Geelong wine region
Southwest of Melbourne, the Geelong wine region begins at Werribee and stretches right down the Great Ocean Road. Its cool, mostly maritime climate mean pinot noir and chardonnay thrive, although diversity in growing conditions have led to a breadth of varieties and styles across its three subregions. In the Moorabool Valley, black volcanic loam and limestone soils and old, close-planted vines produce wines with incredible detail and complexity. The Bellarine Peninsula is more moderate, and thus home to a greater number of wineries. Then there are some who've chosen the tempestuous Surf Coast to make their wine.
Geelong's best wineries
Some, like Halliday award-winning producer Mulline, make wine from across the subregions. Established in 2019 by winemaker Ben Mullen and his partner Ben Hine, the diversity of Geelong’s sites and subregions is what drew them to the area from their native South Australia.
“We saw a real opportunity in Geelong,” Hine said in an earlier interview. “It’s such an amazing region with three very distinctive subregions, and we didn’t see a lot of other labels who were making wine across its subregions or celebrating its diversity.”
Highlighting this diversity is the reason why the Mulline range has grown as big as it has over the past few years. The current release includes seven regional blends (a chardonnay, a syrah, a sauvignon blanc, a pinot noir, a shiraz pinot blend, a pinot gris and a rosé) and 14 single-vineyard wines, two of which are from vineyards they manage themselves. “We wanted to shine a light on all the different, amazing sites throughout Geelong, and really showcase what the region does best,” said Mullen.
Geelong's best wines and grape varieties
While Mulline make wine from grapes other than pinot noir and chardonnay, Geelong’s climate and limestone soils make them the favoured varieties for many of the region’s producers – particularly those who call the Moorabool Valley home. By Farr and Bannockburn, both among the country’s finest producers, are just two examples. But head further out and you’ll encounter varieties like cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and shiraz from producers such as Oakdene and Scotchman’s Hill, who are both on the Bellarine.
Due to the harsh weather blowing in off the ocean, the Surf Coast is the most difficult of Geelong’s subregions to grow vines, yet wineries such as Bellbrae and Brown Magpie persist despite the challenges. Here you’ll find pinot gris/grigio, sauvignon blanc and more among the pinot noir and chardonnay.
Here are 20 wines that showcase the best of the Geelong wine region and celebrate its diversity.
