Stage 3
Wines by Region
Australia
There are over 1000 wineries in Australia and many of the small wineries are owned by retired professionals some of whom are the actual wine maker. Vine growing is concentrated in the southeast corner of Australia in New South Wales, Victoria and parts of South Australia. Wine is also grown and made in the far south west of Western Australia around the towns of Perth and Albany. Australia has an appellation system called Geographical Indications. Each state is a GI zone and within these there are regional and sub-regional GI’s. Where a GI is mentioned on a wine label 85% of the wine must have been grown in that region. If the grape variety is mentioned 85% of the wine in the bottle must be of that variety and if a vintage is stated then 85% of the wine must gave been harvested that year.
Australia grows almost every conceivable grape variety however Shiraz ranks amongst the most highly planted and is grown in nearly every region.
New South Wales – The Hunter Valley has a very hot climate and Chardonnay from here is round, soft, peachy with tropical fruit flavours and often oaky and full bodied. Rosemount based here produce excellent Chardonnay. This region also produces some unusual wines made from Semillon.
Victoria – Parts of Victoria are actually cooler than Bordeaux such as the Yarra Valley, which is close to Melbourne. Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay are important here. Moet & Chandon set up Domain Chandon here in 1988 and produces some of Australia’s best sparkling wines using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, just as in Champagne.
South Australia – the vineyard areas along the Limestone Coast such as Padthaway and Coonawarra produce some excellent Chardonnay grown on the very distinctive red ‘Terra Rossa’ soils, which are indeed red. This area also produces distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon wines, which have flavours of mint, eucalyptus, black cherry and oak. The Barrossa Valley is famed for it full bodied, spicy and chocolaty Shiraz and it also produces some excellent Grenache wines. Clare Valley and Eden Valley produces some of the finest Riesling wines in the world.
Western Australia - There are a number of wine regions in Western Australia with the best-known being Margaret River. Chardonnay is notably powerful and hugely concentrated with tropical flavours of pineapple, peaches, and nectarines with a creamy texture and hints of smoke. The wines are full bodied with balanced acidity and a long finish. Many are age worthy examples. Cabernet Sauvignon from here has become a modern day classic. It is high in tannin with flavours of black fruit and herbs and is produced as a Varietal wine as well as a blend with Merlot.
South Eastern Australia – this is a designation that you will see on many of the lower priced Australian wines and you may have wondered where exactly it is located in Australia? In fact it is not a particular area but is a designation used for wines that are shipped from various parts of Australia and then blended. The majority of the fruit is grown in hot areas, which need to be irrigated in order to grow the vines. They can be single varietal or a blend of varieties.
Key Regional Grape Varieties
- Shiraz
- Grenache
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Sémillon