Murray Darling – click to enlarge
Murray Darling – click to enlarge
The Murray Darling region is located in the northwest corner of Victoria, extending into New South Wales, near the Murray and Darling Rivers junction. These are Australia’s longest and third-longest rivers, respectively. This is one of Australia’s largest and most productive wine regions. Known for its warm, sunny climate and vast, irrigated vineyards, Murray Darling produces a significant portion of the country’s bulk wine.
Combined with Swan Hill immediately to the southeast, this is the third-largest winegrowing region in Australia after the Riverland (South Australia) and Riverina (New South Wales). Although the distance from east to west of the region is more than 350 kilometres, the climate throughout is virtually identical.
This area is largely flat, with a warm, semi-arid climate, making it ideal for large-scale viticulture. The Murray and Darling Rivers provide vital water resources for the region, enabling extensive irrigation. Without these rivers, viticulture in this area would be almost impossible due to the dry climate. The soils here are mostly alluvial, with sand, clay, and loam, which are well-suited for growing a wide range of grape varieties. These soils are fertile and, with irrigation, can support high-yielding vineyards. The climate is warm and dry, with long, hot summers and very low rainfall. This warm climate is ideal for producing ripe, fruit-forward wines. The region receives plentiful sunshine, ensuring consistent grape ripening year after year.
The region was the brainchild of Australian Politician and later Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. He was inspired after a visit to California in the 1880’s, when he saw the power that could be unleashed through irrigation. He managed to lure two irrigation engineers (George and Wiliam Chaffey) back to Australia to expose the potential of the Murray River to the endless land surrounding it. Bureaucratic delays in obtaining rights to the water saw the project stall, and the Chaffey brothers moved to South Australia in 1887 for a project that had government support. After their success in SA, the government agreed to terms, and they moved back to Victoria to begin the project. It saw Mildura grow from a handful of locals to a population of 3,000 by 1890, many making homes on the 4-hectare lots now supplied with water.
There were many stop-starts, but consistent winemaking was born in the late 1930s with the arrival of the Mildara Wine Company, which traded until 2004. Other large producers made the region home. McWilliams opened their Robinvale Winery in 1952 and Lindemans Karadoc in 1974. Stanley Buronga was acquired in 1984 (now part of Accolade Wines), the same year as Buronga Hill Winery (now owned by Australian Vintage)
Throughout the mid-20th century, Murray Darling became one of Australia’s most productive wine regions, focusing on high-volume production for domestic and export markets. The region produces a wide range of fruit-forward, approachable wines. The warm climate allows for producing ripe, full-bodied reds and aromatic whites, making it a diverse region for various grape varieties.
