An easy drive north of Melbourne, Heathcote makes for an idyllic weekend getaway. The historic High Street is dotted with welcoming cafes and bakeries, and is the perfect base for visiting the region's stellar wineries and beautiful bushland trails for biking or hiking.
The history of wine in Heathcote is rich. The Cambrian soils are millions of years old, but the region's wine industry is much younger. Pioneering German settler Henning Rathjen planted some grapes in the 19th century, but it wasn't until the a group of hardworking visionaries laid down roots in the 1960s that the region really took off.
Today, Heathcote is best known for its opulent red wines – particularly shiraz, with Spanish and Italian varieties such as grenache, tempranillo and sangiovese on the rise. However, there's a huge variety of wine styles on offer. "The sheer enormity of the region means that the characteristics of the same variety can vary greatly from place to place," says Rachel Gore, winemaker at Heathcote Winery.
In you're making a trip to the region, make sure you pop Heathcote Winery, Sanguine Estate and Tellurian Wines on your itinerary. Below, we chatted to the producers about what makes Heathcote unique, and each puts forward a wine for you to try.
Heathcote Winery
Winemaker Rachel Gore says: Established in 1978, Heathcote Winery was one of the region’s first commercial wineries. It was purchased by an independent group of wine enthusiasts in 1997 who, led by Stephen Wilkins, share a commitment to producing wines that reflect the region while retaining our renowned style.
At Heathcote Winery the differentiation of fruit characteristics can be extreme – shiraz from Colbinabbin and shiraz from Tooborac can be so different you wouldn’t be wrong if you thought they were from entirely different regions. Even Heathcote Winery's two estate vineyards, just 10km apart, can have completely different primary fruit notes, distinctive spices and structural distinction that fascinate and motivate us to highlight their excellence and diversity.
H. What do you love about making wine in Heathcote?
RG. Picturesque, dynamic, diverse, expansive. These are just a few words that encompass Heathcote for me. Having had quite some experience with Bordeaux reds both in the US and New Zealand, Heathcote has been the perfect challenge for me – constantly striving to elevate regional richness and texture that showcases the varietal definition, whilst remaining constantly aware of market trends.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
RG. Housed in an 1850s mining produce store, our cellar door offers an experience steeped in rich history and exceptional flavours. We're open from 11am to 5pm, seven days a week for guided tastings and wine sales. Our kitchen, led by our chef, Kate Ager, serves up a range of lunch options on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 3pm – bookings are essential.
Wine to try
2023 Heathcote Winery Mail Coach Shiraz
Deep red in colour, this wine delivers dark sweet and dense primary fruit-driven aromatics, elevated notes of cedary, biscuity spice intermingled with rose petals and dark chocolate. The palate is textured and full flavoured, with juicy intensity, silky tannins and youthful vibrancy. Long and persistent palate concentration ensures the flavours stretch endlessly.Best enjoyed: Perfect with spring lamb, porcini mushroom risotto or a simple steak sandwich. Serve between 16 and 18°C (cooler is probably better).
Favourite local spot: O’Keefe Rail Trail – a well-established, easy rail trail that provides options of half- or full-day rides between Bendigo, Axedale and Heathcote through box ironbark and yellow gum woodland and grazing farmland, across the Campaspe River and past Lake Eppalock, right into the township of Heathcote.
RRP $36 | Drink to 2039 | heathcotewinery.com.au | Shop this wine
Sanguine Estate
Winemaker Mark Hunter says: Nestled on the renowned 510-million-year-old Cambrian earth fault line, just a nine-minute drive from the heart of Heathcote, our boutique winery and cellar door is proudly owned and operated by the Hunter family. With a winemaking heritage dating back to the 1860s, our passion for the craft shines through in our multi-trophy-winning wines, all produced from estate-grown vineyards. For the Hunter family, winemaking isn’t just a tradition – it’s in our blood.
