Situated a good two hours’ drive from Melbourne, Heathcote is arguably Victoria’s best wine regions on its potential to achieve extreme wine quality alone. Depending on the vintage, it is also arguably Australia’s best Shiraz region. Though tiny in comparison to the Barossa, in the right year, Heathcote can produce Shirazes with every ounce of the power of a Barossa Shiraz, but also with a more cool climatish restraint and spice that yields, in our opinion, the best an AUS red can achieve.
Heathcote is a relatively small wine region with about 25 cellar doors that are reliably open and another ten or so that you might be able to get into by appointment. Sadly, three of the very best fall into that latter category. It is just far enough from Melbourne so as to not be overrun with tourists, so it makes for a wonderful day out for the wine enthusiast. If you are pressed for time, there are three or four cellar doors right near the centre of town as well as the Heathcote Wine Hub which always has a few wineries on tasting. We highly recommend you visit today!