Nowhere in Victoria is the link between gold and wine more pronounced, and nowhere are the legacies of the 19th century miners more impressive, than in the 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) of underground drives that run through Seppelt's Great Western, having been excavated by hand by unemployed miners after the gold had run out. Vineyards planted in 1867 include grape varieties so rare that several have defied all attempts at identification and are, in all probability, the sole surviving examples in the world. The landscape of the Grampians wine region is dominated by one of Victoria’s greatest land features, the Grampians National Park. Just two hours' drive west from Melbourne, the region offers a diverse range of activities for all tourists as well as the wine enthusiast. This is primarily a red wine area, producing wines with a rare combination of elegance and power and an exceptional capacity to age. The climate of the region is of a Mediterranean type, the proximity to the Southern Ocean (between 100-200kms) providing a cooling influence during summer. Recognized as a cooler climate grape-growing region, the growing season in summer is characterized by warm to hot days, but with nights that are cool to cold. Autumn is mild and reliably produces the most pleasant weather, perfect for ripening grapes in benign conditions. The region is especially well suited to later ripening red varieties, particularly Shiraz. There are two principal soil types. The first group includes quite acidic grey and grey-brown loamy sands and clay loam soils; the second comprises a hard yellow soil with structured clay subsoils, which is also quite acidic and requires lime adjustment. None of of these soils is especially fertile and unless the pH is significantly increased with the addition of lime and/or gypsum, this will militate against vine vigor and restrict crop levels.

Heathcote is recognized as a producer of extraordinary Shiraz wines, even rivaling those of the Rhone Valley from where the grape cuttings were originally sourced, and is home to winemakers who have achieved international fame for their representations of Australian Shiraz. However, other red wines of quality also have emerged, as well as whites such as Chardonnay and Viognier. Heathcote's climate and soils are strongly influenced by the Mt Camel Range, which runs from Corop in the north to Tooborac in the south, providing natural tunneling for the prevailing cool, south to south-east winds that blow throughout the growing period from October to March. The result is summer temperatures two to three degrees lower than the peaks for nearby Bendigo, and a cooler mean January temperature. Rainfall is surprisingly even during the year and, thanks to the hillside location of most vineyards, spring frost is seldom a problem. While there is significant soil variation in the region, the slopes of the Mt Camel Range comprise a superb red soil with fine structure overlying uniformly textured red calcareous sodic clay soils. Confusingly for laymen, these soils are known as Cambrian Greenstones and, in their local manifestation, as the Heathcote Greenstone Belt.

Victoria's Capital City. Melbourne boasts great events, a passion for food and wine and a fabulous arts scene. Known as a style-setter, Melbourne is home to a non-stop program of festivals, renowned dining, major art exhibitions and musical extravaganzas.

Offering a unique combination of beaches, water sports and vineyards, and alive with tourist attractions, Mornington Peninsula is Victoria's answer to the Margaret River. Both regions have an extraordinary number of restaurants, many of them winery affiliated, and an abundance of accommodation in all styles. Although the wineries are relatively small, Mornington Peninsula's many different sites and mesoclimates produce an exotic array of wines. Surrounded by Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay, the Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia’s true maritime wine regions. In this part of the world, the prevailing wind is generally either from the north and west across Port Phillip Bay or from the south and east across Bass Strait. Situated at a latitude of around 38°, it is also classified as a cool climate region. This unique combination allows particular wine styles to flourish without many of the problems sometimes associated with a cool climate. The maritime influence provides relatively high summer humidity, vine stress is low, sunshine hours are abundant, and rainfall is plentiful during winter and spring. The coincidence of late ripening and a prolonged gentle autumn result in fully ripe grapes with outstanding fruit flavors, high natural acidity and fine tannins.

The name of the region suggests dramatic mountains whereas, in fact, there are modest slopes and gentle, discrete valleys and sub-valleys. It is a picturesque area, with many differing vistas. The altitude of the vineyards varies from 203 metres to 460 metres (666 to 1509 feet). The net result of a series of countervailing influences is a temperate climate ideally suited to the production of full-bodied dry red wines. While the inland location gives rise to low midsummer relative humidity and to substantial diurnal temperature ranges in spring and early summer, late summer peak temperatures are lower than one would expect. This, in turn, is reflected in the region's lower than expected heat summation. Sunshine hours are generous; growing season rainfall is, however, limited, making irrigation all but essential. The soils are the common grey-brown and brown loamy sands and sandy loams, though tending to be heavy. They are improved by the addition of gypsum and lime. Vine vigor is moderate, as are yields, and both factors contribute to the undoubted quality and strength of the red wines. Red sandstones are also present and are suitable for flavorsome white or sparkling wines.

The Yarra Valley is Victoria's oldest wine region, has over 3,600 hectares under vine and crushes around 19,000 tonnes of grapes annually. It is also one of Victoria's most visited wine areas, located less than an hour's drive east of Melbourne's CBD or south-east of the airport. The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's coolest regions, with elevation varying from 50m-400m. Rainfall is winter/spring dominant, with the summer relatively cool, dry and humid. There is limited maritime influence. The small diurnal temperature range reflects the proximity of the sea. Harvest typically commences in early March with Pinot Noir and finishes with Cabernet Sauvignon in early May. Frost is rarely a problem, but can affect the lower vineyards on the valley floor from time to time. With a seven-month growing season, rainfall of 750-950mm (often less rather than more) and restricted water holding capacity in some soils, irrigation is considered essential − although the extent of its use does vary significantly between producers. There are two basic soil types. The traditional areas on the northern side of the valley are grey to grey-brown in color on the surface and range from loamy sand to clay loam in consistency with red-brown clay subsoils, frequently impregnated with rock. Most are relatively acidic and low in fertility, but are generally well drained. The other major soil type is the immensely deep and fertile red volcanic soil to be found at Seville, Hoddles Creek and elsewhere on the southern (Warburton) side of the valley. Great care in cultivation should be taken with the latter soil type to devigorate vines planted in it, so that they produce fruit and not luxuriant foliage.