Australia

If you ask an Australian winemaker to talk about their wines, some might describe them as "sunshine in a bottle, mate." More seriously, others may highlight the delicious fruit flavors and great value. Still others may talk about the consistency of the wines in regards to vintages, grape variety and style. And the last group will speak of the smooth and easy taste characteristics, which make Australian wines food friendly, and palate pleasing. For all of these reasons, Australian wines are rapidly gaining in popularity in the United States and the world.

What makes Australian Wines Unique?

Australia is located in the southern hemisphere or what is casually referred to as "down under". The vast majority of the wineries are located in the hills and valleys that hug the coastline south of the country and consequently experiences cooler weather than the northern dessert areas. Regions like Margaret River in the southwest and Mclaren Vale in the southeast are just a few of the many areas that benefit from maritime weather influences.

Varied types of soil in Australia are another key to the unique and diverse styles of wine. As the oldest of seven continents, its soils range from sandy loem in Mclaren Vale to clay and volcanic soil in Mornington peninsula and the world known terra rosa red limestone soil of Coonawarra.

Technology plays a large part of the Australian winemaking process. These innovations are used to improve on the ultimate quality of wines. The Australian Wine Bureau states "Australia is known for wine technology. They are proud of that fact. The challenges of the Australian soil and climate have led to innovations that have changed the world of wines". This is not to say that Australian wines are void of tradition, some of the oldest vines in the world are from Australia. In fact, there still are Australian wineries that hand pick and hand prune their vines in the old-world way.

What are the key Grapes in Australian Wines?

The most well known grape varieties for white table wines are Chardonnay and Semillon, lesser know white varieties are Rieslings and Sauvignon Blanc. The major grapes for red table wine are Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Shiraz variety comes all the way from Europe from French vines, which were brought back in the early 1800's. Shiraz is a full-bodied, fruity red wine that has a peppery aroma.

Australia makes many different varieties of table wines, they can range from light fruit driven white wines to medium to heavy bodied red wines. They can be Chardonnay-Semillon white blends to Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon red blends. You will also see single varietal wines to single vineyard barrel aged reds made from very old wines.

How do Australian Wines Pair with food?

Because most Australian wines are characteristically fruity and lack the astringency and tannin of many old world wines, they are very easy to drink with or without food. Following is a brief guide to pairing the major Australian grape varietals:

Chardonnay: These wines have flavors of citrus, honey, and pears; depending on the style they can be crisp and lively or oaky and soft. Grilled or broiled fish makes a great match with this wine.

Semillon: While relatively unknown in the States, Australia loves their semillion. This varietal is less oaky than chardonnay, is medium bodied and has nutty flavors. A great pair for semillion is herbed chicken and shellfish.

Shiraz: The most popular wine in Australia. Full bodied and peppery, this wines goes great with grilled meats such as lamb, steak and grilled vegetables.

Cabernet Sauvignon: Australian Cabernets are usually less tannic than their counterparts in California and the old world. They have a strong fruit component and smooth finish. They pair well with red meat, stews and smoked meats.

What are the key Wine areas in Australia?

The majority of wine production is focused in the southeast of the country. This area is called Southeast Australia and encompasses the following states: South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. To a much lesser degree wine is produced is the southwest corner of Western Australia and the Island of Tasmania. The remainder of Australia's land is generally considered not to be hospitable for quality grape growing.

Geographical Indications are the official terms used to designate wine zones, regions or sub-regions. A GI is a specific area with unique geographical distinctions in regards to climate, soils, landscape etc. The GI is equal to what the United States calls AVA (American Viticulturist Area) or the European Appellation system.

Key wine States are as follows, listed with some of the more important Geographical Indications:

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia, located 900 miles due west of Sydney. South Australia is known to be the driest state in the driest continent of the world. According to the Australian Wine Bureau, it is the largest wine producing state in Australia accounting for approximately 43% of total wine production and over 400 wineries. This state has 16 designated GI's, some of the more notable ones are:

Adelaide Hills: This GI is part of the Mount Lofty Ranges. This area provides a great growing area for many grape varieties due to the various microclimates depending on the altitudes, slope, and soil types. Top quality varietals include chardonnays, sparkling wines, and Sauvignon Blanc. Pino Noir is also emerging as a strong wine from this region. Other dry red wine varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz.

