AUSTRALIAN WINE

With its vast landscapes and wide range of climates, Australia produces all kinds of wines – from robust, full-bodied reds to stylish and sophisticated whites. This variety, combined with Australian winemakers’ creativity and innovation, has earned our country a reputation for outstanding, high-quality wines with a wide range of flavours to explore.

We’ve been making wine since the late 1700s when the first vineyard was established in Parramatta in New South Wales. The influx of European immigrants from Italy and Germany during the 19th century significantly boosted our fledgling wine industry, which was centred around fortified wines at that time.

Australian winemakers later shifted to dry table wines, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines becoming popular.

The late 20th century saw a boom in the industry, boosted by technological advancements, research and development, and a growing export market. This era also saw the emergence of modern Australian wine styles, known for their ripe fruit flavours and innovative winemaking techniques.

Australia has a host of celebrated wine regions, all producing high-quality wines. They include:

• Barossa Valley – Barossa Valley in South Australia is one of the country’s oldest and most prominent wine regions. The region’s Mediterranean climate allows the production of rich, full-bodied wines with intense flavours. It’s known for producing world-class Shiraz, high-quality Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sémillon wines.
• Margaret River – Margaret River, in the southwestern corner of Australia, is renowned for its exceptional Bordeaux-style wines. The region’s maritime climate is perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Margaret River also produces celebrated Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc blends.
• Yarra Valley – An hour and a half east of Melbourne, Yarra Valley has a cooler climate than other Australian wine regions. This region specialises in producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It’s also recognised for its high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and sparkling wines.
• Hunter Valley – Hunter Valley in New South Wales is one of Australia’s most recognised wine-producing regions. It’s known for its richly flavoured Sémillon wines, which age beautifully. The region also produces remarkable examples of Shiraz and Chardonnay.
• McLaren Vale – Nestled between the Mount Lofty Ranges and the Gulf St Vincent in South Australia, McLaren Vale is one of Australia’s oldest and most famous wine regions. Standout wines from the region include Shiraz, which is typically rich and full-bodied with notes of chocolate and spice, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Other famous wine regions include Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Rutherglen and Tasmania.

Australia is best known for its robust red wines reflecting its diverse climates and terroirs.

• Shiraz – Australia’s signature red grape variety. Australian Shiraz wines are bold, full-bodied and powerfully flavoured. Expect ripe, dark fruit flavours of blackberry, plum and black cherry, often layered with complex notes of spice, pepper and, in some cases, dark chocolate.
• Cabernet Sauvignon – Mainly grown in Coonawarra and Margaret River, Australian Cabernet Sauvignon is typically full-bodied and rich, with firm tannins. These wines typically express dark fruit flavours, like blackcurrant, often accompanied by a distinctive note of mint.
• Grenache – The Barossa Valley is home to some of the world’s oldest Grenache vines. Barossa’s Grenache wines often have ripe, juicy red fruit flavours such as raspberry and strawberry.
• Merlot – Generally used in Bordeaux-style blends with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot helps to soften the structure of the wine. But it has also found success in single-variety wines in regions such as Margaret River, which tends to be typically medium-bodied with a velvety texture. Expect red fruit flavours, such as cherries and plums, with subtle hints of herbs and spices.
• Pinot Noir – Originally from the Burgundy region of France, Pinot Noir has found a home in the cooler climate regions of Australia like the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania. Pinot Noir wines from Yarra Valley are medium-bodied with flavours of ripe red fruits like cherries, raspberries and strawberries with subtle earthy notes. Pinot Noirs from Mornington Peninsula have more spice, while those from Tasmania have more mineral edge.

Australian white wines come in a range of styles. Some of the most popular Australian white wines include:

• Chardonnay – Grown in virtually all Australian wine regions, notable examples of Chardonnay come from Margaret River and Yarra Valley. Australian Chardonnay varies in style, from lean and mineral-driven to full-bodied and oaky.
• Sauvignon Blanc – The Adelaide Hills and Margaret River wine regions are known for producing distinctive Sauvignon Blanc wines with good structure and acidity.
• Sémillon – Hunter Valley is home to Australia’s iconic Sémillon wines. These wines are typically aged in the bottle and develop complex flavours of honey, toast and nuts over time.
• Riesling – Riesling can be found in cooler climate regions of Clare Valley and Eden Valley. These wines are known for their dry style, high acidity, and lime and green apple flavours.
• Viognier – Although a lesser-known variety, Viognier is grown in regions such as Yarra Valley and McLaren Vale. Australian Viognier is aromatic, full-bodied and often displays peach and floral notes.

Rosé wines in Australia have evolved significantly over the years, moving from sweet, simple styles to more varied and sophisticated expressions. They are made from several grape varieties in a range of styles.

• Grenache rosé – Given its Spanish origins, Grenache thrives in warm climates such as Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. This grape often produces rosés that are full-bodied with ripe red fruit flavours and a hint of spice.
• Pinot Noir rosé – Regions like Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania that excel in producing Pinot Noir also craft elegant rosé wines from the same grape. These rosé wines are typically light-bodied and crisp with flavours of strawberry, cherry and a touch of sweet spice.
• Shiraz rosé – Australia’s most planted variety, Shiraz, also contributes to the rosé scene. The full-bodied style of a Shiraz rosé often exhibits dark fruit flavours and spicy notes, offering a much bolder rosé style.
• Sangiovese rosé – This Italian variety is gaining popularity in Australia. It makes fresh, dry rosé wines with red fruit characters and an often savoury edge, similar to those found in Italy.

Australia has quite a reputation for its sparkling wines! Using a mix of traditional and modern winemaking techniques, Australian sparkling wines are a delight, no matter the occasion.

• Tasmania’s cool climate is ideal for producing high-quality sparkling wines. Many Tasmanian sparkling wines are made using the traditional method (in the same way as Champagne), mainly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
• Yarra Valley sparkling wines are elegant and well-balanced. They are known for their bright fruit flavours and delicate creamy mouthfeel.
• Adelaide Hills is known for its premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, used for sparkling wines. Some winemakers in this region experiment with other grape varieties, like Pinot Gris and even Sauvignon Blanc.
• Sparkling Shiraz is a uniquely Australian wine from warmer climate regions like Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. These wines are full-bodied and bold, with dark fruit flavours, spice hints and a touch of sweetness.