The Vineyards of the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is one of many venues for the burgeoning wine industry of Australia. Considered one of the finest cool climate wine districts of the world, the Yarra Valley specializes in sparkling wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon styles. The weather is cool in relation to the rest of Australia's wine regions. It is cooler than Bordeaux but warmer than Burgundy. Land elevation varies from 50m to 400m and rainfall is normally in winter and spring, while the summer is relatively cool, dry and humid. Harvest typically commences in early to mid March with Pinot Noir and finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon in early May (remember the seasons are flipped here in comparison to the northern hemisphere.) Frost is rarely a problem, but can affect the lower vineyards on the valley floor from time to time. With a seven month growing season, rainfall of between 750 and 950mm (often less rather than more) and restricted water holding capacity in some soils, irrigation is considered essential.
     So armed with this information we decided to visit two sites: Allinda and Long Gulley. Allinda was slightly off the beaten track, up from the main route after the Healesville turnoff. The approach road was uphill and unpaved (unsealed in the local parlance), something we were not expecting. We turned into the car park and pulled up to the "cellar door" as it is known, but it was hardly that. One of the distinguishing features of this vineyard was its effort to educate the visitor about how the blending process works for Australian wines. In the US you typically find wine made from a pure type of grape, like a merlot or a cabernet sauvignon. In Australia wine is blended from various types of grapes and this blending is done prior to the fermentation process. So this vineyard tried to explain this process through pasteboards and pictures. In addition, they invested in a mixing machine that they claimed cost $6,000 AUD but noted that it was having teething problems and was not in service on the day we visited. We had to content ourselves with reading the boards.
     After checking out the display and the machine, which was there to view if not to use, we addressed ourselves to the task of tasting the blends that were on offer from the host. He's the handsome devil behind the counter in the picture trying to chat up my wife. Ari spent time perusing the menu while Dan quietly took the whole scene in as if he was plotting something. Fi managed to maneuver herself to a spot where the camera was not. It is hard to believe that she is camera shy. After some serious deliberation and a plea for guidance via a skyward glance from Arija (see photo closely), we decided on the type of wine and began the tasting process.
     I am happy to report that the process went quite well. We were able to taste the wine, and it tasted pretty good. Mind you it took a few tries to ensure that we were not mistaken; persistence paid off. We ended up purchasing two bottles of the better of the tasting selection (as measured by the price) which was a medal winner and felt quite good at the end of the ordeal.
     As we left the cellar, we cast a sideways glance at the broken machine, wondering why it chose this day to fail to function.
     On the way out of the car park Dan released the plan he was hatching above much to the surprise and chagrin of the local inhabitants of the rear seat of the car. (See photo for record of event.) I will leave it to your imagination as to what his plan was. Baked beans are so effective in the correct circumstances.
     So we moved down the road to our next destination, Long Gully. This was chosen because the name was interesting. Again, we pulled up the drive (unsealed) and walked into the cellar door. This place was not at all interested in educating their visitors on the wine making process. They wanted to sell wines and we were directed to the bar almost immediately. We sampled a few wines and I bought a bottle of Shiraz while Ari bought some sparkling Shiraz for New Year's Eve.
     We did not spend much more time at this place. We decided that we had enough and headed home. It was a good afternoon's activity and we were looking forward to enjoying the purchases.