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Australia
Overview
The
last decade has been boom-time for the export-driven Australian wine market.
Australia produces approachable, full-flavoured and good value wines that have
taken the UK market by storm. One of the keys to this success has been
Australia's ability to produce reliable, fruity, full flavoured wines in
industrial quantities, while at the same time small producers concentrating on
quality have made world class wines exhibiting true regional character. Of the
red grapes, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon hold pole position, and of the
whites, Chardonnay, Semillon and Riesling all do well. Leading quality regions
include the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in South Australia, Margaret River
and Mount Barker in Western Australia, the Yarra Valley and Rutherglen in
Victoria, and the Hunter Valley and Mudgee in New South Wales. Although prices
have been creeping up over the last few years, Australian wines are still hard
to beat for value in the £5-£10 range.
Adelaide Hills
Merging into the eastern side of
the Barossa Valley in South Australia, this is a trendy, 'cool climate' wine
region responsible for classy whites and reds from the likes of Shaw and Smith,
and Henschke. The Eden Valley adjoins at the southern end.
Barossa
The Barossa Valley is at the heart of
the Australian wine industry. Many of the big companies have their bases here,
even though they may source most of their grapes from elsewhere. It's a
historic wine region, originally founded by German settlers in the mid 19th
century (and the main towns of Tanunda and Nooriotpa still have a bit of a
German feel to them). With its relatively hot climate Barossa's speciality is
deep, thick, ripe red wines made from old vine, dry grown Shiraz and Grenache
vines.
Clare Valley
One of South
Australia's leading 'cool-climate' wine regions. The varied growing conditions
allow it to produce some of Australia's finest Rieslings (try Mitchell's, Tim
Gramps and Mount Horrocks), while at the same time it also knocks out some
stonking, huge reds (try Jim Barry's Armagh for size).
Coonawarra
It may be one of Australia's most
famous red wine regions, but it's not much to look at: Coonawarra is a flat,
sparsely-populated region in the middle of the South Australia plains. However,
it has a rather special red/brown 'terra rossa' soil, which coupled with the
relatively cool climate, fashions some classy, ageworthy Cabernet Sauvignons
that rank among Australia's best.
Eden
Valley
Next door to the Barossa Valley in South Australia, at the
southern tip of the Adelaide Hills, the Eden Valley is slightly cooler than its
famous neighbour, and is well known for its intensely flavoured white wines,
especially Rieslings.
Geelong
Windy
A decidedly cool-climate wine region down by the sea,
south-east of Melbourne. The most well known producer here is Bannockburn. Back
in the 1860s this was the leading wine region in Victoria, with vineyard
expansion prompted by the gold rush: mining is thirsty work! This was also the
entry point of phylloxera into Australia.
Great Western
Historical, high-altitude wine
region in Victoria, best known for its sparkling wines and peppery, restrained
Shiraz.
Hunter Valley
Probably
Australia's most famous wine region, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales is
ill-suited for producing quality wines: it is too hot and humid, and the autumn
rains almost always disrupt the harvest. It's only real advantage is that it is
just a couple of hour's drive from Sydney, so there's a ready market of wine
tourists right on its doorstep. Despite these drawbacks, there are a number of
quality-minded producers in the Hunter making some impressive and unique wines,
and the region is currently undergoing a mini-revival. Especially noteworthy
are the unoaked Semillons, which are neutral and acidic in their youth but
which age magnificently, the leathery, long-lived Hunter Shirazes and the melon
and peach flavoured Verdelhos.
Margaret
River
A couple of hundred miles to the south of Perth, this is the
most well known of the wine regions in Western Australia, and is responsible
for some classy, sophisticated wines. Best are the lush, seamless Cabernet
Sauvignons from the likes of Cullen, Plantagenet and Cape Mentelle and the
richly textured Chardonnays. The lively Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends (try
Cullen's little stunner) are also worth checking out.
McLaren Vale
The largest of the wine regions in
the Southern Vales of South Australia, located directly to the south of
Adelaide. Best known for rich, concentrated, chocolatey reds with a soft, lush
texture, and some fat, full flavoured Chardonnays.
Mornington Peninsula
A short drive from
Melbourne around Port Phillip Bay, this is where rich Melbournites come and
play when they want to escape from the city. Consequently, as well as the golf
courses there are dozens of hobby wineries run on a part-time basis. The wines
from these boutique operations are often good quality, but usually a little
overpriced. The leading winery here is Dromana Estate, producing lovely
Chardonnay, a stunning Cabernet/Merlot blend and improving Pinot Noir.
Mount Barker
Small region in the
Great Southern area of Western Australia, noted for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
Mudgee
Underrated wine region in
New South Wales, just over the dividing range from the more famous Hunter
Valley. Unlike the Hunter, however, Mudgee has an ideal climate for
viticulture: its elevation (about 500 metres above sea level) means that it is
cooler and drier, with a longer growing season. Best are the Cabernet Sauvignon
and Shiraz, which have a lovely dusty, earthy character and show great
concentration of flavour.
Orange
Small, high-altitude wine region in New
South Wales, just over the dividing range from Sydney. The extended growing
season and cool nights help to forge delicious, concentrated-but-refined
Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Padthaway
Just a short hop from Coonawarra in
South Australia, Padthaway is a similarly flat, unpopulated and dull-looking
wine region. Despite this, it has become famous as one of the best places in
Australia to grow Chardonnay -- look out for the wonderful example from
Lindemans.
Riverina Flat
An
irrigated, high-yielding region located near the town of Griffith, New South
Wales, producing a serious volume of cheap and cheerful Aussie plonk. Also
known as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
Riverland Flat
A hot, irrigated wine region in
South Australia, responsible for a lot of the reliable, inexpensive Aussie
plonk we all know and love.
Rutherglen
Historical, warm-climate region on
the banks of the Murray River in north-east Victoria. Although it now makes
some improving table wines, Rutherglen is best known for making Australia's
best dessert wines: the thick, raisiny, syrupy Liqueur Muscats and Tokays -- a
uniquely Australian wine style.
Tasmania
The Australian winemakers' search for
cooler, more European wine growing districts led some of them to its
southernmost state, Tasmania. It's a decidedly chilly place to grow grapes, and
most years there is a struggle to get them ripe. Despite the promise, the still
wines have only infrequently been compelling, and many producers have now
pinned their hopes on sparkling wine production.
Yarra Valley
One of Australia's most promising
'cool-climate' wine regions, located just to the North East of Melbourne. It's
getting a reputation for classy Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon,
from the likes of Yarra Yering and Yering Station. Domaine Chandon also
produces arguably Australia's best fizz from the Yarra. |
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