Remember Me
forgot your password?

A Guide To Australian Wine

In the last 20 years, Australia has really made its mark in the wine world. The country produces a variety of wines from a number of wine growing regions and has revolutionised winemaking processes, making it a real force to be reckoned with in the wine-growing world.

The vast majority of Australian wine comes from South Australia, although Victoria and New South Wales are both key players in the country’s wine output. Western Australia produces a smaller volume and has earned itself the reputation of producing more expensive, boutique quality wines. Look to Tasmania if you fancy something sparkling or a little sweeter.

The most widely planted grapes in Australia are international varieties. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are all big on the red front, while Chardonnay, Semillon and Riesling are all popular whites. Alongside these, Australian winemakers are increasingly experimenting with some of the remaining 80 or so grape varieties that are planted in Australia, meaning that you can expect some interesting Australian wines to come out of the country in the coming years.

Australia has made its name for producing most of the big branded wines that are available in the UK. This is largely because land in Australia is plentiful and winemakers don’t have the restrictions of space that European wine-makers do. In addition, as the climate doesn’t vary much from year to year, there is little difference between vintages, giving Australian wines a degree of reliability that is impossible to guarantee from Old World countries. However, in an effort to ensure that every bottle tastes identical, many of the mass-produced Australian wines will have had other ingredients, such as additives, added to them. While you can be sure that the wine will have been made according to rigorous quality standards, all elements of their uniqueness and soul will have been removed. If you fancy something a little more authentic, you’ll just need to hunt a little deeper. There are plenty of small, independent, wineries producing Australian wine for love and not money.

Australia is at the forefront of innovation and Australian wine-makers have invested huge amounts in developing some of the most modern wineries and in re-evaluating their wine producing techniques. Combined, these have allowed Australian wine-makers to experiment with different grapes and styles. Not only this but Australian wine-makers have become champions of producing simpler labels (which include simply grapes and regions), making it easy for even the beginner wine enthusiast to understand.

Louise Truswell

Louise Truswell works in and writes about the Australian wine industry. If you are interested in finding out more, or would like to choose from a range of Australian wines, visit virginwines.com/wine-zone/australian-wine

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish

Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Wines and Spirits Articles
  • More from Louise Truswell

Equipment and Basic Ingredients in Homemade Wine Making

By: Simon Thomas | 12/11/2009
This article is about the equipment and ingredients you need in wine making. Most of the time, you don’t have to buy new ones. Most of the time, you will find that you already have them in your kitchen.

Buy Red Wine White Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc Cabernet Wines

By: ancientpeaks2 wine | 12/11/2009
Cabernet Sauvignon and other wines reflect our commitment to crafting fine wines from our estate Margarita Vineyard in the Paso Robles wine country.

Wine Making History

By: Simon Thomas | 12/11/2009
This article will tell you the essential points in the history of wine making. At the end of the article, you will learn quite a few things about how to make wine, when and where it all started.

The art of choosing wine

By: Vladimir Skirga | 11/11/2009
Find out the main wine selection rules, its accordance to decor and dishes which it will be accompanied by. Correctly selected wine will emphasize the delicate taste of your dish, uncover its fragrance and will serve as an excellent addition to the table.

Buying Wine – Big Stores or Small Shops?

By: Thomas Ajava | 11/11/2009
Wine is a billion dollar industry. In our modern culture, this means it has come into the sights of the huge, mega market stores that we all visit to buy 400 rolls of toilet paper and 10 pound jars of peanut butter. The question addressed in this article is whether you should buy at the big stores or the little, specialty versions?

The Widow Clicquot - Now in Paperback

By: B Case | 11/11/2009
Tilar Mazzeo's excellent The Widow Clicquot is now out in paperback. This excellent read pairs wonderfully with any sparkling wine, but I recommend Veuve Clicquot Brut Rose' if, for nothing else, plain symmetry.

Hanging Wine Rack - Choosing A Hanging Wine Rack!

By: Al Hardy | 11/11/2009
No matter what style wine rack you choose, you can match your decor and fit your personality by shopping online for a Hanging Wine Rack.

Discover the Magic of Red Wine

By: Bob | 11/11/2009
Looking for a place to buy cheap red wine of the best quality online? From Cabernet to Shiraz, BIGshop.com.au offers exciting varieties of red wine from reputed wine manufacturers. What’s more! You can buy these exquisite red wine varieties at great prices.

Sauvignon Blanc – Getting To Know This Zingy Little Grape

By: Louise Truswell | 22/08/2009 | Wines & Spirits
The spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc is The Loire in France, however since the 1980’s New Zealand has been doing big things with this grape. If you like your white wines refreshing, fruity and a little zingy, then Sauvignon Blanc is for you. It also makes a great food wine.

Malbec – All You Need To Know

By: Louise Truswell | 22/08/2009 | Wines & Spirits
Malbec makes big, meaty red wines, which are full of lots of dark, spicy damson and bramble fruits. Perhaps slightly less well known than its Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon cousins, but by no means lacking in taste, Malbec displays clear characteristics of each. Here we get to know it a little more.

Getting To Know Pinot Noir

By: Louise Truswell | 22/08/2009 | Recipes
Pinot Noir is a fiddly little grape to grow but when it’s at it best it produces some of the most esteemed and expensive wines in the world. Read on learn more about this exciting little grape.

Everything You Need To Know About Riesling

By: Louise Truswell | 22/08/2009 | Cooking Tips
Riesling is an aromatic little white grape, which is full of flavour, sugar and acid. It really takes on the conditions of its surroundings meaning that the wines reflect the environment in which they are grown, be it the soil type, the climate or how the grapes are treated. Riesling wines come in a variety of styles from very dry through to lusciously sweet.

Understanding French Wine Regions

By: Louise Truswell | 05/06/2009 | Wines & Spirits
Understanding French wine can be daunting, especially when you start to delve deeper into the mix of regions, grape varieties, complex laws and labels that make up the country’s wine industry. To help you on your way, we’ve put together a short guide to French wine so you can get an idea for the types of wine that you can expect from each region.

Italian Wine Regions

By: Louise Truswell | 05/06/2009 | Wines & Spirits
Italy is said to be the second largest wine producer in the world and boasts a myriad of winemaking regions, each producing a diverse array of wines. With reports of 900,000 registered vineyards (enough for one vineyard for every seven people) and more native grapes than any other wine country.

New Zealand Wine – Getting To Know The Regions From Where It Is Made

By: Louise Truswell | 04/06/2009 | Wines & Spirits
New Zealand is somewhat of a newcomer to the world of wine, especially when you compare it to the likes of France and Spain. But that’s not to say that New Zealand wine can’t stand up to its old world rivals. The country exports a vast amount of its wine production, makes arguably the best Sauvignon Blanc on the planet and its Pinot Noir is beginning to create a stir. But with over 10 New Zealand wine making regions to choose from and each producing some very diverse styles of wine.

Is There More To Spanish Wines Than Just Rioja?

By: Louise Truswell | 04/06/2009 | Wines & Spirits
Any Spanish wine tour wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Rioja. It has been the epitome of Spanish wine for generations after all. However, Rioja is not the only wine coming out of this country. Here we take a look at how other Spanish wine regions stand up to their famous rival.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.26, 6, w1)