Australia is known worldwide as a nation of beer lovers, but recently it has become known as a world-class wine producer.
Due to its fertile soils and diverse climates, Australia has ideal conditions for creating a wide range of wines. These include traditional varieties such as peppermint and crunchy chardonnay, as well as modern blends. In all six states and in both territories, the wine industry flourishes, although the majority of Australian wineries are located in the southeastern part of the quarter.
South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria are home to Australia’s oldest wine regions. Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Yarra Valley have been an integral part of the development of modern industry, and today they continue to produce some of the best wines of Australia. These historical regions paved the way for new wine regions around their states. Today, wine lovers enjoy exciting new wines from Mudghi and the Murrambijia Valley in New South Wales, South Walt and Riverland in South Australia and Victoria “Rutherglen”. Finally, in Australia, it was estimated that there were about 60 recognized wine regions.
After a closer look at key regions of Australia, you can truly appreciate the diversity of the country's wine industry.
The most obvious starting point is Barossa Valley, a contender for Australia's largest winemaking. This region northeast of the capital of South Australia, Adelaide, is a leading producer of warm climate wines. German valley heritage is permeated in the production of fine Rieslings. Barossa is also renamed to its fully saturated shiraz and cabernet. Penfolds, Jacob & Creek and Wolf Blass are some of the largest wine labels based in the Barossa Valley.
Winemakers of the Hunter Valley can challenge the Barossa Valley awards. This sprawling region, located one hour north of Sydney in New South Wales, has the same history and warm weather as its rival from South Australia. Valley premium wineries and small boutiques produce spiteful undertones and robust shirazes. Wyndham winemakers, McGuigan cellars and Robin Drayton wines are some of the historic Hunter Valley wineries.
Australia is famous for its sunshine, but the wine regions of the country show the true diversity of its climate. Victoria - Yarra Valley - an outstanding example of a region with a cool climate. This area north of the state capital of Melbourne is accused of producing pinon noir and pinot griz. Sample region trademarks on Yering farm wines, St. Huberts vineyards and Bianchet wines.
Barossa is not the only wine region around Adelaide. Travelers eventually love to explore the wineries surrounding the capital of South Australia. To the southeast is Coonawarra, a cool climate region with an unusual Ross Terrace. This helps the region produce earth red. Rich caulinet Sauvignons and spicy shirazy are specialties of Coonawarra. Award-winning labels, such as Wynns, Yalumba and Penfolds, created all the vineyards in the region to take advantage of its unique conditions.
North of Adelaide, wine tourists will find the Clare Valley. This vast cool climate region actually consists of four interconnected valleys: Claire, Polish River, Waterwell and Mastership. Here, visitors will find an exquisite assortment of white wines, including soft Rieslings, oak chardonnay and smooth hemispheres. Taylor wines, Annie and Lane, as well as historic Sevenhill cells, are all proudly based in Clare Valley.
Wine consumption is rooted in the Australian way of life, whether giving a bottle as a gift or exchanging a pair of glasses with friends for a meal. And Australians love to share their wines with the world. You might expect isolation in Australia would discourage many international wine tourists, but the lure of warm weather and inexpensive premium wines ensures that many travelers make a “Down Under” trip every year.
