Heathcote is a magical wine region and (shockingly) one of Victoria’s best kept wine secrets. In the right vintage, we reckon Heathcote produces the best Shiraz in all of Australia. But Heathcote is so much more than the Shiraz for which it is best known. Here you will find striking Cabernet Sauvignons and a flurry of titillating red varietals, like Sangiovese, Grenache, Mataro, and Nero d’Avola. And most recently, we have been thrilled by how Heathcote is flipping the script on white wines, producing some of the most engaging whites we’ve tried in a long while (viz, Condie Estate‘s Marsanne, Viognier, Roussanne; Flynns Wines Verdelho; Burke & Wills Winery Gewurztraminer, or any white from Tellurian Wines!)
The challenge with exploring Heathcote has always been how far flung its wineries are from one another. You’d need three days to hit all the “can’t miss” stops. Luckily for wine enthusiasts, there is a neat one-stop solution by way of the magical little Heathcote Wine Hub.
Located in a beautiful old wooden church (built in 1859!) and run by a hospitable husband and wife team (Toby and Kate), the Heathcote Wine Hub offers an incredible wine experience. With around 16 rotating wines on tasting and an extensive array of bottles from countless Heathcote producers, there is literally no better way to get to know the region in one stop than this! After you’ve tasted your way through the range and gotten some astute advice on which bottles to buy from Toby, you can head outside and enjoy a few glasses while watching passers-by at one of the Wine Hub’s tables just off Main Street.
There are some absolutely legendary bottles to be found at this treasure trove. (To us, it’s like having found a sunken pirate ship, laden with gold!) To name a few: Sanguine Estate’s 2020 Progeny Shiraz (the best 2020 Shiraz you’ll find under $30 anywhere), She Oak Hill ‘s (our absolute fav) stunning 2014 Shiraz, Burke & Wills Winery 2015 Aristocrat (one of the best Bordeaux blends we’ve found in Australia!), Devil’s Cave Vineyard‘s “ticks all the right boxes” 2019 Shiraz, Flynns Wines’ deep & rich 2021 Verdelho (out of stock everywhere else!), The Bridge Vineyard‘s soaring 2017 Syrah, Tellurian Wines‘ very elegant 2019 Pastiche Shiraz, Condie Estate‘s textural white Rhone blend, Mia Valley Estate Vineyard & Winery‘s “aged wonder in a bottle” 2016 Reserve Shiraz, Munari Wines‘ suave 2021 Garganega (an unusual white variety), Vinea Marson‘s electric 2015 Nebbiolo, and so many more!
It is quite literally like shooting fish in a barrel. Nearly every wine listed above has won a gold medal at a prestigious wine show, and that list is just the tip of a formidable iceberg…
In summary, visit Heathcote – it is as good as wine gets. And if you’ve got less than a few days there (and even if you only have one hour), visit the Heathcote Wine Hub to understand the region. You’ll be glad you did.
Magical people and experiences like those found at the Heathcote Wine Hub are #WhyWeLoveWIne
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