ATTRACTION OXLEY

Ciavarella Oxley Estate Winery is a small gem at Oxley in Victoria's King Valley wine region. The Ciavarella family established a vineyard in 1978, initially selling grapes. The step into winemaking was in 1992. Ciavarella Oxley Estate Winery has achieved a reputation as a maker of fine, hand-crafted wines. Their winemaking philosophy is for the vineyard and grapes to express themselves in the bottle, through effort in viticulture, patience and attention to detail in the winemaking. The winery is only one kilometre off the Snow Road, a scenic route to many attractions and gateway to the King Valley and Milawa Gourmet Region. Wines include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Durif, Dolcino (a sweet red), Late Harvest Semillon Aucerot, and a range of fortifieds. The Ciavarellas are custodians of the variety aucerot. Cuttings collected from Europe by Varley Bailey in the early 1900s were planted at Bailey's near Glenrowan. Cyril Ciavarella obtained cuttings before their removal in the 1980s . The name aucerot is not used in Europe; exact heritage is unknown. The planting, thought the only one in Australia, is prized for the fine dessert wines that come from it.

John Gehrig Wines is a fifth generation run family winery located in two great North East Victorian locations in the King Valley at the cross road of the Milawa Gourmet Region only 15 minutes from Wangaratta or also now located in Rutherglen in the historic Snarts winery shed on Gooramadda road. They have a wide range of wines from Sparkling right through to Fortified's. So why not visit either cellar doors and try a family favourite, their Riesling. John Gehrig's winery is like a little oasis in a pretty glade by the King River. Stands of mature trees shade a rose garden, geese and ducks roam the grounds, and the tasting room has a rustic, countrified, timeless feel. John Gehrig specialises in unusual varietal wines like Durif, Petit Verdot, Gamay and Pinot Meunier, as well as Chardonnay and Merlot, and a popular Border Blend of Bordeaux varieties. John Gehrig Wines now has a new Cellar Door and Vineyard in Rutherglen please visit the website for more details on location and operational hours.