Is Beechworth, Australia’s best wine region?

If you have not been to Beechworth wineries, Victoria, we recommend you add it to your bucket list! Located within a historic town, nestled in the northeastern corner of Victoria, Australia. It is a hidden gem renowned for its cool climate wines, picturesque landscapes, and rich history. Stretching across the foothills of the Victorian Alps, Beechworth offers a unique terroir that produces distinctive wines celebrated by enthusiasts worldwide.

Beechworth’s geography plays a pivotal role in shaping its wine profile. The region is characterised by its undulating terrain, with vineyards situated at elevations ranging from 400 to 800 meters above sea level. The continental climate of Beechworth, with its warm summers and cold winters, is ideal for growing a diverse range of grape varieties for wine. This climatic variation, coupled with well-drained granitic soils, contributes to the region’s unique terroir, imparting distinct characteristics to its wines.

Exploring the Rich Heritage of Beechworth: A Journey through Beechworth Wineries

The viticultural history of Beechworth dated back to the mid-19th century but it was not until the 1970s that modern winemaking began to flourish in Beechworth, with pioneering producers establishing vineyards and experimenting with different grape varieties.

One of the most influential figures in Beechworth’s winemaking is the Giaconda Vineyard, founded by Rick Kinzbrunner in 1982. Kinzbrunner’s commitment to quality and his meticulous approach to winemaking helped elevate Beechworth onto the global stage. Today, Giaconda remains a benchmark for excellence in the region, producing acclaimed Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Nebbiolo wines. It is so good that the Chardonnay is sold out within 5minutes from release!

Beechworth Chardonnay – is it as good as Burgundy?

The chardonnay in Beechworth is crisp, elegant, an explosion of flavour. Other great producers include but not limited to Sorrenberg and Savaterre vineyards. Both drinking well now.

Beechworth has a population of 3290 people, one of Australia’s smallest wine region, but yet there is over 30 family owned growers and producers producing exceptional quality wine. Although the region is renowned for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, more producers are venturing into alternative grape varietals such as Fighting Gully Road and their love for Sangiovese.

Lucky for me, I managed to squeeze in a couple of days in Beechworth over Summer, visiting Jan Morey from Sorrenberg Vineyard and Mark Walpole from Fighting Gully Road Wines.

Discovering the Elegance of Sorrenberg Vineyard: A Gem Among Beechworth Wineries

An unassuming, unpretentious, humble are some descriptors for this Beechworth winery.

Jan and Barry planted the vines by hand by themselves 40 years ago. Wines are made, fermented all on site. The Sorrenberg name goes back generations from Mosel Germany. It was great chatting with Jan and got to sample the Rose, Juliard and the Cabernet blend. We could not leave empty handed so picked up some stocked up on the 2021 Juliard Shiraz, 2022, Chardonnay and the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. 

If anyone wants to visit Sorrenberg, taste the wines or have a chat with Jan or Barry, be sure to drop an email, appointments only.

Where Old World inspiration meets passion: the love for Italian wines at Fighting Gully Road Wines

One word to describe Mark Walpole, Super Mark!!

Mark Walpole, is the winemaker, viticulturalist, social media, sales, operations and everything else to make the magic happen.

The winery, not the vineyards of which we found out the hard way is located close the Beechworth town and next to the abandoned asylum. Maybe it is a hint of how insanely good the wines were once we were able to taste. What resonated with me was how involved, how much care, how much love is put into crafting each of the wines.

Fighting Gully is on clay rock soils as opposed to the granite of Sorrenberg and Giaconda situated at 600m elevation. Even though we say cool climate, there is a marked shift in thinking with climate change. There is a refocus on alternative varietals of verdicchio, sangiovese, tempranillo, and aglianco as opposed to the traditional chardonnay and pinot noir. On the flip side, it is also the last year of cabernet sauvignon to focus more on these more heat tolerant varietals. I had to therefore get myself a couple of bottles.

Again, no open cellar door, so be sure to make an appointment before visiting.

Beechworth beyond the vineyards…

Besides wine, Beechworth boasts a rich cultural heritage, with historic buildings, art galleries, and gourmet food experiences. The charming town centre, with its tree-lined streets and Victorian architecture, provides the perfect backdrop for a leisurely stroll or a relaxed meal at one of the local cafes or restaurants.

If you are like us with kids in tow, then Beechworth is more than just a wine region. It seriously has something for everyone. Wondering through the quaint town where you can pick up baked goods from the infamous Beechworth Bakery, spend the morning picking honey from the Beechworth Honey shop, or having a lazy Sodapop at the Bilson’s Brewery, where the kids can go crazy on cordial tasting. If you are game, spend the night on the Asylum ghost tour or dine at one of the local pubs.

Beechworth is fast becoming one of our favourite wine regions, so many greats packed into such a small area. Beechworth wine region stands as a testament to the ingenuity, passion, and dedication of its winemakers. With its cool climate, diverse terroir, and commitment to quality, Beechworth continues to captivate wine lovers from all over the world.

If you haven’t already, be sure to check our The Wined Up’s ‘Is Beechworth worth the hype?‘ episode right here.

Pack those bags, load the car, and get ready to fall in love with Beechworth. Cheers!