Heathcote – 4 Amazing Stops in VIC’s Best Wine Region?

In our estimation, on wine quality alone, Heathcote is VIC’s best wine region. Sure, you’ll find some mind-blowing Pinots in Mornington, and Rutherglen can produce some gems, etc, but nowhere else in VIC can you find such a reliable breadth of outstanding wines. It used to be primarily Shiraz (and we’d contend that Heathcote produces Australia’s best in the right vintage), but last year the best Cab we had came from Heathcote and we’re finding more and more cracking Sangioveses, Viogniers, Fianos, and Vermentinos as well!

Bottom Line – you’ll never go wrong visiting Heathcote. You’re guaranteed a great time and following are four stops that are the cream of an already impressive crop!

‍‍‍‍Condie Estate – Heathcote is just the kind of small winery we love – an ambitious young enterprise relentlessly pursuing wine perfection. Instead of investing in a lavish cellar door, Condie has spent its capital buying vineyards and equipment for the optimal production of wine. Instead of producing 20 varietals to cater to every possible customer, Condie currently only focuses on the small handful it thinks it can do best. Owner and winemaker Richard Condie is a one-man-army of winemaking passion and dedication. He’s as nice as they come and excited to share his passion and wine progeny with enthusiasts. Richie will be probably the best person you meet in Heathcote (and he can point you in some very good directions for other finds) and his wines will be some of the best you try. We recently loved the 2016 Viognier (broad body but not angular; hints of tangerine and distant spice; a rewarding and imminently drinkable Viognier), the 2015 Gwen Shiraz (the fact that it recently one best in class at THE HEATHCOTE WINE SHOW says more than our words ever could), and 2015 Max Shiraz (soars the heights of Heathcote Shiraz elegance).

McIvor Estate is such a delightful stop. Quaint, cute, homey, rustic, comfortable… all adjectives that describe the wonderful cellar door and the pleasant experience to be had therein. The tasting notes are actually right on point, and the service here is exceptional. McIvor has clearly invested in its staff. Most importantly, the wines are outstanding and the collection on tasting is unique, making for an interesting and rewarding tasting. We recently loved the 2014 Estate Shiraz (smooth and well-structured; sweetness, spiciness,and power but all elegantly restrained in this textbook Heathcote Shiraz), the 2014 Merlot (delightful blackberry plump with shades of menthol; just a hint of savoury and spritz of tart on the finish), and the 2013 Giannisceddu Sangiovese/Cab (super bright and spicy; loads of interesting things going on but well balanced throughout; the acid splash brightness lingers fifteen seconds after the finish!)

‍‍‍Established in 1978, Heathcote Winery is one of the region’s oldest. Accordingly, its characterful cellar is built into a restored 1854 miners produce store conveniently located right in town. Cute and quaint, you’ll definitely feel you’re in the Bendigo/Heathcote region. The winery’s experience and the relatively older age of some of their vines clearly show in their superb Shiraz. Their “entry level” Mail Coach Shiraz is a reliably exceptional representation of a great Heathcote Shiraz. Their Slaughterhouse Paddock can reach the top 1% of all AUS Shiraz and we were well smitten with their current 2015 vintage (deep and so elegantly restrained; hints of raspberry and vanilla far in the background frame perfect dark fruit flavour). Heathcote Winery considers itself a Shiraz specialist, and we must agree. Having said that, they currently produce a Cab Sav from Ellis Wines’ sterling fruit which is well worth trying, and we are absolutely smitten with their 2018 Rosé (tons of wild strawberry and an element of country road dustiness; fruity and pleasant but also complex and intriguing).

Vinea Marson is such a wonderful wine stop. The cellar door is at once impeccable but also homey. Guests are seated around a long table in a room that almost appears to be the family dining room. Everything is immaculate and polished. Lavish placards detail the wines on tasting, and the family members themselves are the hosts. (Emily Marson is such a wonderful hostess!) They even serve some local cheese and charcuterie free of charge to complement the wines you are tasting. You’ll feel so welcome, you’ll leave believing your an old friend of the family. The small, Italian family-run winery was planted in 2000 and 2001 with a focus on Italian varietals such as Sangiovese and Nebbiolo as well as Shiraz. Today, the place produces some outstanding wines. We particularly loved the Grazia (essentially an Italian white field blend that whilst complex is so elegantly light and delicate), the Sangiovese, and the Shiraz (a softer take on a Heathcote Shiraz). If you are into Italian Barolos at all, their Nebbiolo would be one of the closer takes we’ve seen in AUS…
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Heathcote and the four A+ wineries above are #WhyWeLoveWine