Tahbilk

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tahbilk
Location	Strathbogie Shire, Victoria, Australia
Wine region	Goulburn Valley
Founded	1860
Known for	Marsanne
Varietals	Marsanne, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Mourvedre, Roussanne
Other attractions	Wetland tours
Distribution	National, wine club
Tasting	Cellar door
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Tahbilk is one of the oldest winery in Victoria, Australia, having a continuous history since 1860.^[1] It is situated 120kms north of Melbourne in Strathbogie Shire in the Nagambie Lakes region of central Victoria. The name was chosen because the Aboriginals referred to the site as "tabilk-tabilk" meaning "place of many waterholes".^[2] Until 2000, the winery was known as Chateau Tahbilk. Original cellars from the 1860s and 1870s are still in use. These and the buildings are classified by the National Trust of Australia.^[3] The winery also runs the Tahbilk Wetlands and Wildlife Reserve.

The winery specialises in the rare Rhone whites of Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne and also produces Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho, Grenache and Mourvedre. Some original pre-phylloxera Shiraz vines survive from 1860.

Tahbilk claims to have the largest, single holding of Marsanne in the world.^[4] The first vines were cuttings in the 1860s from the St Huberts Winery in the Yarra Valley; another old winery but without a continuous history since that date. The present plantings of Marsanne date from 1927.

Tahbilk also claims to be oldest (1860) winery in Victoria, but Chambers Rosewood Winery and Gehrig Estate Wines in Rutherglen claim to have been founded in 1858, while Morris Wines, also from Rutherglen, claims to have been foundered in 1859.^[5] These Rutherglen wineries specialise in fortified wines.

The many awards of Tahbilk wines include the Diploma of Honour, the highest award obtainable at the Greater London Exhibition of 1899.^[6] Tahbilk was the National Winner in the Parks, Gardens and the Environment Category of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2007.^[7]