Central Victoria is a wine “zone”, meaning that it consists of a number of sub-regions including Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote, Strathbogie Ranges and Upper Goulburn. These regions are the inland foothills of the Great Dividing Range which snakes up Australia’s eastern coast as far as Queensland. Generally days are warm and nights are cool. Red wines dominate.

Vermouth is a combination of wine, wormwood and various botanicals, which through the ages has been used for reasons both medicinal and magical. A vital cocktail component as well as inherently drinkable on its own, vermouth is an unchallenged staple.

Maidenii (pronounced maiden-eye) was created in 2011 by French winemaker Gilles Lapalus and Australian bartender Shaun Byrne. In their creation, Shaun and Gilles wanted to showcase Australia’s unique native botanicals. Their vermouth uses young wine and native flora to make a vibrant product distinct from others. Named for Joseph Maiden who was a stalwart champion of the eucalypt and the acacia, which grow gold and green across this vast country. He delved deeply and with joy into the oft-neglected wealth of Australian botanical novelty, finding value and beauty where others saw none.