H. What do you love about making wine in Heathcote?
MH. I love Heathcote's unique climate, sitting perfectly between warm and cool. This balance creates an ideal grapevine canopy, encouraging healthy growth while preventing overly vigorous vines. These conditions also make viticulture more sustainable – requiring fewer sprays and allowing for the use of organic practices. The combination of warm days and cool nights promotes the development of premium grapes, resulting in wines that are not only complex and sophisticated but also elegantly refined.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
MH. We're excited to welcome you to our brand-new cellar door, opening in early 2025! A stunning wall of barrels separates the cellar door from our barrel room, where glass doors provide a glimpse into the heart of our winery. Visitors can enjoy a guided tasting of our award-winning wines at the wine bar, while taking in the winemaking process up close. For those looking to relax, our comfortable lounges, nestled by expansive windows, offer breathtaking views of the landscaped terrace and the scenic vineyards, all beneath the towering presence of Heathcote’s Mt Ida. Pair your experience with a glass of wine and a delicious charcuterie platter for the ultimate unwind.
Wine to try
2021 Sanguine Estate D'Orsa Shiraz
The '21 vintage was a ripper for Heathcote shiraz. D'Orsa lifts a notch accordingly, revelling in a marriage of both power and finesse. Lifted and bold in aromas that speak of its location – ripe black fruits, anise, blackstrap licorice, Aussie bush scents, earth and herbs. Opens generously before assuming a fine tannin line emphasising integrated fruit and oak, texture and poise. Cambrian soils bring that special balance and mineral energy to this delightful shiraz. – Jeni Port, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points.Best enjoyed: Pair with beef short ribs, lima bean purée and foraged greens served with a side of potatoes roasted in garlic and rosemary. Decant this wine for at least two hours and serve at room temperature into a Plumm European Crystal No.1 or Reda glass shape.
Favourite local spot: Visiting the top of Mount Ida with its panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. It's particularly well suited for hiking, and the views from the summit provide a stunning perspective of the Heathcote wine region and the nearby vineyards.
RRP $70 | Drink to 2036 | sanguinewines.com.au | Shop this wine
Tellurian Wines
Winemaker Tobias Anstead says: Tellurian was born of our founder Ian Hopkins' passion for Heathcote shiraz. Offered the opportunity to establish a new vineyard on the Mount Camel range in 2002, Ian’s enthusiasm was driven by the idea of crafting something fine and beautiful from Heathcote’s 550-million-year-old Cambrian soils.
Along with viticulturist Tim Brown, my focus on the future potential saw the first vintage of Tellurian shiraz bottled in 2008. Within four years we had completed building of an Australian shed-style winery and cellar door overlooking 32ha of vineyards. Shiraz was our first planting, but over time we have added a number of Rhône and Italian varieties, perfectly suited to our continental climate.
H. What do you love about making wine in Heathcote?
TA. As well as being one of Australia’s best regions for growing shiraz, there are a whole range of new varieties that show great promise in the region. From Southern French varieties like grenache, mourvèdre, grenache gris and roussanne to Italian varieties like fiano, pecorino, nero d’Avola and aglianico.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
TA. Established in 2020, our cellar door offers a stunning view of our 32ha vineyard. Unwind at one of our special pop-up restaurants or visit us anytime between Friday and Sunday, 11am to 4:30pm. Indulge in a pizza, a glass (or bottle) of wine, a wine tasting experience, or a cheese and charcuterie board featuring regional delicacies. Additionally, we proudly stock locally-produced olive oils from nearby olive groves.
Wine to try
2022 Tellurian Wines Tranter Shiraz
Deep inky crimson-purple in colour, the wine offers vibrant aromas of fresh blackberries and raspberries, complemented by exotic oak spice, hints of sandalwood, white pepper and floral potpourri. On the palate, it delivers a harmonious balance of black and red fruits, a juicy texture and a dry, savoury finish. Elegant and refined.Best enjoyed: Pair with chargrilled ribeye steak with a black pepper crust. Serve slightly below room temperature, around 16–18°C, and decant for 30–60 minutes before serving to allow the wine to open up and reveal its nuanced profile. Use a large-bowled red wine glass to concentrate the aromas and allow the wine to breathe.
Favourite local spot: My favourite spot in the region is a long lunch at Chauncy restaurant.
RRP $45 | Drink to 2040 | tellurianwines.com.au | Shop this wine
Top image credit: Sanguine Estate.
