Bailey's of Glenrowan

Established: 1870

Location: 8km from Glenrowan on Taminick Gap Road. The Hume Highway bypasses the town these days so you have to enter the township and then follow the signs.

Winemaker: Stephen Goodwin.

Important Varietals: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Muscat and Tokay.

Personal Comments:

I always make this the first winery stop on a tour of the northern Victorian wineries, driving down from Rutherglen from the north. Arriving here on a cold morning to find the fire going strongly, and the heavy reds starting to drop off their overnight chill, it's a great place to get warm, both inside and out.

Recent Releases worth considering:

• Classic Hermitage 1993 - big and heavy Shiraz style. Bailey's went away from this style in the 80s for a while but it has now made a very welcome return. This is the style you have to drink with a knife and fork in ten year's time. Anything less is just infanticide.
• Winemaker's Selection Cabernet 1991.
• Winemaker's Selection Shiraz 1992 - made from vines planted in 1904.
• 1920's Block Shiraz 1992 - made from vines planted in 1920s.
• Winemaker's Selection Muscat and Winemaker's Selection Tokay - these almost defy description.
• Founder Liqueur Muscat and Founder Liqueur Tokay - if you can't afford the fifty or so dollars for the Winemaker's Selections of these styles then the Founder series will not let you down. I still can't get over the fact that winemakers like Bailey's can sell these world-class sweet fortified wines for under fifteen dollars. Oh well, our gain is the rest of the world's loss I guess.

A few other comments regarding this winery are available at the Oz-Wine North-East Victoria page.

Winestate magazine rated the Bailey's Founder Liqueur Tokay with a maximum 5 stars and said: "Rich, classic tea leaf nose. The quintessential tokay with rich fruit, older material and outstanding wood and honey concentration yet not cloying. Exceptional value for money from a world point of view." At a quoted price of $14.50 it is hard to argue with them.

This page, and all contents, are copyright © 1995-2001 by Perry Middlemiss, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Last modified: March 30, 2001.