The Geelong wine region can be divided into two separate histories. Victoria's first vineyards were established by Swiss immigrants in the 1840s and within two decades Geelong was the most significant wine region in Australia producing award winning wines acclaimed the World over.
Geelong's wine fortunes were abruptly halted in 1875 when the government ordered the removal of all vines due to an outbreak of the vine parasite Philloxera.
It was not until the 1960s that the Geelong region was re-established to vine growing and winemaking; today Geelong is once again a powerful force on the Australian and International stage with the region's wines acclaimed as world class.
The Geelong region, in wine terms, is classed as cool climate, meaning extended and slower ripening periods, with low irrigation and yields resulting in more concentrated flavours. The region is fairly dry, with the majority of the rain falling in winter and spring and also rich in micro-climates depending on the site's distance from Port Philip Bay and Bass Strait. The region's varieties reflect the cool climate conditions and include Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Riesling; red varieties include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.
As operators of the only public testing laboratory in the region we have for many years been able to assess different grapes and wines from other growing regions of Australia and remain of the opinion that grapes and wines of the Geelong region are, indeed, World class.
Villa Caterina is a micro-winery operating in the Geelong region producing annually between 250 and 300 cases of hand-crafted cool climate wines. As a mark of respect for these wonderful grapes our wines are made using only traditional methods including indigenous ferments, basket pressing, followed by extensive maturation in French and American oak barrels; only minimum intervention and additions are made.
Our traditional artisan approach ensures that each stage of the winemaking process is entirely done by hand, from picking each bunch to labelling each bottle. We believe our respect for traditional winemaking methods and the pride and care we take in honouring them is reflected in the quality of the wines we offer.
Please note that Villa Caterina wines are not available in the usual commercial outlets, but can be purchased via mail order only.