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The beautifully picturesque King Valley has come a long way in its relatively brief history in wine. From being considered primarily a postcard photo opportunity weekend get-away in natural Alpine beauty (with a little wine thrown in for good fun), the KV is now known as a serious wine region and occasionally produces some of Australia’s most distinct cool climate wines.
The King Valley is known best across Australia as our national capitol for Prosecco, but it is increasingly recognised as one of Australia’s best producers of Sangiovese, Barbera, and Nebbiolo – the holy trinity of Italian reds – as well as Pinot Grigio (Italian, Italian, Italian!) It will be a few years yet, but ultimately, the King Valley will also be recognised for its potential with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinot Noir. In short, the place can do well with a fair few different varietals!
Powerhouse wineries like John Gehrig Wines, Pizzini Wines, and Brown Brothers Winery with their incredibly serious wines have been instrumental in the first leg of the King Valley’s evolution into a “significant” wine region. But we reckon it will be the marriage of incredible wines with amazing experiences (as can be increasingly found in the King Valley these days) that will draw ever more enthusiasts from across Australia and take the region’s broader recognition to the next level. On that note, we recently visited the King Valley and we would like to submit the following outstanding experiences we enjoyed for your consideration. It’s time to book a get-away to the King Valley!
Red Feet Wines may be a smaller and newer(ish) player in the King Valley, but in 2020, they are firing on all cylinders. Red Feet offers a whimsical wine experience with its red umbrellas and jovial cellar door set against a stunning panorama Alpine view with an increasingly exceptional range of wines. Seriously, the staff couldn’t be friendlier, funnier or more engaged. The views are spectacular, and the core range of wines is just so yummy. We absolutely loved their 2017 Gewurtztraminer (tons of attractive flavours and acid tingle moving in this complex wine), their beautifully soft 2018 Pinot Noir and more substantial 2019 Syrah with all its restrained power. Any wine lover who visits Red Feet is sure to leave an ambassador of the magic that is the King Valley. You just can’t leave the place without a smile on your face.
The adorably family-operated Pizzini Wines has been at it for a long time now. Their extraordinary range of wines soars to ever new heights of cool climate elegance, but it’s their warm hospitality, even in the uncertain COVID world, that shone through most brightly on our visit. A journey to this cellar door is rewarded by substantial service from well-trained and personally engaged staff. Lunch here is exceptional, and somehow Pizini has followed all of the COVID safety protocols without making the place feel like a prison. Quite the contrary, you’ll feel like you’re in the Pizinni house back in Italy, and with four or five family members running around serving customers, you may as well be! What a warm and special experience!
Dal Zotto Wines planted Australia’s first Prosecco, and for that reason alone, the place is worth a visit. But today, Dal Zotto is so much more than that. The beautiful winery and cheerful cellar door serve up an incredible range of suave and aromatic whites, some plump reds, and, of course, as good of Prosecco as Australia can produce. But for us, an equal part of the magic was in the service and experience. Caroline, who looked after us, couldn’t have been friendlier or more engaged. More than anything, she seemed to want to share her passion for wine .. she really wanted us to “get it,” and boy can that ever light up a tasting! Not to mention that Dal Zotto family members will probably be about and if you pay too much attention to the beautiful produce from their garden, they’ll most likely send you away with some. Thank you Dal Zotto for such an awesome experience. A visit here is a guaranteed good time.
The King Valley is rising. We recommend you get there before the region has been fully discovered. These kinds of magical experiences are #WhyWeLoveWine!