The Australian Wine Region that Pairs Great with Summer
- Heathcote, Shepherd's Pie, Cab Sauv and Cabernet Franc blend and more
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I love exploring. Studying wine at the WSET Diploma level exposed me to more “rare” wine regions, from a Canadian point of view anyway. So, when perusing the wine shelves for inspiration recently, I was thrilled to discover a Heathcote wine! Grabbing it was a no-brainer!
Never heard of it.
First one I have seen honestly.
Here’s a map of the wine regions of Victoria. Find the Heathcote wine region - it is almost smack in the middle of the map, within the Victoria Central Zone in Australia.
Heathcote is one of the cooler regions within the Victoria Central Zone. Summer days are warm, but nights cool off due to two factors. Firstly the altitude at its position on the side of Mount Carmel Range at 110 to 600 m (260 to 1970 ft), and secondly the cool prevailing southerly and south-easterly winds that funnel along the slopes.
Why is cooling important for grapes again?
Retaining the grapes’ acidity is key for quality wines. Without enough acidity wines can feel flat and heavy, losing the refreshing character which keeps you coming back for more. Cooling grapes at night also slows down ripening, giving the grapes time to develop more complex flavours which translates into better wine!
Primarily a red wine region, 85% of Heathcote grapes are black. Shiraz is its star accounting for 50% of black grapes. For the whites it is Chardonnay all day. But the region is moving beyond its comfort zone of Shiraz, hence the newly discovered Cab Sauv and Cab Franc wine that I was so impressed with.
It is perfect for the summer weather here in the Northern hemisphere.
I thought people moved away from reds when the weather is hot.
Sure, lighter wines are great for summer, but New World-style reds go great with grilled food, so this is when I shift towards those styles.
Put some burgers on the barbie did ya, mate?
Well, we had no “barbie” for some time as we were staging our condo for sale, and so we pulled some Shepherd’s Pie from the freezer. Turns out the pairing was spectacular as hubby seasons the pie with tarragon. It was a “match made in Calgary”, pairing beautifully with the herbal notes from the Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc.
For those who are not familiar with Shepherd’s Pie, it is a British comfort dish traditionally made with a savoury lamb filling topped with mashed potatoes. In Western Canada it is typically made with ground beef, although we personally sometimes mess around with the meat combination. There’s also usually a vegetable layer in the middle. The tarragon is not traditional at all, but man, it made that wine sing!
Fun Fact: Our beef version would be called Cottage Pie across the Atlantic in its native land, instead of Shepherd’s Pie. Who knew!
So back to Heathcote. Let’s talk soils.
Its famous red, deep soils retain water, reducing the need for vineyard irrigation. The result? The vines produce small berries that are concentrated with flavour and aromas, providing a stand out richness.
Fun fact: this red soil is known as Cambrian Greenstones
Confusing, I know, don’t ask. (Blame some Australian geologist!)
Now a little about the producer. Wild Duck Creek Estates was founded by David Anderson when he planted his first vines in 1974 at the age of 21. His son Liam is now a key player in the operation.
I love the winery name and waterfowl theme!
Me too.
The combination of a nearby creek named Wild Duck Creek and the founder’s nickname being “Duck” made for…
…A match made in wine heaven!
I loved perusing the names of their wines, many duck themed. My favs are Duck Muck, Fortified Duck, Grandpa Duck (as David is known by his grandchildren), and of course Ducks and Drakes, the featured wine.
Great now I’m craving comfort food with red wine!
Have I got a pairing for you!!
Scroll down to learn more about the featured wine.
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Wild Duck Creek Estate ‘Ducks & Drakes’ Cabernet Sauvignon & Cabernet Franc 2022, Heathcote, Central Victoria Zone, Australia
Style: Full body New World-style red wine
Variety(ies): 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc
This wine needed a little nudge with some decanting to show its colours. Flavours of fresh cassis, red currant, dusty black cherry, and earth were the first to appear. Next came cloves, red cherry, and a minty/eucalyptus note. The wine continued to evolve until sadly the bottle was gone with flavours of blueberry and nuts. This is on the lighter side of full bodied, has moderately high intensity, moderately high ripe tannins that have a slight grip, and a long finish.
Best pairings: Tarragon seasoned Shepherd’s pie, Grilled steak, Herb-crusted rack of lamb, Red wine–braised beef short ribs, Duck breast with a cherry or cassis reduction, Roast pork loin with rosemary and garlic, Mushroom Wellington, Cheeses: Aged Cheddar, Comté, or Manchego
Serving Temperature: 16-18 degrees Celsius
Serving Tips: Decant for a minimum of 30 minutes as this wine takes time to wake up
Price: ~$34 Cdn
Relevant Shades of Grape links: Keep scrolling
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LINKS TO RELEVANT PAST SHADES OF GRAPE ARTICLES:
SOURCES:
Goulburn-Murray Water, 2013. Wild Duck Creek Local Management Rules 2010 – updated June 2013. [PDF] Available at: https://www.gmwater.com.au/downloads/gmw/LMR/WILD_DUCK_CREEK_LOCAL_MANAGEMENT_RULES_2010_-_updated_June_2013.pdf [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Harding, J. and Robinson, J., 2023. The Oxford companion to wine. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Heathcote Winegrowers Association, no date. Heathcote Winegrowers. [online] Available at: https://www.heathcotewinegrowers.com.au/ [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Robinson, J., no date. Abruzzo’s new avant-garde: Part 2. [online] Available at: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/abruzzos-new-avant-garde-part-2 [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Wild Duck Creek Estate, no date. Wild Duck Creek Estate. [online] Available at: https://wildduckcreekestate.com.au/[Accessed 9 July 2026].
Wine Australia, 2024. Heathcote region snapshot 2024–25. [PDF] Available at: https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/2e933649-7d7f-4428-a047-c9ef32253796/MI_Heathcote-Region-Snapshot-2024-25.pdf [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Wine Australia, no date. Heathcote. [online] Available at: https://www.wineaustralia.com/market-insights/regions-and-varieties/victoria-wines/heathcote [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Wine Australia, no date. Victoria wine map. [online image] Available at: https://www.wineaustralia.com/getmedia/bc43c787-0492-478d-9ef0-fd2ce006e10b/Victoria-Map-105556_1.jpg [Accessed 9 July 2026].
Wine & Spirit Education Trust, 2025. D3: Wines of the World – An accompaniment to the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Version 1.2. London: Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
We definitely grew up on Shepherds pie!!! Love it!!!
Victorian wines are wonderful and varied. Great to read about Heathcote and a pairing with delicious Shepherds pie :) :)