A deep-dive into
THE KING VALLEY
Meet Michael Zitzlaff
Long before he became a Dan Murphy’s Wine Merchant, Michael Zitzlaff’s family established the original Oakridge winery in the Yarra Valley during the 1970s. In order to help with the family business, he attended Adelaide’s famous Roseworthy Agricultural College, where he studied side-by-side with future greats of the winemaking industry before becoming chief winemaker and CEO at his family’s winery.
During his time as a winemaker, Michael always enjoyed educating others about wine, so he was thrilled to become a Wine Merchant at Dan Murphy’s. “I think this is the most ideal job in the liquor industry,” he says. “You get to spend your whole day talking about something you love.”
Discover King Valley wine
Despite his long a nity with the Yarra Valley, Michael also has a passion for other Victorian regions. “I love the King Valley’s Italian heritage,” he says. “They’ll try growing everything they can possibly fi nd out of Italy, like sangiovese, nebbiolo, pinot grigio and prosecco, of course, which is as big as Ben-Hur right now.”
He particularly enjoys the region’s cooler climate. “It gives their wines a nice natural acidity that is really enjoyable.”
Discover Pizzini
Pizzini Pinot Grigio, King Valley
As some of the earliest wine producers in the King Valley, the Pizzini family are known for their house style. They have set a benchmark for many varietals in the region, and their pinot grigio in particular is one others strive to emulate. The grapes come from older vines and are harvested early for their natural acidity. The wine displays warm melon, quince paste and lime zest aromas, and finishes with a clean, acid-driven finish.
Pizzini Sangiovese, King Valley
The Pizzini family helped introduce sangiovese to the King Valley when it was still considered an 'alternative' varietal in Australia. Sangiovese varies wildly depending on where it’s grown, even in its home of Tuscany. In general, Tuscan sangiovese tends to have herbal, bitter-sweet cherry notes, while Pizzini produces a more fruit-forward sangiovese, full of bright raspberry and morello cherry flavours.
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When Dan Murphy opened his first store back in 1952, there was nothing he loved more than sharing his knowledge of wine. Today, his legacy lives on in our growing team of Wine Merchants — available in-store to help guide you on your wine journey.