THE YARRA VALLEY

Australia’s Leading Cool Climate Wine Region
The Yarra Valley is Victoria's oldest wine region, with over 3,600 hectares under vine. It is also Victoria's most visited wine area, located just one hour’s drive from Melbourne's CBD and airport.

"Yarra Valley is Australia’s most interesting wine tourist destination, closely followed by (in random order) Margaret River, The Barossa Valley and the Hunter"
Tim White, Australian Financial Review, May 11, 2007

Jancis Robinson in The Oxford Companion to Wine describes the Yarra Valley as a cool and dynamic wine region. "Melbourne is ringed by the Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong, South Gippsland, and Macedon. The wineries here enjoy a range of climatic conditions all cooler than those of Bordeaux, variously cooled by altitude or maritime influences. Pinot noir and chardonnay are the dominant varieties, capable of producing wines of world class. Cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot also flourish, particularly in the Yarra Valley."
Jancis Robinson, The Oxford Companion to Wine

History
The Yarra Valley was Victoria's first wine growing district – with a history stretching back over 160 years. Vines were first planted in 1838, and viticulture spread rapidly through the 1860s and 1870s. However, increased demand for cheap fortified wine coupled with world-wide depression lead to a decline in the industry which saw Yarra Valley wine production cease in 1921.

Replanting began in the late 1960s and by the early 1990s; the area under vine passed the high point of the 19th century. The Yarra Valley is now recognised as one of Australia's foremost cool climate producers, capable of making classic styles from a wide range of varieties.

It is impossible to favour a single variety as the star performer – since the Yarra Valley offers: sparkling wine; fine Chardonnay; complex Pinot Noir; world class Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Soil
The topography of the Yarra Valley varies enormously and so the region encompasses a wide range of soil types. The soils in
the middle section of the Yarra Valley are ancient, mountain-derived sandy clay loams interspersed with broken sandstone.

The other soil type is much younger in origin and is a highly friable, brilliantly coloured red volcanic soil found in both the Upper and Lower Yarra Valley.

Climate
The Yarra Valley is cool in relation to the rest of Australia's viticultural regions. The region is cooler than Bordeaux but warmer than Burgundy. Elevation varies from 50m – 400m.

Rainfall is winter/spring dominant, with the summer relatively cool, dry and humid. There is limited maritime influence. The small diurnal temperature range reflects the proximity of the sea.

Geography
As the valley varies in altitude from 50-450m, it makes possible the potential to ripen dissimilar grape varieties. Every 100m increase in elevation corresponds to a drop in temperature of 1°C. This is why full bodied reds can be successfully ripened on the valley floor, while delicate and aromatic wines can be sourced from the higher reaches.

Harvest
Harvest typically commences in early February with Pinot Noir and finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon in early April. These dates correspond to September and November respectively in the northern hemisphere. Frost is rarely a problem, but can affect the lower vineyards on the valley floor from time to time. With a seven month growing season, rainfall of between 750-950mm (often less rather than more) and restricted water holding capacity in some soils, irrigation is considered essential – although the extent of its use does vary significantly between producers.