Dookie's 4 star winery signals renaissance of historic wine region
The University of Melbourne’s Dookie College Winery has achieved a 4 star winery rating in James Halliday’s “Australian Wine Companion – 2007 Edition”.
A four star rating puts Dookie College’s wines in the top forty per cent of wines in Australia and confirms the Dookie region as one of the premier wine regions of Victoria. The top forty percent of wineries are rated between 3.5 and 4.5 stars.
Head of Dookie Campus, Associate Professor Dennis O’Brien, says Dookie is keen to build on the growing reputation of the winery as it progresses into its second century of wine production.
“We’re not resting on our laurels, we’re confident our plantings will produce some excellent fortified wines by 2012 and beyond, and we have a very strong range of red wines coming through including award winning Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. This should stand us in good stead for future James Halliday reviews and wine show awards.”
James Halliday is one of Australia’s most respected wine critics and wine writers, contributing to over 50 books on wine, and his Australian Wine Companion is the bestselling guide to wineries and wine in Australia.
Dookie’s Shiraz, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc were critiqued and rated as follows: **** 2002 Shiraz 93/100 (current release)
**** 2004 Shiraz 92/100 (November release)
**** 2003 Shiraz 90/100
**** 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon 88/100 (current release)
*** 2000 Tarrango 85/100 (sold out)
The 2002 Shiraz received the highest rating, described as “strong, bright colour; seductive blackberry, prune and dark chocolate; with very good texture and structure.” It was said to be available at a bargain basement price of sixteen dollars per bottle.
The 2004 Shiraz followed closely behind with a rating of 92 out of a possible 100. It was described as of “very good colour; full bodied, with very good blackberry, prune, plum and some chocolate; fine tannins and good length.”
Viticulture and winemaking have been taught at Dookie since 1883. Celebrating 100 years since first built in 1896, the Dookie College Winery now functions as a cellar door and regional produce centre, open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm.
Reopened in 1996 the winery is an integral resource, utilised for teaching and research by undergraduate and post graduate students. The winery also provides contract wine making for boutique wineries, nestled in the Dookie Hills and surrounding regions. The Winery produces a range of wines utilising grapes grown on Campus, comprising of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Tarango.
Campus Winemaker Tony Lacy: “The launch of the 2006 range in November provides the perfect opportunity for people to visit the winery and try an award winning range of wines in a unique and historical setting.”
Located off the Midland Highway, half way between Shepparton and Benalla, Dookie Campus is the major rural campus of the University of Melbourne, providing high quality courses, research and training relevant to the current and future needs of the land and food industries of Victoria, Australia and the international community. The Melbourne School of Land and Environment delivers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in agriculture and food systems and natural resource management at Dookie Campus.
Students at the Campus receive a unique education experience that combines science based academic programs with practical experience and research projects incorporated into the commercial activities of the Dookie Campus Farms.
Dookie Campus currently has almost 200 students enrolled in Associate Degree and Bachelor Degree Courses and 45 students enrolled in postgraduate courses. Of these students 130 live on campus in the dormitories, houses and single student accommodation. The majority of postgraduate students are enrolled in viticulture and winemaking, utilising the campus laboratories, vineyard and winery as part of their studies.
For further information
- Sarah Parker on (03) 5833 9274 or email saparker@unimelb.edu.au
- Dookie College Winery