The King Valley

Its first vines were planted in the late 19th century by the Brown family, yet the King Valley's rise to wine fame is relatively recent. Tobacco farming was the dominant activity in the region for most of the 20th century, until government policy changed in the 1970s and the farmers gradually began replacing the tobacco with their passion for vines. Many of the farmers were of Italian descent, such as Alfredo & Katrina Pizzini and Otto & Elena Dal Zotto, and, observing topography and weather conditions similar to northern Italy, planted the grape varieties of their homeland such as Prosecco, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Pinot Grigio, Arneis and Barbera.

Today the Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, which follows the course of the King River as it meanders north through farmland and the rolling hills, is home to many delightful vineyards, food producers and even a craft beer brewery. The valley is fast becoming one of Australia's most prominent Italian wine varietal regions, yet it is still relatively undiscovered.