Any wine lover considering a trip between Melbourne and Sydney should make a point of stopping over in the Gundagai wine region. This is a relatively new wine-producing region on the slopes of New South Wales is an undulating stretch of land between Tumut and Temore. The region is particularly warm, except in the area closest to the Australian Alps where the climate is slightly cooler.
The first vines were planted late in the 19th century. The wine trade dried up but then revived in the mid-90s, and since then, several large and smaller wineries have emerged in the area. Along with the mountain creeks, the Murrumbidgee River flowing through the region is a main source of irrigation.
The area itself may be little known, but the Semillon from the area is steadily gaining popularity as some of the most distinctive in the country. The area's viticultural history revolves around Europeans, specifically Germans, importing vines for cultivation in Gundagai. Although the cultivation only picked up a century later, today there is a diverse range of grapes produced in the region, namely Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. Besides the Semillon, the Shiraz from Gundagai is hailed as the next best thing to come from the area. It's still young, but critics are expecting that it will be a force to be reckoned with. Gundagai's Cabernet Sauvignon is also a pleasant wine, medium to full-bodied with flavours that wine lovers say is reminiscent of the Hilltops a little further north.
Although not as developed as other regions, Gundagai does boast some interesting wineries. If you are on the lookout for future stars in the wine community you should try the wines from Paterson’s Gundagai Vineyard, among others.
You’ll find more wineries from Gundagai wine region by clicking here: Wineries from Gundagai
Visit these boutique wineries to grow your knowledge of boutique wine and boutique wineries:
