Macedon Ranges Overview

For Melburnians craving a slower pace, the Macedon Ranges is the perfect close-to-home option for a cosy winter weekend getaway. Drive less than an hour out of Melbourne, and you’ll reach the tree-lined streets and heritage-style buildings that, along with some stellar wines, define the region.

Spanning Trentham, Kyneton, Romsey, Lancefield, Gisborne and other small townships, the region is a sprawling area, with significant variation in altitudes and environments resulting in an array of different styles of wine being produced. Home to a number of wine bars, cafes and restaurants as good as you’d find in the city, there’s always a demand for great wine – and the local vineyards deliver. You could easily spend a long weekend eating and drinking your way around the Macedon Ranges and still not make your way through the number of award-winning dining options in the area.

The Macedon Ranges is a top destination for indulging, and is a must-visit for foodies. With critically acclaimed restaurants Du Fermier, Source Dining and the Midnight Starling wine bar attracting hardcore foodies and special occasion diners, there are also more casual spots for good coffee and locally grown produce, Trentham General and the Social Foundry are popular with locals and visitors alike. Also worth a visit is the Holgate Brewhouse in Woodend.

In November, the region hosts the weekend-long Budburst Wine and Food Festival. Over two days, 30 wineries, including some that aren’t typically open for tasting, open their doors to mark the warmer weather and flowering vines.

The first wineries of the Macedon Ranges were established around 1860. The tough growing conditions of the region are not for the faint of heart, however those growers who have persevered have been rewarded, with sought-after varieties of riesling, chardonnay, shiraz and pinot noir all produced in the region. The Macedon Ranges has a reputation as one of Australia’s best regions for high quality wines.

Today, there are around 64 wineries and 27 cellar doors in the region, which is the coldest wine region on Australia’s mainland. With conditions that include snow in winter and frost in spring, the climate produces low yields of characterful styles, meaning that some of the state’s best-loved limited releases come from Macedon. Much of the fruit is cared for and picked by hand, which is a labour-intensive way to grow and produce wine. The wine drinker is the real winner, with the long, cool growing season resulting in complex, beautifully fragrant wines.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM MACEDON RANGES WINES

PINOT NOIR

Thanks to the cool climate of the Macedon Ranges, the pinot noirs of the region retain their bright fruit flavours and refreshing natural acidity. As the region has diverse climates and altitudes, you’ll find varying

degrees of weight, fragrance, power and prettiness in Macedon Ranges pinot noir. A standout winery for pinot noir in this region is Curly Flat, a drop we proudly pour at Edwin.

CHARDONNAY Whether you prefer a stone fruit or citrus flavour spectrum to your chardonnay, you’re almost guaranteed to find a style of chardonnay to suit your taste. Variations in winemaking and climate means that there are many different renditions available on the theme, although the base notes of a traditionally chardonnay still ring true.

RIESLING

The Macedon Ranges produces some of Victoria’s best Rieslings. With a focus on sharp acidity, minerality, citrus and blossom-y notes. A hallmark of Riesling wines from this region is the combination of balance, length and complexity. These characteristics make a Macedon Ranges Riesling ideal for ageing.

SHIRAZ

The granitic soils of the Macedon Ranges are perfect for producing a spicy, medium-bodied style of shiraz This region was one of the first in Australia to champion the medium-bodied, spicy style of shiraz. Along with the trademark spice, liquorice and dark fruits are typical notes in a Macedon Ranges shiraz. SPARKLING With access to quality pinot noir and chardonnay grapes (the key varieties in champagne), it’s hardly surprising that the sparkling wine produced in the Macedon Ranges are some of Australia’s best. Experiencing a sparkling wine from the region is a real treat.

EDWIN’S WINE CLUB Our inaugural Wine Club will be exploring the wines of the Macedon Ranges. To make sure you don’t miss out, be sure to sign up to our mailing list : HERE