King Valley – Click to enlarge

King Valley – Click to enlarge

The King Valley wine region is located in the northeastern part of Victoria. It follows the King River and stretches from the foothills of the Alpine National Park, due north through the outskirts of the small town of Cheshunt and the towns of Whitfield and Moyhu to the Rural City of Wangaratta. It is three hours from Melbourne in the North East Victoria wine zone. The wine zone borders New South Wales and is shared with Rutherglen, Alpine Valley, Beechworth, and Glenrowan.

The region’s winemaking heritage dates back to 1970 when Guy Darling planted the first commercial vineyard in the Upper King Valley. At that time, the grapes were all sold to Brown Brothers, who made many award-winning wines from Koombahla fruit. In 1990, Guy and his youngest son, John, started to produce small quantities of wine under the Darling Estate label. The region was granted GI (Geographical Indication) in October 2007, and is the youngest region in Victoria.

The valley has a continental climate, providing warm days and cool nights, influenced by the katabatic breeze that sweeps northward down the valley from the high country. The region has a range of microclimates, from the slightly warmer valley floors to the bracingly cool upper slopes. This variance in elevation is why the King Valley region can produce such a wide range of wine styles.

The region has a very strong Italian heritage and, in keeping with this, is Australia’s home of Prosecco, Sangiovese, and other Italian varieties. It was the first Australian region to make premium prosecco, and it’s become the region’s sparkling speciality. It’s a fresh and lively sparkling wine that pairs perfectly with antipasto.

King Valley is renowned for its exceptional Prosecco, a sparkling wine that has become the region’s signature. It is known for its fresh, crisp profile and delicate bubbles. Local examples are light and effervescent, with notes of green apple, pear, and citrus. Prosecco is by far the dominant varietal, making up 43% of the crush in 2023.

Pinot Gris is another popular varietal in the region and showcases a vibrant and refreshing style. The cooler climate helps to preserve the grape’s bright acidity and fruit-forward characteristics. It has pear, apple, and honeysuckle aromas with a crisp, clean finish. This varietal accounted for 17% of the region’s crush in 2023.

King Valley Chardonnay is celebrated for its balance and elegance. The region’s cool climate allows for developing complex flavours and a refined structure. The flavour ranges from bright and citrusy to rich and buttery, with notes of lemon, peach, and toasted oak. This varietal makes up 11% of the region’s crush.

Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir each have 7% share, respectively.

Pinot Noir from the King Valley offers a delicate balance of flavours and a silky texture. The cool climate and diverse soil types contribute to the complexity and finesse of this red varietal which feature red berry flavours, such as cherry and raspberry, with earthy undertones and a smooth finish.

King Valley Sauvignon Blanc is known for its lively acidity and aromatic profile. The region’s climate provides the ideal conditions for this grape to produce crisp and aromatic wines, bursting with citruses and tropical fruit flavours like lime, passionfruit, and gooseberry.

True to its Italian roots, Sangiovese (the main grape of Chianti) is one of the Italian varieties King Valley grape growers have planted with relish. The region now leads the way as Australia’s premier region for this red wine, a reputation that grows with every vintage. The wine shows savoury, dark cherry flavours and earthy characters with fine tannins and cleansing acidity.

Source:  www.wineaustralia.com,