Glenrowan Region

Location
Zone - North East Victoria
State - Victoria


Map Reference
Latitude 36 degrees and 27 minutes South
Longitude 146 degrees and 15 minutes East


Elevation
200 - 250 metres above sea level

Subregions
Nil

Introduction
Once again vines have followed in the footsteps of gold. Richard Bailey and family settled near Glenrowan in the early 1860's. In 1866 son Varley Bailey planted vines, choosing the rich, red granite soil found on part of the property. The first vintage was made in 1870 and demand for the wines, particularly fortified led to significant expansion of the vineyard. By 1892 the wines were sold locally in Melbourne and also exported to England. Others to establish vineyards include Esca Booth, who in 1904 bought phylloxera-infested vineyards and was forced to replant them with grafted stock.

Primary Grape Varieties

Fortified
Muscadelle 30 tonnes
Muscat a Petits Grains 30 tonnes
Total Fortified 60 tonnes

White
Chardonnay 10 tonnes
Trebbiano 10 tonnes
Semillon 5 tonnes
Other 60 tonnes
Total White 85 tonnes

Red
Shiraz 340 tonnes
Cabernet Sauvignon 165 tonnes
Merlot 25 tonnes Durif 15 tonnes
Other 25 tonnes
Total Red 570 tonnes

Primary Wine Styles

Muscat and Tokay
Whilst not the leaders in volume these two wines are signatures of the region due to the over 130-year track record of production by Baileys as one of Australia's top three producers of these unique fortified wines. The differences between the best wines are diminutive and are easily masked by the overwhelming richness, opulence and intensity of the wines.

Shiraz
The leading table wine in its own right with character as plentiful as the Muscats and Tokays of the region, wines that have a very long life span.

Cabernet Sauvignon
The region is particularly well suited to this variety but for those who enjoy ripe, muscular Cabernet in distinct Australian warm-region style, this provides the choice.