across Gippsland. In East Gippsland, low yields produce wines of exceptional flavour, structure and overall impact. More conventionally structured and balanced Chardonnay is made in West Gippsland, with finer and more elegant versions in South Gippsland.
Pinot Noir
Styles vary somewhat throughout the zone, tending richer and somehow slightly more rustic in East and West Gippsland. South Gippsland Pinot Noir is regarded by some to be among Australia's greatest; fine and elegant, but with a deceptive length and intensity.
- The climate is influenced by the weather systems moving across the south of the continent from the west to the east.
- The East Gippsland area has the added complexity of systems moving down the coast from the north.
- Winter droughts are not uncommon in the east, as these two systems can block each other.
- Soils vary significantly, ranging from dark black loams to lighter sandy soils in the grey to grey-brown spectrum with mottled, yellow to red clayey subsoils.