Hand-crafted with passion and dedication, Geelong's elegant wines are the expression of a cool climate, rich soils and a unique history. After a winemaking hiatus of more than 100 years, Geelong is again home to many boutique vineyards creating world-class varietal wines.
Today, the region is again home to many family-owned vineyards creating world-class varietal wines. Low rainfall produces a rich concentration of flavour, aroma and colour – the distinctive regional characters of Geelong wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
The area is capable of producing concentrated, powerful and long-lived Cabernets with, at their best, intense blackcurrant characteristics. At all sites, limited yields are of prime importance in shaping the style and intensity of the wine.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay has shown it can produce a wine of exceptional strength and complexity. It can also be made in a simpler and more easily accessible form on the Bellarine Peninsula. As with Pinot Noir, some of the newer plantings are being used to produce a sparkling wine base, and this is likely to continue.
Pinot Noir
During the last century, Pinot Noir was a famous wine for the region, and it is so again. The styles of the wine are predictably very different from producer to producer, reflecting differing winemaking techniques and philosophies. The wines commonly express plums, tobacco, violets, strawberries and truffles.
- The region’s climate is cool, providing an extended ripening period.
- The majority of the area is strongly influenced by the moderating effect of the surrounding water of Port Philip Bay or Bass Strait. Pushing up into the northern part of the region the climate is less maritime and more Continental.
- The region is fairly dry, with average rainfall between 500 millimetres and 600 millimetres per annum; the majority falling in winter and spring.
- Strong winds are a constant, providing good airflow within the canopy, which assists in the natural control of various vine diseases.
- The mean average January temperature is 19 degrees.
- The principal soil type is the commonly encountered sandy loam soil.