Description of the attraction
The Yarra River Valley is one of Australia's premier wine regions. It is here that the world famous wines Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon are produced.
In general, the territory of Victoria has historically been considered an important wine-growing region due to its varied climatic conditions, which allows growing a wide variety of grape varieties on these lands. The first winemakers here were the Ryrie brothers, who planted the first vineyard in the Château Yering area in 1838, and received the first wine in 1845. Just 15 years later, the Château Yering winery was recognized as the best in the state, and in 1889 it received world recognition, having won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris. Incidentally, this was the first winery from the southern hemisphere to receive such a high rating.
Vineyard growth was noted in the valley in the 1870s, but by the 1930s a recession began, driven primarily by the financial difficulties of the Great Depression. Only in the late 1960s did the industry recover from economic losses, and a new round in the history of local winemaking began.
Today, the Yarra Valley has over 80 wineries, making it one of the leading wine-growing regions with a cool climate. Interestingly, the average grape harvest in the valley is only 53 tons per hectare, which is significantly less than in other regions of Australia. This suggests that the quality of local wine is more important than its quantity.
Thousands of tourists travel to this fertile area to taste the unique bouquet of Australian wines. But the Yarra River Valley has other activities to offer as well. It's worth visiting one of the many parks or nature reserves for stunning wildlife views, or dashing along Black Spur Highway to see the country's tallest waterfalls, Stephenson Falls, near Maryseville. Known for its amazing biodiversity, Hillsville Wildlife Sanctuary is home to kangaroos, emus, wombats and many species of birds of prey. In the small towns scattered across the valley, there are a variety of galleries and markets, where everyone will find a suitable souvenir for themselves. And finally, it is worth flying over the valley in a hot air balloon to get a bird's eye view of this amazing corner of Australia.
