NA ="Myrtleford, Yackandandah, Rosewhite, Kancoona, Gundowning,";
FE1[0]=" The Alpine Valleys Wine Region is based around the town of Myrtleford, a town of some 3500 people located 223 m above sea-level on the Great Alpine Rd between Wangaratta and Bright, with the Northern District including wineries no";
FE2[0]="rth of Mytletown. It has a rich history of Italian culture dating back to the Second World War, and settlements by ex Italian prisoners of war following the end of the war. The region reflects the rural based economy, which has in";
FE3[0]=" the past included tobacco growing, hops for beer, and timber. In recent years winegrape growing has dominated the rural economy, and has saved many farmers who have suffered from the retraction in the tobacco industry. Now the re";
FE4[0]="gion comes alive with tourists especially in Autumn and Spring, at the International Festival in October, the Alpine Valleys Wine & Food Festival in March, and the festivals in Bright in April and October. The region was officiall";
FE5[0]="y launched by former Deputy Prime Minister, Tim Fischer on October 7, 2000. Mr Fischer announced at the launch that the Alpine Valleys region was to produce some of the best wines in Australia and gave the region the slogan, 'Alti";
FE6[0]="tude with Attitude'. The region is located close to several major centres, namely Wangaratta and Albury and Bright as well as Myrtleford are the major towns in the region. Being located so close to the major Australian ski fields ";
FE7[0]="is an added attraction, tourists can combine a ski holiday with a visit to one of the wineries in the region.";
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LA1[0]=" The Region contains two major river basins with the Victorian Alps their main water source. The major rivers, Ovens and Kiewa, with their catchments of Buffalo, Buckland Rivers and Yackandandah Creek, flow generally North by North";
LA2[0]="east ending in the Murray river at Yarrawonga and Wodonga respectively. All of these river catchments have their origins in the upper reachers of the Victorian Alps from Mt Hotham in the North to Mt Buller in the South. The region";
LA3[0]=" ranges in elevation from 180 metres in the Northwest to 600 metres in the South and South East. The soils in the major basins and the combined flood plains downstream are all formed on river deposits from similar rocks. Because o";
LA4[0]="f the granite influence in the Buckland, Buffalo and Kiewa River Valleys, some soils there have textures that are slightly coarser and therefore lighter. There are five distinct river terraces and a recent flood plain in the Ovens";
LA5[0]=" & Kiewa river catchments. The climate varies somewhat with changing elevation along the region's valley. Variable topography and proximity to alpine peaks are the major factors that have a significant influence on the climate. Th";
LA6[0]="e northward and north-westward movement of cool and sometimes cold air from the Victorian Alps through the Ovens & Kiewa River Valleys is a distinctive climatic feature of the region. Harvest tends to be from the end of February t";
LA7[0]="o mid April with the principle wine styles from the region being chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz. Vineyard site selection should be made with extreme care as there is a considerable risk of frost. Location: 3";
LA8[0]="2°21'S, 146°21'- 146°45;  Annual rainfall: 638-1218 mm;  Mean January temp: 19°C; .  ";
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CL1[0]=" A mean annual temperature of 20.6ºC ensures a pleasant climate throughout the year. Bright, with its population of 3,000 people, offers unsurpassed beauty, gold rush history and adventure activities. An ideal hub to explore the Al";
CL2[0]="pine Valleys region, only 3.5 hours by car from Melbourne. The area was once part of the Victorian goldfields and towns such as Beechworth and Bright came to prominence during the goldrush of the 1850's. Annual rainfall: 638-1218 ";
CL3[0]="mm;  Mean January temp: 19°C .  ";
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HI1[0]=" The first reference to vineyards being planted in the district is reported to be in 1856 when a Mr Rochlitz imported 95 different varieties of vines from Adelaide. Many vineyards were established during the 1860's. However, in the";
HI2[0]=" 1890's and early 1900's, there was a rapid decline of vineyards in the region, due to phylloxera. By the start of the Second World War, all vines had virtually disappeared from the district except for small vineyards kept for per";
HI3[0]="sonal wine production. A property at Everton Hills purchased by Brown Brothers of Milawa in 1950 produced some highly regarded wines, and was increased to 40 acres. However, the last vintage produced by Brown Brothers was in 1978.";
HI4[0]=" The first major expansion of the wine industry began in 1980 at Merriang, when the Bailey family first established 10 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon. This has now grown to over 100 acres. The next significant expansion was in 1982 w";
HI5[0]="ith the Michelini family vineyard of 30 acres established in the Buckland Valley, expanded over the following 10 years to cover 100 acres. A period of major growth began in 1986 with the establishment of vineyards in Whorouly, Who";
HI6[0]="rouly South, Rosewhite and Bright (Boyntons). The Kiewa River Valley also took part in the planting boom of the mid eighties and early nineties. Today there are 500 hectares (1250 acres) under vine, and eight wineries in the regio";
HI7[0]="n.";
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