Borossa Valley: This historic GI forms the heart of South Australia's wine region. Probably the best known region, it is rich in tradition and is home to some of the oldest vines in Australia. The first vines were planted in the 1840's and known to supply the British Market. The climate in this area is very hot with constant direct sunshine; in light of this the wines are rich and full. Probably the best known grape from this area is the Shiraz, known to have a distinctive, rich style, full of fruit and hints of chocolate. Other reds include Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, both with high levels of alcohol. Additionally, there are older Semillon vines in the area, which produce very nice full bodied wines.

Coonawarra: This GI is best known for its red soil called Terra Rosa. The Terra Rosa soil is characterized by red brown clay over dry limestone. The entire area is about 8 miles long by one mile wide. Terra Rossa soil is found in areas with a Mediterranean climate. In addition to the soil of Coonawarra, the cool Mediterranean climate and proximity to the Southern Ocean provide great cooling and some of the worlds most highly regarded red wines. Cabernet and Shiraz are the two most dominant and highly regarded grapes in the region. Other grapes grown in Coonawarra are Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

McLaren Vale: This GI is very picturesque located close to the bay and surrounded by the southern hills. This region has a Mediterranean climate and is very well known for their love of food and wine. They are very well known for their big, plump red wines specifically Cabernets and Shiraz. However, they also produce some nice Chardonnays, Semillon, Verdelho and Rhone varietals. Expect to see many of the wines with screw tops, as a group the winemakers prefer to use these closures. If you are ever visiting, don't forget to hike along the 16 mile Riesling trail which takes you through the gorgeous Clare Valley.

The Victoria region is anchored by the large city of Melbourne. Initially it was gold that brought people to Victoria in the 1850's, thousands came looking for wealth. While they were looking, they had to be drinking and therefore wine became popular as well. Unfortunately, this area was ravished by the phyloxxera disease in 1875. However, it has rebounded; all the vines have been subsequently grafted to prevent the reoccurrence. Victoria has a cool climate being further away from the equator and fairly close to the Southern Ocean.

Yarra Valley: This GI is the most well known region in Victoria, its close proximity to Melbourne makes it an easy destination for tourist, much like Hunter Valley is to the city of Sydney. This region has a cool climate and known for soils ranging from grey sandy or clay loam to red volcanic earth, all providing a good platform for wine. Pinot Noir thrives in the cool climate sections of Victoria, some argue the Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley is the best in Australia even rivaling the Burgundian Pinot's from France! Chardonnay also is strong in this region along with fine examples of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Western Australia is the most remote wine region in Australia. The closest region is South Australia a full 1600 miles away. The area is known as an outdoor wonderland with lovely scenery and rugged coastline. Great for outdoor sports like fishing, surfing, hiking and mountain biking.

Margaret River: This GI is a full 3 hours away from Perth, the largest city in Western Australia. Thirty years ago, Margaret River was known as a sleepy region, however; now it is becoming extremely popular due to its unique beauty and peaceful remoteness from 95% of the rest of Australia. The Margaret River region has a maritime climate, the cooler nights and warm days; in addition to the constant breeze of the Indian Ocean make this a great climate for growing grapes and outdoor activities. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon (blended with merlot) are the top grape varieties. Semillon has also done very well in this region.

Sydney is the largest city in this region. NSW is the largest wine area in regards to square footage of Australia but not in regards to production. The vineyards are spread throughout the region. It was in this region that the first vines were planted in 1788. While those vines have not survived, the winemaking tradition in NSW has flourished, in fact this region accounts for approximately 25% of Australia's total production.

Hunter Valley: This region is very well known and visited by tourist, partly because of its proximity to Sydney. The climate is very good for grapes as the days are warm and nights very cool. This GI is usually split into the Lower Hunter Valley and the Upper Hunter Valley. The Upper is slightly hotter, drier and less humid than the lower valley. Because of this the Upper wines tend to be fuller and richer than those from the Lower Hunter Valley. Chardonnay is the #1 produced grape in both the Upper and Lower regions. However, the Semillon white wine is known to be the best among the best in this region, Shiraz is also a star.

This state is the smallest of the wine states, however the cool climate is a key reason for their high quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Overall, Australian wines are making a major imprint in the wine world. it's easy to see the tremendous diversity in climates, soils, regions and subsequently wine varieties which come out of Australia. There truly is something for everyone! Regardless of the old world or new world debate, fruit forward vs. earthy questions, drink now vs. hold for 5 years, sales and most importantly enjoyment of Australian wines is growing rapidly in the United States and world. G'day mate...