Grampians Region

Location
 Zone - Western Victoria
State - Victoria

Map Reference
 Latitude 37 degrees and 09 minutes South
Longitude 142 degrees and 50 minutes East

Elevation
 300 - 350 metres above sea level

Subregions
 Great Western

Introduction
 Nowhere is the legacy of the wine industry more evident than in the vast underground tunnels at what is today Seppelt Great Western. The Grampians, in the past known as Great Western, is also unique in that it is the only district in Australia to have directly and significantly profited from the French winemaking experience of Trouette, Blampied, Pierlot in the nineteenth century and Landragin in the late twentieth century. Pierlot played a key role in establishing the reputation of the district as a sparkling wine producer and Dominique Landragin continued that role. Only a tiny percentage of the grapes used in the Seppelt sparkling wines are grown in the region, only the vinification, maturation and bottling are carried out there.
Primary Grape Varieties
White
 Chardonnay 70 ha
Sauvignon Blanc 30 ha
Riesling 25 ha
Other 30 ha
Total White 155 ha
Red
 Shiraz 150 ha
Cabernet Sauvignon 60 ha
Pinot Noir 25 ha
Merlot 15 ha
Other 15 ha
Total Red 265 ha
Primary Wine Styles

Riesling
Sparingly grown, the region's Riesling is a high quality wine. The style shows tropical / limejuice aroma and flavour in the warmer years, and reserved, toasty wines in the cooler vintages.

Chardonnay
You barely notice it, yet once again Chardonnay is the leading white variety in terms of plantings, producing wine that is moderately intense, with a mix of citrus, white peach and cashew nut flavours.

Shiraz
In the past labelled Hermitage, this is the district's finest variety. It makes wines of diverse but great style, ranging from the silky smooth, almost understated, plum and red cherry wines to the complex, black cherry, chocolate and hint of spice wines, then progressing up a level of intensity arriving at the superbly concentrated, textured dark fruits and muscular pepper. However diverse the fruit flavours are, there is a common yarn in the sophistication and fine tannins, resulting from the cool conditions under which the grapes grow.

Sparkling Burgundy
Sparkling Shiraz is made here from the same old vines, which produce still table wine. The name Sparkling Burgundy will have to change, but not the quality or style of this unique and quite fantastic wine, great at 10 years of age, exceptional at 20 years and beyond compare at over 30 years.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Over the years sparingly grown but performs well in adverse conditions. The blackberry, blackcurrant and even raspberry flavours run riot without even threatening the elegant style.