Chrismont — King Valley's Italian Variety Specialists
Chrismont is one of Victoria's most distinctive and celebrated wineries — a King Valley estate that has built its reputation on a passionate commitment to Italian grape varieties and the extraordinary affinity between those varieties and the cool, elevated landscapes of northeast Victoria. Founded by the Pizzini family and now one of the King Valley's benchmark producers, Chrismont crafts wines of genuine character, regional authenticity, and Italian soul that have made the estate a favourite among lovers of alternative varieties and cool-climate Australian wine alike.
History & Heritage
Chrismont's story is inseparable from the story of the King Valley's Italian community — the families of Italian descent who settled in the valley in the mid-20th century, many of them tobacco farmers who transitioned to viticulture as the tobacco industry declined. These families brought with them a deep knowledge of Italian grape varieties, a love of the land, and a winemaking culture rooted in the traditions of northern Italy — traditions that found a natural home in the King Valley's cool, elevated landscape.
The winery's La Zona range — Italian for ‘the zone’ — is a direct celebration of this heritage, showcasing the Italian varieties that have become the King Valley's most distinctive and exciting contribution to Australian wine. From the crisp, dry Prosecco that has made the King Valley famous to the rare and characterful Marzemino Frizzante, the La Zona range is a journey through the Italian wine tradition reimagined in a uniquely Australian cool-climate context.
The Region: King Valley, Victoria
The King Valley is one of Victoria's most exciting and distinctive wine regions, located in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in the state's northeast, approximately 250 kilometres from Melbourne. The valley runs roughly north to south along the King River, with vineyards planted at elevations ranging from 150 to over 800 metres above sea level. This dramatic variation in altitude creates a diversity of microclimates and growing conditions that allows the King Valley to produce an extraordinary range of wine styles — from the light, delicate Prosecco and Pinot Grigio of the lower valley to the more structured and concentrated reds of the higher sites.
The King Valley's climate is cool and continental, with warm summers, cold winters, and significant diurnal temperature variation during the growing season. The cool nights preserve natural acidity and aromatic complexity in the grapes, while the warm days allow full ripening — a combination that is ideal for producing wines of freshness, elegance, and genuine varietal character. The valley's soils are predominantly deep red loam clays over alluvial subsoil, providing excellent water retention and the mineral richness that contributes to the distinctive character of the wines grown here.
The King Valley has become Australia's most important region for Italian grape varieties — a distinction earned through the dedication of its Italian-heritage families and the extraordinary suitability of the valley's cool climate and soils for varieties such as Prosecco, Sangiovese, Barbera, Pinot Grigio, Fiano, and the rare Marzemino. Chrismont's vineyards at Cheshunt and Whitfield — at approximately 300 metres altitude on deep red loam clay — are among the most distinguished sites in the valley.
Grape Varieties
Prosecco — The King Valley is Australia's home of Prosecco, and Chrismont's La Zona Prosecco is a benchmark of the regional style. Made using the traditional Charmat method — with secondary fermentation in pressurised tanks rather than individual bottles — to produce a wine of delicate floral aromatics, refreshing melon and apple character, crisp acidity, and a dry, clean finish that is authentically Italian in style.
Pinot Grigio — One of the King Valley's most successful Italian varieties, producing wines of pale colour, fresh pear and apple aromatics, bright acidity, and a clean, refreshing finish. Chrismont's La Zona Pinot Grigio is made in the northern Italian style — light, crisp, and delicately floral — rather than the richer, more textured Alsatian Pinot Gris style.
Riesling — The King Valley's cool climate and altitude produce Riesling of elegant floral aromatics, vibrant citrus flavours, and crisp natural acidity. Chrismont's Riesling is made from free-run juice only, fermented cool in stainless steel and matured on lees for six months to develop texture and complexity.
Chardonnay — A beautifully crafted King Valley Chardonnay fermented in new and older French oak hogsheads with spontaneous fermentation, partial malolactic fermentation, and ten months of lees ageing with bâtonnage. White peach, grapefruit, passionfruit, brioche, and toasted cashews on the nose, with stone fruit, almond croissant, and honey on the palate.
Sangiovese — Italy's most planted grape variety finds a natural home in the King Valley, producing wines of deep crimson colour, dark cherry and blackberry aromatics, characteristic fine tannins, and a richness and depth that speaks of the variety's Italian heritage. Chrismont's La Zona Sangiovese is fermented in two batches — one on skins for 14 days, the other with extended maceration for four weeks — and matured in French oak hogsheads for 15 months.
Barbera — One of the King Valley's most exciting Italian red varieties, producing wines of lively crimson-purple colour, ripe forest fruits, vibrant natural acidity, and refined silky tannins. Chrismont's La Zona Barbera is a beautifully expressive wine of black cherry, red currant, raspberry, violet, and dried herbs, with a clean, persistent finish. An outstanding partner for Italian-inspired food.
Marzemino Frizzante — One of the rarest and most distinctive wines in the Chrismont range — a lightly sparkling red wine made from Marzemino, a variety native to the Trentino region of northern Italy and famously referenced in Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. Deep crimson-red with purple undertones, mature plum and boysenberry on the bouquet, initial sweetness followed by vibrant berry character and a dry finish with refined, velvety tannins. A genuinely unique wine that is unlike anything else in the Australian market.
Our Range
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La Zona Prosecco NV — Pale straw with delicate floral aromas and refreshing melon and apple. Crisp, dry, and authentically Italian. The perfect aperitif.
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La Zona Pinot Grigio — Very pale straw with fresh pear, apple, and stone fruit aromas. Bright and refreshing with mouth-watering acidity and fine powdery tannins. Outstanding with seafood and light pasta.
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Riesling — Elegant floral bouquet with gentle lime undertones. Vibrant citrus flavours, crisp acidity, and a persistent finish. A benchmark King Valley Riesling.
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Chardonnay — White peach, grapefruit, passionfruit, brioche, and toasted cashews. Silky front palate texture balanced by refreshing acidity and a long, zesty finish.
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La Zona Sangiovese — Deep crimson with dark cherry, blackberry, and mulberry aromas. Full-bodied with rich dark berry flavours and characteristic fine tannins. 15 months in French oak.
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La Zona Barbera — Lively crimson-purple with ripe forest fruits, black cherry, and vibrant acidity. Medium-bodied with fragrant red berries and refined silky tannins. Outstanding with mushroom ravioli, pizza, and tomato-based pasta.
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La Zona Marzemino Frizzante — Deep crimson-red with mature plum and boysenberry. Lightly sparkling with initial sweetness, vibrant berry character, and a dry finish with velvety tannins. A genuinely rare and distinctive wine.
How to Enjoy Chrismont Wines
The Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, and Riesling are best served well chilled at 8–10°C — natural partners for seafood, light pasta, Asian cuisine, and fresh salads. The Chardonnay is best at 10–12°C in a generous white wine glass. The Sangiovese and Barbera are best served at 16–18°C and pair magnificently with Italian-inspired food — pasta, pizza, grilled meats, and aged cheeses. The Marzemino Frizzante is best served lightly chilled at 12–14°C and is a wonderfully versatile wine for both aperitivo and the table.
Explore our full Chrismont range below and discover why this King Valley estate has become one of Australia's most exciting and distinctive producers of Italian varieties.
