Rutherglen's fortified wines are sweet, concentrated styles made from Muscat and Muscadelle. For red wine, Durif produces ripe, spicy wines with balance and ageing potential. The growing season brings warm summer days, cool nights and long dry autumns. Spring frost is also a risk.
Continue through the region
Elsewhere in Victoria
- Grampians1 producerGrampians is a Western Victoria region with a Mediterranean climate cooled by the Southern Ocean. Shiraz ranges from silky red-cherry and plum styles to concentrated, spicy wines, while Riesling shifts from tropical lime in warmer years to a reserved, toasty character in cooler vintages.
- Heathcote3 producersHeathcote's red soils over calcareous sodic clay are known as Cambrian Greenstones, and south-easterly winds keep summers cooler than nearby Bendigo. Shiraz is deep and velvety with dark cherry-plum fruit, while Cabernet can show blackberry and eucalyptus-mint character.
- Mornington PeninsulaNo producers listed yetEvery Mornington Peninsula vineyard site is within seven kilometres of the ocean. Pinot Noir ranges from delicate cherry-strawberry wines to richer site expressions, while Chardonnay typically shows melon, citrus and fig.
- Murray Darling4 producersMurray Darling spans north-west Victoria and western New South Wales along the Murray River. Its hot, sunny, low-humidity growing season relies on irrigation, and its Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are soft, sweet-fruited wines for drinking within one to two years.
- Yarra Valley7 producersYarra Valley's elevation and the direction its slopes face create varied growing conditions. Pinot Noir is generally light to medium-bodied, with plum, strawberry and cherry flavours. Chardonnay often shows white peach, melon and fig, while modern Shiraz styles tend towards freshness.
Producers in Rutherglen
Producer profiles
- Carramar EstateVictorian Carramar Estate rosé from Andrew Peace Wines, made with separately vinified Shiraz, Sangiovese and Colombard.
- Lindeman'sAustralian wine company founded in the Hunter Valley, with Bin Series, single vineyard and regional wines.
- Quarisa WinesTharbogang family producer using grapes from New South Wales and South Australia across red, white and sparkling wines.
- Rosemount EstateAustralian producer founded by Bob Oatley in 1969, known for regional wines and berry-led Shiraz Cabernet blends.