Rutherglen is a historic region in North Eastern Victoria with a history of winemaking tracing back to the 1850s. By the 1880s over 3000 acres of vines are planted within the region and producing one third of Australia’s entire production. International shows success soon followed with awards in London, Paris and Bordeaux firmly placing Rutherglen on the world wine stage and a powerhouse of Australian production. The climate is strongly Continental, with very hot summer days and cold nights. When conditions are favourable, the exceptionally high sugar levels needed for fortified wines (and which power the full bodied red table wines) are attained. These great fortified wines are grown on a band of loam on the lower slopes of the gentle local hills, snaking its way around the centre of the town.
The legendary winemaking families of the region have been joined in recent years by a crop of young sixth and seventh generation winemakers added a new level of innovation, quality and excitement that are turning heads; new varieties and styles have been introduced into the region with considerable success. Marsanne, Roussane, Viognier, Tempranillo are all now widely planted along with Portuguese varieties Tinto Cao and Touriga Nacional. However, it is Durif, Cabernet and Shiraz that continue to form the back bone of Rutherglen table wine production and some of its most exciting wines.
Read more about Rutherglen.