<p><b>Yarra Valley</b></p> The Yarra Valley was first planted by the Ryrie brothers who explored a way through the Snowy Mountains to the Yarra Valley, planting grapes in 1838 just three years after the foundation of Melbourne. A wine industry (developed by Swiss Settlers particularly Hubert de Castella and Baron Guillaume de Pury in the 1850s) thrived during the gold rush era and heyday of the 19th century. However, the end of the gold rush brought the wine industry into decline and it was not until the 1970’s that the modern wine industry started up again. The region is probably Australia’s best-known cool-climate area, yet it is really a patchwork of meso-climates. This varied topography creates an incredible set of variables. Vineyards are planted on elevations of 50 to 400m on varying aspects and management programmes. The more exposed sites are subject to severe spring frosts and

<p><em><span>&ldquo;For fifteen years the Emperor [Napoleon] constantly drank the same wine&nbsp;</span>[Gevrey-Chambertin]&nbsp;, which he liked and which we believed was good for him."</em></p> <p><span><strong>M&eacute;morial de Sainte-H&eacute;l&egrave;ne by The Count of Las Cases</strong></span></p> <p>&lt;p class="m_104224110535