Why Exploring Heathcote Wineries Must Be On Your List?
Nestled between Bendigo and Goulburn valleys, Heathcote is one of the famous wine regions of Victoria. The variety of Shiraz produced here is renowned for its unique flavours and richness, which is why Heathcote draws throngs of wine lovers. Although the cool climate of the region serves as the perfect setting for producing top-quality Shiraz, most of the wineries tend to experiment with other wines as well, such as Grenache, Sangiovese and Tempranillo along with white wines, namely Riesling and Chardonnay. The region has more than what meets the eye; apart from touring wineries and relishing Heathcote wines, wine buffs take delight in exploring historical sites, setting their eyes on spectacular vistas, unwinding in scenic surroundings, and spending time in nature.
Having come into being in the 1850s, the Heathcote wine region boasts about forty wineries. Red wines of the region are appreciated by one and all, thanks to the exceptional quality of soils and appropriate conditions. Heathcote’s calcium-rich soils have excellent water retention properties. The groundwater feeds the vines round the year, keeping the grapes juicy and succulent. No wonder wines coming from this region are more mature and high in complexity.
We, at Just Wines, have compiled a list of the top three revered wineries in the Heathcote region for all of you wine lovers to pay a visit, treat your palate with luscious wines and take your pick among all. Be careful, however, for you might be spoilt for choice.
Sanguine Estate
With a vision to create wines that reflect quality, passion, and energy, Tony and Linda Hunter laid the foundation of Sanguine Estate in 1997. Impressed by the undulating fields sprawling in the lap of Mount Ida, they knew it would be a perfect place to have a boutique vineyard. The Hunter family takes immense pride in expanding the winery from 16 to 55 acres in a short span of five years. Each of the wines made by them manifests the finesse and passion they put into winemaking. Courtesy of natural winemaking processes, they make sure that the integrity and purity of the wine are enhanced. Their inclination to make the finest of wines isn’t a newfound love but something that the Hunter family has been doing for last more than 100 years.
Silver Spoon Estate
Named after the Silver Spoon Mine, Silver Spoon Estate is a family-run, award-winning winery that leaves no stone unturned to produce premium quality wines. Spread over an extensive area of 250 acres on the slopes of Mount Camel, it is an off-grid winery that operates on solar power. Their vine plantations, covering 51 acres, date back to 2000 and need no irrigation to develop, thanks to the Cambrian soils that are famous for retaining moisture and encouraging deep root penetration. Their speciality lies in growing Spanish and Rhone Valley grape varieties. About 80% of their plantings are for the Shiraz varietal, while the remaining 20% is for Grenache, Viognier, Tempranillo, and Mourvedre. They use traditional techniques, such as hand picking and pruning for both vineyards as well as the winery.
Munari Wines
Nestled in the foothills of Mount Ida range is the Munari Wines which was established in 1993. It is a family-owned winery, and its winemaker Adrian Munari has always been passionate about winemaking. His mantra is to grow the most relevant grape varieties knowing the site, soil profile, and climatic conditions inside out. With an amalgamation of old winemaking principles and new innovative techniques, he has been able to add some award-winning wines to his portfolio. Each of the wines of this winery has an individual characteristic that caters to the simplest as well as the most complex palate. No matter if it’s someone’s first time with wine or they’re a wine connoisseur, each of their wines is a treat for everyone’s taste buds. Living up to the name of Heathcote, their wines are bold, elegant and charismatic.
Don’t feel like making your way to Heathcote but still yearning for the finest Heathcote wines? Just Wines has got you covered; buy wine online on our website from the comfort of your home.