Yarra Valley Wines, Australia
Varieties From a World Premier Wine Region near Melbourne Australia
The Yarra Valley wine district near Melbourne, Victoria, Australia produces world famous award winning wines. This relatively small region has over 60 wineries to visit.
The Yarra Valley Wine Region, east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia is only a 40 minute drive from the city and is one of the premier wine regions in the world, growing a wide range of wine varieties and producing award winning premium white and red wines.
The Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley extends from Lilydale through to Healesville and is bounded by the Dandenong Ranges, Christmas Hills and the Black Spur Range. There are in excess of sixty wineries in the Yarra Valley and the immediate area. These wineries vary in size from the larger estates like Domain Chandon through mid-sized wineries like Punt Road through to small boutique wineries like Mt. Margaret. The Yarra Valley has many micro-climates which means neighbouring wineries may well produce very different wines from the same grape variety. This is worth considering when planning a tour of the region as it is not always necessary to travel from one end of the Yarra Valley to the other to try very different wines.
Yarra Valley White Wine Varieties
The most common white wine varieties grown in the Yarra Valley include: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Marsanne, Rousanne and Verduzzo.
Yarra Valley Red Wine Varieties
The most common red wine varieties grown in the Yarra Valley include: Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.
Chardonnay In The Yarra Valley
Chardonnay is the most commonly planted white grape in the Yarra Valley and has produced some of the Valley’s finest award winning wines. The favoured technique for producing this wine is the traditional methods from Burgundy in France. The results are varied from the popular complex oaked wines through to more elegant and delicate styles which are perfect served with a simple seafood dish. Chardonnay is also commonly blended to form the base of the sparkling wines produced by many of the wineries in the Yarra Valley.
Sauvignon Blanc In The Yarra Valley
Another popular grape variety in the Yarra Valley is Sauvignon Blanc. The wine produced from this grape variety tends towards a full flavour with a crisp finish. Sometimes sauvignon blanc can be lacking in any rich flavours. Yarra Valley sauvignon blanc challenges this producing sauvignon blanc with intricate flavours and a clean acid finish. Sauvignon blanc is usually not oaked and is sometimes blended with semillon to achieve an even fuller flavour and longer cellar life. This lovely wine is perfect on it’s own or served with delicate cheeses or fish. It also makes an ideal picnic wine and is lovely and refreshing served chilled on a hot summers day.
Pinot Noir In The Yarra Valley
Pinot Noir can be temperamental to grow and develop into a successful wine, but this grape variety thrives in the cool climate of the Yarra Valley and has become the most commonly planted red grape variety. The best examples of this sometimes underestimated wine will be rich in flavour and have a velvety texture. They will have intense berry, or almost meaty flavours. The sparkling wine from the Yarra Valley is often a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir varieties. Yarra Valley pinot noir is delicious served with delicate meat dishes such as veal, duck, and lamb. It can also perfectly compliment antipasto dishes and pate.
Cabernet Sauvignon In The Yarra Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon is a perennial favourite and the Yarra Valley produces some extremely fine wine of this variety. The micro-climates in the Valley mean that each winery produces sometimes subtly different cabernet and sometimes radically different wines even when the wineries are next door. The flavours can be rich blackberry, raspberry or chocolate to cedarwood, rosemary and leather. Cabernet sauvignon is usually matured in French or American oak. Some wineries in the Yarra Valley choose to blend cabernet sauvignon with merlot to produce a full-bodied palate. Yarra Valley cabernet sauvignon can be comfortably served with rich meaty dishes and steak or beef dishes as well as sitting beautifully alongside a platter of full flavoured cheeses.
Shiraz In The Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley produces excellent and high quality Shiraz often popular with wine collectors. Yarra Valley Shiraz is a vibrant and lively wine, but can sometimes surprise with a certain delicacy and subtlety of flavours. Yarra Valley Shiraz can have flavours ranging from black or green peppercorns to spices or aniseed to plum and blackcurrent. Yarra Valley Shiraz is excellent served with beef, meaty pasta, game including rabbit, venison and kangaroo.
