Beginning with the arrival of settlers with hopes of making a gold fortune, Heathcote was once a bustling gold mining town.

The first vineyards were planted by the Henning Rathjen family in the Colbinabbin region during the 1860s.

The Heathcote region is at elevations between 160 metres and 380 metres, and the majority of soil is ancient(more than 5 hundred million years) Cambrian soil, calcium-rich, red and deep with excellent water holding capacity.

Growing season rainfall in this region is around 300 mm. South to south-east winds blow throughout the growing period from October to March, providing 2 – 3 degrees lower than the peaks for nearby Bendigo.

Summers are comparatively mild in Heathcote, resulting in an extended growing season. The ripening of the grapes is slow and steady, allowing an almost optimum phenolic development – one of the reasons why Heathcote produces such high-quality wines with great cellaring ability.

Heathcote’s climate and soil produces world-class Shiraz with a unique character. Cabernet Sauvignon is the second most important red grape here, while Merlot is used mainly as a blending component with Cabernet.  

Most of our wines were made from grapes which grew in this region.

More about Heathcote Wine Region, please click here.