The Bendigo Wine Estate Vineyard
at Axedale is continuing the grand winemaking tradition
of the Campaspe Valley, which was established, by
H.G. and J.B. Bennett in 1844 and expanded rapidly
during the 1850’s gold rushes to reach over 50
vineyards by the 1880’s. Irish, German, French
and English vignerons developed the wine industry
to meet the thirst of the gold industry at Bendigo
which today still remains as one of the ten largest
goldfields in the world.
The Campaspe Valley wine industry reached it’s
zenith at the Vienna World Exhibition of 1873 when
Bendigo was awarded a certificate proclaiming Bendigo
as the best red wine area in the world. The Museum
of Victoria holds this certificate, which it regards
as an icon of the Victorian Wine Industry. The top
award for red wine at the Vienna Exhibition went to
Karl Pohl of Axe Creek south of Axedale.
Preliminary work at the Bendigo Wine Estate Vineyard
commenced in 1997 with 36 acres of vines planted in
1998 and 64.5 acres in 1999.
The first vintage of 50 tonnes in 2000 is the wine
currently available. 364 tonnes were vintaged in 2001
and 329 tonnes this year. |
