Ararat Rural City Council, in collaboration with the Grampians Winemakers Inc. and Grampians Tourism, has launched a new online platform profiling an array of emerging and established winemakers from throughout the Grampians region. The new portal, Made the Grampians Way, will offer consumers a selection of mixed cases, carefully curated to showcase the versatility of the region and suit different tastes.
The platform will profile a wide range of locally produced wine, providing critical exposure for small producers whilst also supporting some of the region’s best and most established wineries who are struggling in the face of COVID-19. For those unable to visit, it will act as a window into the Grampians’ unique spirit and abundance of local creators who make up the heart of the region.
The initiative has been funded through a grant from the Victorian Government and the Stronger Regional Communities Program, which supports regional initiatives aimed at attracting families and young people to the region to live and work.
Speaking on the launch of Made the Grampians Way, Dr Tim Harrison, CEO, Ararat Rural City Council said: “Ararat Rural City Council is passionate about the wine in our area and bringing it to the wider audience. It will come as no surprise that our wineries have been severely affected by COVID-19 and through this portal we hope that we can not only raise awareness of the Grampians as a wine region but build lasting connections with consumers to help promote future visitation to our wonderful area”.
Wine lovers will be able to choose from a variety of curated mixed packs based on their preferred flavour profile. Those keen to familiarise themselves with the region’s renowned peppery shiraz can opt for the Seriously Shiraz Dozen, which includes signature bottles from some of the most established wineries, such as Seppelt, Pomonal Estate and Mount Langi Ghiran.
Other packs will showcase the full breadth of the region’s flavours, with wineries such as Grampians Estate and Montara Wines putting their best bottles forward for the Award-Winning Mixed Dozen. The likes of Fallen Giants, SubRosa Wine and Clarnette & Ludvigsen each offer a lighter, fruitier option in the Spring Special Mixed Dozen, perfect for a warm afternoon in the spring sun.
Damien Sheehan, Chairman, Grampians Winemakers Inc. said: “The winemakers and local producers in the Grampians are an integral part of the region’s DNA and revenue has been hit hard due to COVID-19. This project is a collaborative effort to support our producers big and small and give them a platform to adapt and diversify their business so they can come out the other side. We are so excited to shine a light on the premium produce coming out of the Grampians and hope wine lovers near and far are just as excited to taste it”.
Home to some of the most promising new boutique wineries, consumers will be able to support the Grampians’ smaller producers and sample true hidden treasures with the Off the Beaten Track Mixed Half Dozen. Alternatively, wine connoisseurs who want to try it all can make up their own pack from a selection of almost 20 different wines.
Going beyond just an online store, the platform will also delve into the region’s rich history of winemaking, providing in-depth background details on each winery and profiling the unique flavour of every bottle sold.
Prices start at $164 for Off the Beaten Track mixed half dozen.
For further information and to purchase visit www.madethegrampiansway.com.au