Rutherglen
Rutherglen
Tucked into the north-east corner of Victoria, Rutherglen is one of the oldest wine regions in the state and is famous for its densely sticky fortified Muscats and Tokays. These aged wines made from the cumbersomely named Muscat Blanc a Petits Grains and Tokay, or Muscadelle, have been the backbone of Rutherglen's wine production since the 1800s. They gain their unique qualities following an extended period of ageing in old oak casks, which gives the wines complex treacle, butterscotch and sweet spice flavours alongside various other descriptors, including molasses, tea and cassis. The flat topography of Rutherglen, with its inland location and hot summers giving the region a distinctly continental climate, is not just about sweet wine. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah, or Durif, is also produced in the region, and a young, fresh-faced band of winemakers in Rutherglen and its southern neighbour Beechworth are bringing exciting ideas to the table as well.
