Mixed Cases: Stories of the Bendigo Winegrowers
The people behind the wines
Sara Schwarz
Mixed Cases: Stories of the Bendigo Winegrowers
As I drive around Victoria's regions, I am often fascinated by the different stories of how wineries came to be. Sometimes it was the desire for a sea or tree change, other times the reins have been passed from one generation to the next and often winery owners continue to lead separate careers as teachers, nurses or lawyers.
Mixed Cases: Stories of the Bendigo Winegrowers, beautifully encapsulates the stories of 24 wineries across the Bendigo region sharing how these wineries began and who the people are behind them. Written by John Holton and Lauren Mitchell for the Bendigo Winegrowers Association, each story entices you to learn more, visit the region and try the wines. The gorgeous photography by Kate Monotti-Grose and Anthony Webster and the exquisite book design by Jacqui Lynch seduces you also.
Indeed after three days recently spent in the Bendigo region, I was given a copy of Mixed Cases on my last day. After a Saturday afternoon reading through it, it was all I could do to not jump in the car and head north again, sad about the wineries I didn’t visit and the wine I didn’t have the chance to taste – though it won’t be long until I do, I’m sure.
Often the names of the wineries featured were familiar to me: Balgownie Estate, Passing Clouds, Chateau Leamon (now Leamon Estate). These wineries have been around longer that me, however I discovered how little I knew about the people behind the label and each of their stories are fascinating, giving us an insight into the character of the region as much as themselves.
Stories such as Stuart Anderson who started Balgownie Estate back in 1969, planting the first vines in the region in modern times, in paddocks where nothing existed but sheep and scrub for as far as the eye could see.
Or the delightful story of Paul and Karen at Sandhurst Ridge Estate who were pen pals in different hemispheres for over 20 years before finally meeting and then later settling on Paul’s family winery.
Or the heartbreaking tale of how the phylloxera louse wiped out Bendigo’s dynamic wine industry in the 1880s and 1890s (and across much of the world). The result was a vine growing and winemaking hiatus across the region lasting over three generations before its resurgence with Balgownie Estate and others throughout the 1970s.
Written during the vintage of 2010, the theme of long, hard years of drought recurs throughout the pages of Mixed Cases. Having faced many challenges from over a decade of little to no rain, the determination and ingenuity of those featured within soon becomes apparent. Now in 2011, too much rain has caused flooded rivers across Victoria and much of Eastern Australia resulting in disease rearing its ugly head and new challenges to be faced.
So if you head to Bendigo some time soon, ensure to ask at cellar door about this year’s wet and wild vintage, taste the wines made in times of drought and have a chat to the person pouring them. Chances are they grew the grapes and made the wine in front of you.
Mixed Cases captures the friendly, passionate nature of the individuals who make up the region. Read this book and it won’t be long until you are making your own plans to visit the wonderful Bendigo Wine Region.
Mixed Cases: Stories of the Bendigo Winegrowers is written by John Hoton and Lauren Mitchell. It is published by Bendigo Winegrowers Association (2010) and retails for RRP AUD$20.00 and can be purchased via Bendigo Winegrowers Association
Regions
- Bendigo (VIC)
- Goldfields (VIC)
Our Recommendations
To see our recommendations, ratings and reviews you must be a logged-in subscriber.
