Ballarat wine region

Ballarat’s chief attraction was once its gold-mining past but its future as a  sophisticated wine and food destination has created another rush, attracting a crowd eager for elegant, cool-climate wines and fresh produce.

The ornate Victorian architecture, wide streets and beautiful gardens of Ballarat are an impressive gateway to this relatively new wine-producing area. Although grapes have  been grown here since the 1850s, it wasn’t until the 1970s that winemakers rediscovered the potential of Ballarat’s cool temperatures and plentiful sunshine.

The mist-shrouded vineyards around Ballarat are famous for subtly fragrant pinot noir, restrained chardonnay and elegant sparkling wines, while winemakers are also having success with riesling, and even shiraz. Low temperatures and yields, combined with small hands-on wineries, are giving Ballarat wines a boutique reputation.

The area is also attracting attention for  its diverse quality produce – from game to organic vegetables – much of which is savoured by local restaurants and matched with wines produced just a few kilometres away.