Great Western
Great Western is a sub-region of the Grampians, and it forms the latter's historic viticultural heart. The Grampians are a craggy mountain range lying some 125 miles west of Melbourne. Plantings here date from the gold rush days of the 1860s, and Great Western is the birthplace of both the historic Seppelt and Best's wineries as well as the quirky Australian specialty of Sparkling Shiraz.
Vineyards lie at 800 to 1,800 feet of elevation and are clustered around the tiny village of Great Western. This elevation, along with a modest influence from the Great Southern Ocean some 90 miles to the south, makes for a cooler climate that is known for producing a fresh, peppery, more delicate style of Shiraz than classic Barossa examples. Shiraz is by far the dominant planting, but the region also boasts a wide range of viticultural curiosities from Dolcetto to Pinot Meunier.