Swan Hill Region

Location
One of two Regions that are located in two Zones and two States, the other being the Murray Darling.

Zone - North West Victoria
State - Victoria

Zone - Big Rivers
State - NSW


Map Reference
Latitude 35 degrees and 20 minutes South
Longitude 143 degrees and 15 minutes East


Elevation
50 - 100 metres above sea level

Subregions
Nil

Introduction
Swan Hill is located on both sides of the Murray River, partly within New South Wales and partly within Victoria. The explorer, Major Thomas Mitchell named Swan Hill in 1836 because of the profusion of swans in the area.

The first irrigated crops were established as early as 1880, however it was not until the 1930's when Frederick Thompson established the Lake Boga vineyard and winery called St Andrews.

Peace Wines established vineyards in 1981 and in 1996 Andrew Peace built a 2000-tonne winery, making wine of excellent quality for the export market
.

Primary Grape Varieties
New South Wales total of White and Red = 1200 ha
Victoria total of White and Red = 5885 ha

White

New South Wales:

Sultana 750 ha
Muscat Gordo Blanco 250 ha
Chardonnay 140 ha

Victoria:

Sultana 3400 ha
Muscat Gordo Blanco 955 ha
Chardonnay 875 ha
Colombard 250 ha

Red

New South Wales:

Red Shiraz 60 ha

Victoria:

Shiraz 215 ha
Cabernet Sauvignon 190 ha

Primary Wine Styles

Chardonnay
Soft, ripe peach and other stone fruit flavours that does not necessitate oak treatment, speedily maturing, aimed at the lower-priced market sectors.

Chenin Blanc and Colombard
These wine grapes are progressively replacing Sultana and Gordo wine grapes in casks and generic, low priced bottled wine, improving quality without increasing price.

Shiraz
The flavour profile is soft and sweet fruit, the careful use of oak chips produces pleasing wine at a very competitive price. Its quality determines whether it is sold as cask wine or bottled wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon
It makes a user-friendly, fresh redcurrant tinge style that is best consumed young.