The Yarra River Valley is one of Australia's premier wine regions. It is here that the world famous Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Cabernet Sauvignon wines are produced Sauvignon.
In general, Victoria state has historically been considered an important wine region due to its varied climatic conditions, which allows for a wide variety of grapes to be grown on the land. The first winemakers here were the Ryrie brothers, who planted the first vineyard in the Chateau Yering area in 1838 and already in 1845 they had their first wine. Just 15 years later the Chateau Yering winery was recognised as the best in the state, and in 1889 it received world recognition by winning the Grand Prix at the World's Fair in Paris. By the way, it was the first winery from the southern hemisphere to receive such high praise.
Rapid growth of wineries was noted in the valley in the 1870s, but by the 1930s, a decline began, caused primarily by the financial difficulties of the Great Depression. It wasn't until the late 1960s that the industry recovered from the economic losses, and a new turn in the history of local winemaking began.
Today, the Yarra Valley is home to more than 80 wineries, making it one of the one of the leading cool-climate wine regions. Interestingly, the average grape yield in the valley is only 53 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than other regions in Australia. And this suggests that the quality of local wine is more important than the quantity.
Thousands of tourists travelling to this fertile area to taste the the unique bouquet of Australian wine. But the Yarra River Valley has other attractions. Visit one of the many parks or reserves for stunning wildlife viewing, or take a drive along the Black Spur Highway to see the country's tallest waterfalls Stevenson Falls near Marysville. At the Healesville Wildlife Refuge, known for its known for its amazing biodiversity, you can see kangaroos, emus, wombats and many species of birds of prey. In the small towns scattered around the valley there are a variety of galleries and markets where everyone can find a suitable souvenir to keep as a keepsake. And lastly it is worth flying over the valley in a hot air balloon to get a bird's eye view of this amazing part of Australia.
