Geelong

A city of southeast Australia southwest of Melbourne. It is a manufacturing center with a thriving tourist industry. Population: 161,000.

An Australian wine region located in the Port Phillip Zone of victoria. It's situated on Port Phillip Bay about 45 miles southwest of Melbourne around Geelong, Victoria's second largest city. The area has a history going back to the 1860s and 1870s when it was Victoria's most significant wine region. Unfortunately, phylloxera infected the vineyards, which resulted in the area's demise. It was not until the mid-1960s that recovery began. Although it has not reclaimed its former position, Geelong now has over 600 vineyard acres and twenty wineries. chardonnay and pinot noir are the most successful grapes in this cool, maritime climate. cabernet sauvignon and Shiraz (syrah) are widely planted and can be quite good but require warm, dry years to do well.