“The greatest terroirs of the world come down to happenstance, an almost miraculous synergy of numerous unrelated factors that elevate a region into the vinous stratosphere…”
The below is an exert from the full article published on VINOUS titled: North East Victoria: Full of Surprises, by Angus Hughson, published February 06, 2025.
There are many unspoken rules to the wine game that we learn over time. These rules help us to classify and make sense of the immensely complex natural world. Having started my career in the field of psychology and the study of behaviour, I find wine and psychology closely linked. Both brain and terroir are black boxes, with thousands of variables potentially influencing final outcomes. A truly comprehensive understanding of what makes wine or behaviour tick will forever remain elusive. That is part of the attraction. In many ways, the world of wine is still a mystery, and an all-encompassing knowledge would undoubtedly take some of the magic away.
One of these irrefutable rules we implicitly learn is the role of climate and its overarching and dominant influence on wine styles. It is nearly impossible to imagine that climate can vary dramatically and almost invert itself within a relatively small area, but that is exactly what can be found in North East Victoria, a region rich with world-class fortified wines, Italian interlopers, stunning Chardonnays and almost everything in between. Comprising a roughly square-shaped area with 100-mile (160 km) sides, North East Victoria is a bridge between Australia’s historic past and a dynamic future…
The article includes more on Beechworth where Angus continues with:
Beechworth: The Jewel in the Crown
The greatest terroirs of the world come down to happenstance, an almost miraculous synergy of numerous unrelated factors that elevate a region into the vinous stratosphere. All the variables of climate combine with advantageous soils and aspect to provide a canvas for grape-growers and winemakers to practice their craft. The small enclave of Beechworth represents one of Australia’s leading terroirs and arguably one of the world’s best. A particularly remarkable aspect of Beechworth has been its meteoric rise since the 1990s. The story of Beechworth is only just beginning.
…Chardonnay is the undisputed star in Beechworth, with the greatest wines showing generosity, impressive depth of fruit and staying power in a full-flavored style backed by firm acidity. The interplay between raw power and energetic vibrancy gives Beechworth Chardonnay a natural edge, but Chardonnay is not alone. The harmony of Shiraz and volcanic soils also comes to bear in Beechworth, yielding a savory, spicy style that is broadly successful across the region.
The unique climate and terroir of Beechworth, with its rocky soils and temperate continental climate that feels distinctly Mediterranean, has inspired new visions for the region’s future…
- To read the full article, please visit VINOUS.
- Angus Hughson visited the region in October 2024
- Angus is an Australian editor for VINOUS with Antonio Galloni; a co-publisher of The Australian Ark; and is the founder and publisher of Winepilot, and The Vintage Journal.
From everyone here in the Beechworth Wine Region, and North East wine regions we wish to thank Angus and Wine Victoria for supporting this visit, and their on-going advocacy for the regions.
