Guest Author - Michelle R. Mangio
I had long known that Australia had some fantastic wine regions - like many in the US, I had long become familiar with some Australian wines such as Yellow Tail, Mad Fish, Penfolds, Jacob's Creek, and many others. But recently I had the pleasure of a journey through the Wine & Gourmet Food regions of New South Wales and Victoria, and I don't think I'll ever look at food and wine the same way again. My only true disappointment was to discover that Brown Brothers, a family-owned and operated vineyard established in 1857 in the Victoria Highlands (which was my personal favorite on my journey), does not export to the US. I guess I'll just have to go back to Australia again.
What may come as a surprise to many, however, is to discover that Australia is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world, shipping nearly half of its wines outside the country. And it is a strong tradition in wine - the first vines were planted in 1788, and five of Australia's seven states boast vines that have flourished for over 200 years. A number of Shiraz vines, for example, are over 100 years old. The phylloexera bug, which destroyed many vines in California and Europe, never touched Australia. And Australia didn’t go through Prohibition.
And while Australia is steeped in wine tradition, it also prides itself on its wine technology. Australian innovations in response to the challenges of Australian soil and climate have changed the world of wine. Still, many Australian wineries still hand pick and hand prune their vines, and the use of old-fashioned basket presses that produce concentrated, intense wines are quite common in many regions.
Australia boasts over 60 wine-making regions throughout the country. Here is a quick overview of the major wine-making regions and their specialties:
South Australia
No other state produces more wine than the picturesque rolling hills of South Australia. Blessed with cool winters and warm summers, South Australia vineyards enjoy a long ripening season.
Barossa Valley is the most famous region, hailed for its bold Shiraz. The Clare Valley, known for its fruity, dry Resilings, and the Adelaide Hills, boasting the best cold-climate grapes in Australia, particularly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Limestone Coast, often called the "Bordeaux of Australia," is home to the Coonawarra and Padthaway regions.
New South Wales
Australia’s oldest and some of its best known wine regions can be found in New South Wales (NSW). The best part is that most of these regions are a short distance outside of Sydney, offering day trip opportunities to enjoy some excellent Australian wine. Boasting 14 wine regions, there is a large diversity in the wines produced in this state.
The best-known regions include the Hunter Valley, Murray Darling, the Riverina, Southern Highlands and Tumbarumba.
Victoria
Victoria is a wine and food lovers mecca, with over 500 wineries in 22 different regions. A truly enjoyable way to discover this state is to do just as I did, and take a journey along Victoria's "Wine & Food" trail. Trust me, it won't disappoint.
Some of Victoria's best wine-growing regions are within a few hours of Melbourne, including the Yarra Valley, the Macedon Ranges, King's Valley, and the Mornington Peninsula. Many tour operators offer a stop at a wine cellar with wine-tasting in conjunction with tours to popular tourist destination. And many cellars offer lunches and dinners, or the opportunity to participate in cooking classes and demonstrations.
Victoria produces some of Australia’s best “méthode champenoise” and sparkling wines.
Western Australia
Margaret River has put Western Australia on the map, in terms of excellent wines. 15% of Australia's premium wine is produced here. Some of Australia's most exciting emerging wineries are found in Western Australia, from the Coral Coast north of Perth to cooler Southern climates of Margaret River, the Swan Valley and Albany.
As you can see, Australia boasts some amazing vineyards. Next time you are out shopping, I encourage you to look for an Australia wine to try - and see why those in the know are talking a lot about Australian wines. And then, plan your own journey to Australia to try it at the source.
