INDUSTRY ATTRACTIONS SIDONIA

The Macedon Ranges are hiding a delicious secret. Located off an unsealed dirt road flanking the majestic Cobaw State Forest, just out of Kyneton, is an entrance to a natural amphitheatre surrounded by rows of vines and now-full dams. It is a special place and home to Cobaw Ridge, which makes Australia's finest Lagrein. Owner-growers Alan and Nelly Cooper also produce excellent chardonnay, syrah and pinot noir but for more than a decade they have been championing this rare red.

This is one of those out-of-the-way gems that make Victorian vineyard touring so fascinating. Cobaw Ridge is a clearing in an unspoilt forest strewn with giant boulders. There's a real middle of nowhere feel, yet it's not much more than an hour from Melbourne. .

Comforts include picnic area, casual terrace tables, and a rustic mud brick winery which produces distinctive cool-climate wines.

Shiraz, straight or in a blend with Viognier, and Chardonnay are typically fresh and lively, and the unique Lagrein is a savoury, Italian-varietals red of real interest." Ralph Kyte-Powell

The Granite Hills Winery immediately gives you the impression of something quite special. Perched atop the spectacular boulder strewn slopes of the Great Dividing Range in Central Victoria, on the infamous Burke and Wills Track, Baynton, midway between Mount Macedon and Heathcote. Just 80 kilometres north of Melbourne (via Lancefield) and with an elevation of 550 Metres, this site is essentially cool, particularly at night, yet with the advantage of being on the northern face of the Dividing Range, the climate here is moderated by a dry and warming air from central Victoria, allowing mid term varieties to ripen. With the additional attributes of a reliable rainfall, freely drained soils and low disease pressure, this site is blessed with the natural ingredients' to grow sustainable premium quality grapes. For over 40 vintages, Granite Hills has been home to an Australian benchmark Riesling, as well as being heralded as the birthplace of the classic "peppery Shiraz", first release in 1978. In fact since the first plantings in 1970, Granite Hills has forged an enviable reputation as one of the countries most prized small family wineries by winning more than 500 awards from local and international shows. As pioneers of Cool climate wines, the Knight family and dedicated staff, continue their relentless pursuit to produce the best through attentive vineyard management including hand pruning, crop thinning and hand picking, followed by an astute mix of modern and traditional winemaking techniques, to create wines with distinctive varietal and regional expression.