The climate is right for cabernet grapes at Glenmaggie Wines

WHILE their neighbours are pulling out cabernet vines, Glenmaggie winemakers Fleur and Tony Dawkins and planting them. A rapidly heating micro­climate has meant they can ripen cabernet grapes perfectly. “Most of Gippsland has trouble ripening cabernet because it’s too cold, but we don’t. We have a very hot site,” Fleur said. “It’s the same sort of climate they have to produce French Hermitage wine.