The Region.

Gippsland has long been recognised as having an ideal climate for vine-growing and at the end of the nineteenth century was described as the ‘agricultural paradise of Victoria.’ The first regional vineyard of note in Gippsland was planted in 1859 by eccentric local police superintendent Edgar Slade at Alberton in South Gippsland, not far from Waratah Hills.

Sixty years later in the 1940s, Mr F DeCastella, Government Viticulturist described Gippsland:
“The possibilities for wine production have scarcely yet been thought of, and yet
this is the portion of our State which approximates most closely to the South of
France and the Levante and Catalonia of Eastern Spain, the region of
SouthernEurope where the vine is most extensively cultivated.”

A second modern day renaissance of Gippsland vine-planting occurred
in the early to mid 1990s and dozens of successful vineyards now dot
the Gippsland landscape. It is these vines which are now producing
award winning wines.

With the many breathtaking scenic routes that span the South Gippsland
region you will find it all to easy to ‘coast’ from one great destination to
another sampling our great hospitality, friendly service and of course the
perfect glass of Waratah Hills ‘handcrafted’ wines.