Macedon Ranges – Australia’s Premier Cool Climate Wine Region
The Macedon Ranges Wine Region is shown scientifically to be the “coolest wine region on mainland Australia“, producing exceptionally expressive, premium cool climate wines. The major climatic influence is the Great Dividing Range across the region with elevations up to 1010 metres above sea level.
Midhill Vineyard is located near Romsey and east of Mount Macedon. The soil is clay loam, red volcanic weathered basalt and slightly acidic. Frosts are common in winter and light snow sometimes occurs. In Autumn, the ripening season, the vines are subject to daytime heat from north winds, but being at 540 m. on the Great Dividing Range, cool nights regularly occur. This cooling at night promotes retention of flavours, tannin and natural fruit acidity in the berries. The resulting wines have a good natural balance. The wine requires minimal intervention.
Award-Winning Cool Climate Wines
The Richards family planted Chardonnay at Midhill in 1993… Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir in 2001. 6.5 acres of vines now produce 2.5 to 3 tonnes per acre of fruit. The aim is – through careful viticulture and soil improvements – to produce premium grapes and wines that are bright, fresh-flavoured and express the high altitude and cool climate of our site.
The cool, windy and elevated vineyard is especially good for Sparkling Wine production. Our Blanc de Blancs is a premium example of Sparkling Macedon which has consistently won gold medals and trophies for several vintages. The Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Pinot noir have all won awards at various wine shows.
Premium Australian Cool Climate Gewürztraminer
The planting of our Gewürztraminer was quite a serendipitous event. In the first planting (1993), we found that some vines were not Chardonnay. The berries are a pinky-brown colour with amazing flavour, popular with both pickers and birds. They ripened a little earlier than the Chardonnay and now are identified as Gewürztraminer, clone unknown.
‘Gewürz’ is German for spicy. Traminer possibly originated in Northern Italy and is grown in Alsace, Germany, Switzerland… Research shows that this variety gives the best flavour and aromas when grown in cold areas on well drained, acidic soils of volcanic origin…the Midhill Vineyard site is just that.
800 vines have now been propagated from cuttings of the original 36 vines. Gewürztraminer lovers seek out this aromatic wine. Midhill Gewürztraminer is dry, has the classic flavours of Turkish delight and musk, with floral spice and rose petal aromas, and has a lively crisp finish.
Midhill Vineyard farm
Midhill farm is also the home of a herd of grass-fed Angus cattle which, together with sheep, graze in the vineyard in winter to control weeds and return natural nutrients to the soil and improve soil biology. Natural products of kelp, fish and beneficial microbes are applied to improve to the soil for vine and pasture health.
Cell grazing, the regular movement of cattle from paddock to paddock, helps to manage the pasture and promotes deep rooted permanent grasses that are more resilient in dry times. Introduced dung beetles recycle nutrients deep into the soil with different varieties active most of the year.
At the bottom of the Romsey Creek valley, the 5 Mile Creek flows mostly in winter and is fenced to keep out stock and to create space for wildlife and birds. Tree planting of native species is on-going with riparian plants and larger trees along the stream frontage banks.
