Wine Lists

18 King Valley wines to try

By J'aime Cardillo

7 Feb, 2024

The King Valley was the first region in Australia to plant prosecco, but it's also lauded for its pinot grigio/gris, chardonnay, and red grapes like sangiovese and nebbiolo. Here are 18 King Valley wines to try.

The King Valley – AKA Little Italy or Victoria's Mediterranean – is home to family-owned wineries like Brown Brothers and Dal Zotto Wines. It's also the birthplace of prosecco in Australia. The region produces outstanding pinot grigio and gris, nebbiolo, and grows alternate grapes like garganega, sagrantino, and saperavi

Prosecco was first planted in the region in 1999 by Otto Dal Zotto. Since, Brown Brothers, Chrismont, Pizzini and Sam Miranda have all followed Otto's lead, producing some of Australia's most beautiful prosecco. Together, in 2011, the wineries created Prosecco Road – a food and wine trail that heroes the Italian dining experience.

While the region is known for its prosecco, savoury sangiovese and crisp pinot grigio/gris, it also champions traditional grapes like chardonnay, pinot noir, and merlot.

If you're taking a trip to Victoria's north-east, you can expect warm and welcoming service, along with signature dishes from the motherland. Be sure to make time to stop in at Brown Brothers, ChrismontDal Zotto, Darling Estate, John Gehrig Wines, King River Estate, La Cantina, Pizzini Wines, Politini Wines, Sam Miranda, and Wood Park Wines on your next visit.

Here are 18 wines to try from the King Valley – separated into prosecco, white wines and red wines – find your new favourite below.

Enrol in a Halliday Wine Academy course in 2024

Learn more about Australian wine with Halliday Wine Academy. 

Across eight modules, Halliday Wine Academy's Introduction to Wine online course offers a detailed look at the Australian wine landscape. Learn about Australian wine regions, how wine is made, how to taste and describe wine, how to approach food and wine matches, along with handy tips that address common wine questions.

If you prefer to learn in a classroom setting, enrol in our 2024 Fundamentals of Wine in-person classes that kick off in May. Our Fundamentals of Wine in-person course includes one two-hour session per week for four weeks. Students will be hosted by Jane Faulkner in Melbourne and Mike Bennie in Sydney. 

Image credit: Pizzini.