Given that starting up a winery and getting it to a state where it is semi-profitable takes roughly 7–10 years, one may be led to believe that pioneers of wine regions would hasten to give their regions names that command prestige, or elegance, or even just a base level of respect. That said, it may interest you to know that there are many wine regions sporting somewhat colourful names.
Now, I will be the first to say that the wine industry is in fact a very serious affair. Typically, you find wine regions are named after important people, or places, or some other important sentiment that remains a mystery. But when I come across a region that goes against the grain, I’ll admit it tends to make me want to buy a bottle just that little bit more.
So, on that note, I’ve compiled a short list of some of the more interesting wine regions I have come across. Now, for full disclosure, this is not the most well-structured, well-written or comprehensive list you will have seen (honestly, it may not even be accurate), but this is my blog post and not yours, so read on if you like, or don’t! That is entirely up to you!
1 – Rocky Knob AVA, California, USA: Kicking off strong with an entry out of the States, because what would an unhinged blog post be without an honourable mention to the land of the free? Located on the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state of Virginia, Rocky Knob AVA is in fact named after a mountain peak of the same name (because of course it is). Despite being a relatively small wine region, it is said that plenty of halfway decent Chardonnay and Riesling wines are produced in Rocky Knob. What makes this AVA even better is its proximity to the town of Haycock.
2 – Bâtard-Montrachet AOC, Burgundy, France: One of the world’s most highly regarded wine-growing regions, located in the Côte de Beaune in Burgundy, Bâtard-Montrachet translates from French to English as ‘Bastard Montrachet’, and fittingly so, given the region was supposedly named after the bastard son of the Lord of Montrachet back in the 12th century. The Grand Cru vineyards of Bâtard-Montrachet sit lovingly across the communes of Puligny-Montrachet and Chassagne-Montrachet, sharing a border with fellow Grand Crus Montrachet and Chevalier-Montrachet. At the time of writing, purchasing a bottle of Bâtard-Montrachet will set you back at least 800 Aussie bucks, which only proves that you really can do anything if you set your mind to it, regardless of your background. It might just take an extra few hundred years.
3 – Glenrowan GI, VIC, Australia: I have got no idea who Glen is, or why rowing has anything to do with wine, but Glen went rowing and a wine region was born apparently; never mind the fact that the town of Glenrowan was famously the town in which Ned Kelly was captured. Perhaps Nedrobin would’ve been a more apt name? Anyway, Glenrowan is renowned for producing fortified wines from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, and full-bodied red wines from grapes such as Primitivo and Durif (or Petit Syrah if you’re from literally anywhere else). Glenrowan is a wine region not for the faint of heart; with an average alcohol content sitting around 14% for still wines and 18% for fortified, you’re likely to be intoxicated well before you’re eyeing off your second glass. Ned would’ve been proud.
4 – Mt Difficulty, Bannockburn, Central Otago GI, NZ: OK, technically Mt Difficulty is the name of a winery, though the Bannockburn sub-region of Central Otago does in fact sit at the base of the mountain Mt Difficulty, which feels very fitting given the current state of the economy, specifically the state of the wine industry. Despite the name, Mt Difficulty produces excellent Pinot Noirs in the classic earthy, dark-fruit-forward style that is signature to Central Otago. Worthy of a visit if it’s not too difficult for you to manage.
5 – Skåne, Sweden: Is it Swedish, or is it Danish? It really depends on who you ask, but legally speaking, Skåne sits within the confines of Sweden; and as such, winegrowers must meet the incredibly strict legal requirements set out by Swedish agricultural and government bodies to grow grapes, produce wine and sell it. Firstly, copper fungicides are completely prohibited in Sweden, meaning that grape growers are reliant on disease-resistant varieties such as Solaris and Cabernet Cortis to successfully grow a crop. Furthermore, there is only one alcohol provider licensed to sell alcohol in Sweden, and with extremely high export costs, smaller producers are forced to contend with larger brands within Sweden that are able to supply their products at crazy-low prices (it’s giving ‘Uncle Dan’s’ vibes). Lastly, cellar doors in Sweden may only offer wine tastings and sales to visitors if they are first offered a formal tour of the premises and been officially informed that ‘alcohol is bad and dangerous’ by the makers as they attempt to sell their product. As tough as it is in the wine industry, I dare say the producers of Skåne have it rougher than most; there truly must be a love for the fight when literally every card is being played against you.
6 – West Australian South East Coastal GI, WA, Australia: You’d be forgiven for not knowing what the hell the title of this Geographical Indicator was trying to tell you; personally, I think “Not North” would’ve been a more apt and reasonable name, but no doubt that would have been far too easy and wouldn’t have cost nearly enough tax-payer dollars. Technically speaking, there currently aren’t any registered vineyards within the region of West Australian South East Coastal, but whether that’s because it’s a bad area for growing grapes, or simply because no one seems to be able to find it, will remain a mystery for now.
Thank you for reading!
– Jess
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