To subscribe please enter your email address in the "Subscribe Now - it's Free" box on the right and click the "Join" button, or fill in this form >
RACV Members: Show Your Card and Save at Connor Park Winery, Bendigo region »
RACV Members: Show Your Card and Save at Balgownie Estate »
Glenwillow Vineyard is located in White Hills, on the Sandon-Yandoit Rd at Yandoit Creek in the southern fringe of the premium red wine growing region of Bendigo, ... read more
Bridge Vineyard (The) & Knots WinesThe Bridge Vineyard is a small winegrowing property five kilometers North of Heathcote township, in Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Bullock Creek VineyardBullock Creek Vineyard is located in Ravenswood, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Amadee Park VineyardAmadee Park Vineyard is located in Lockwood, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Turners CrossingTurner's Crossing Vineyard is located in Bendigo, an historic wine-growing region in Victoria's Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. The vineyard is located on the ... read more
Rivergate WinesRivergate Wines vineyard is situated just north of Axedale in Victoria Goldfields, midway between Bendigo and Heathcote, in the Campaspe River Valley, in Melbourne ... read more
PondalowiePondalowie Vineyards is located in Bridgewater-on-Loddon, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. Dominic and Krystina Morris ... read more
LynneVale Estate (Bendigo)LynneVale Estate is a winery located on the southern edge of Bendigo, within the Goldfields region of Victoria, in Melbourne Surrounds. It is an ideal base from ... read more
Sandhurst Ridge (Bendigo)Sandhurst Ridge produces big, hand-crafted wines full of character. It is located at Marong within the Bendigo and Goldfields region of Victoria, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Mandurang Valley Wines (Bendigo)Mandurang Valley Winery is just south east of Bendigo and Mandurang Valley, in Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. Iis a haven for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay ... read more
GlenalbynGlenalbyn vineyard was planted by Jack and Lee Gillespie, along the creek flats of the Old Kingower Creek, in rich, red loam over a lyaer of clay and limestone, ... read more
Water Wheel Vineyards (Bendigo)Water Wheel Vineyards is owned by the Cumming family who have farmed in the Bendigo region for fifty years. The vineyards are located in Bridgewater-on-Loddon (off ... read more
Sutton Grange WinerySutton Grange is situated on the granitic foothills of Mount Alexander, on the edge of the Bendigo region of Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Connor Park Winery, Bendigo regionConnor Park Winery is a 165 hectare rural property located on the banks of the meandering Bullock Creek, only 25 minutes from Bendigo and a comfortable 2 hour drive ... read more
Burnt Acre Vineyard is located 4km from the township of Marong, just west of Bendigo in Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. The property is just onto the ... read more
Blackjack WinesBlackJack Vineyards is situated on the granitic soil of the Harcourt Valley in the Bendigo Wine Region of Victroia's Goldfields in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Avonmore Estate Bio-Dynamic WinesAvonmore Estate is a family owned and operated 300 acre farm. It is located in Avonmore, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria Goldfields in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Leamon Estate (Chateau Leamon)The vineyard at Leamon Estate was established in 1973 on the northern slopes of Big Hill close to the Goldfields city of Bendigo, Victoria (Melbourne Surrounds), ... read more
Balgownie Estate (Bendigo)
Balgownie Estate, near Bendigo, is one of Australia's great small vineyards famed for its long lived Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The Balgownie Estate Bendigo ... read more
Sheer Drop Wines is lcoated in Faraday, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Black Estate VineyardBlack Estate Vineyard is a small, family owned business which is operated in the Bendigo wine region, at Axe Creek, in Victoria Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. read more
Newbridge WinesNewbridge Wines is located in Newbridge, in the Bendigo wine region of Victoria's Goldfields, in Melbourne Surrounds. Wines can also be tasted at Newbridge Hotel ... read more
The Bendigo District Winegrowers Association represents some of Australia's best wineries. The winegrowers formed the association to promote better understanding ... read more
Tutor your nose to detect the subtle aromas in wine and learn to appreciate and enjoy its complexities. VisitVineyards.com subscribers purchasing Le Nez du Vin aroma sets can save up to $110 and get two Essential Wine Tasting Guides for the price of one. Read about the 
Thinking celebration? Then surely thinking Champagne, the wine that's always part of life's most important occasions. And sometimes just for the pure bubbly, enjoyment. Dine and sip with royalty, celebrity at history-making moments with your copy of Champagne and Chandeliers by Bernadette O'Shea. VisitVineyards.com subscribers, you receive a 15 per cent discount on purchase 
Le Figaro calls her "the undisputed mistress of the kingdom of wine". Receive an immediate introductory 
Like to discover more about this state's lifestyle, wine, food and more? Then ask us now for your free copy of Tasmania 40 Degrees South the magazine that showcases the best of Australia's island state. 
In our No 1 Wine Book of 2010, Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein matches distinctive wines with recipes from his favourite chefs in this book focussing on new and emerging grape varietals. VisitVineyards.com subscribers and Members buying this book will receive a 
Add some refreshing fruit sparkle and a Cheeky Rascal to brighten up your winter! Rebello Wines introduces its multi-award winning strawberry wine and a range of ciders made from fresh, seasonal Victorian fruit and offers VisitVineyards.com subscribers the chance to 