Roberts Estate
In 1913, eager to expand his flourishing family business, EJ Roberts recognised that the soil and the climate of the region were well suited for viticulture. Foiled by the local railway in his attempt to lease a block of land, Roberts went straight to the Chairman of Railway Commissioners.
As his diary relates:
“After a quite a friendly all-round talk…he told the engineer to let me have it.”
The Murray Darling is Australia’s second-largest wine region, home to a diverse range of wine styles, activities and a vibrant food scene. Straddling the Murray River, it’s a haven of rivers, wetlands and forests.
The first vines were planted in 1888 and the region’s small producers are building on the firm foundations of the past while adding interest with innovative wines and alternative varieties.
The Murray Darling region spans Victoria and New South Wales, stretching west to the border of South Australia. The city of Mildura sits at its heart. You can drive to Mildura from Adelaide in a little over four hours or fly from Sydney or Melbourne.
Summers are hot and winters are mild. Being inland, nights can get quite cool. The soil is unique to the Murray River system, ranging from brown to red-brown loams and sands and supporting vigorous vine growth. Mediterranean varieties are perfectly suited to the warm climate of the Murray Darling wine region, and a growing list of wineries are producing wines such as Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Sangiovese and Barbera.
