Australian wine
Australias landscape offers a blend of vast coastlines lush rainforests and some of the oldest soils on Earth. This rich diversity plays a role in shaping the character of wines. The distinct terroirs, characterized by a variety of soils and a special climate lend wines a European charm.
The best wines from Australia
Australias landscape offers a blend of vast coastlines lush rainforests and some of the oldest soils, on Earth. This rich diversity plays a role in shaping the character of wines.
The distinct terroirs, characterized by a variety of soils and a special climate lend wines a European charm. Regions such as Adelaide Hills and Yarra Valley produce fruity blends while Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale are known for their world renowned high quality wines.
Wine production in Australia spans across all six states with a focus on the region. New South Wales, Victoria and especially South Australia are players in winemaking due to their cooler climates ideal for grape growing. South Australia alone contributes close to half of the countrys wine output.
Australian winemakers demonstrate their versatility by working with a variety of global grape varieties like Spanish Tempranillo, Italian Sangiovese and Georgian Saperavi. The diverse climates have earned recognition for wines, like Shiraz and Pinot Noir reflecting both the beauty of Australia and the excellence of its esteemed wine industry.
Renowned for their spirit Australian winemakers blend tradition with creativity to consistently craft top quality wines. Australias world class winemaking experts have helped elevate the countrys vineyards to acclaim ranking them among the best, in the world.
Grapes in wines from Australia
Best of Wines: Specialist in exclusive Australian wines
At Best of Wines, we stock exclusive Australian wines. At Best of Wines you have a nice selection of these wines from Australia, especially wines from Barossa Valley South Australia and McLaren Vale. These are without a doubt three of the most renowned wine regions in the country.
The number of wineries in Australia are immense, like Penfolds, which produces a large quantity of diverse wines, from easy to drink wines to some of the most exclusive and rare wines worldwide. And Jim Barry with its The Armagh wines, which almost every wine affeciado will recognize. With Kaesler and Yalumba this is just a selection of the high standard of Australian wines.
History of Australian wines
Australia holds an impressive wine history, with several regions dating back to the mid-19th century, though not as ancient as some European or other New World counterparts. Many founding families' descendants continue grape-growing traditions, and specific regions often reflect immigration from distinct European areas, enriching the country's wine diversity.
Notably, Australia boasts some of the world's oldest productive (ungrafted) grape vines, some planted as early as the 1840s, with numerous centenarian plots. The Barossa stands out as a hotspot for such vines. Factors like isolation and prevalence of sandy soils shielded these vineyards from widespread devastation by phylloxera, contributing to their longevity.
The grapes of Australian wines
The Australian exclusive wine landscape is globally recognized for its exceptional diversity, with cultivation extending to over 100 grape varieties. Each bottle reflects the unique climates, soils, and the dedicated commitment of local communities.
Grapes such as Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Grenache thrive in the varied climates of Australia. Winemakers showcase their skill by embracing a spectrum of global grape varieties, from familiar ones like Tempranillo and Sangiovese to more exotic choices like Saperavi. This diverse and innovative landscape firmly establishes Australia as a global leader.
Barossa
Barossa stands among the most prominent wine-producing regions, comprises the acclaimed Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Stretching 30 kilometres, the valley's warmth yields unique wine traits, while elevated Eden Valley shapes distinct flavors.
Some of the best wineries are located here:
- Greenock: Founded in 1984, the wines from Greenock are typical Barossa Valley wines in taste and character. The wines are exclusively single-vineyard wines to reflect the individual quality of the plots.
- Torbreck: Founder David Powell first released the 1995 Runrig and was directly seen as a leading Australian wine in quality and character. Most of the vines are 100 - 165 years old.
- Glaetzer: Ben Glaetzer thrives to reflect the unique terroir of the Barossa valley in its wines, The Amon Ra was rated high scores by most wine reviewers.
- Henschke: With its Hill of Grace wines this winery gained international recognition. The wines can age very well.
Check all Barossa Valley wines on the Barossa Valley wines page.
Australian wine regions and terroir
Australia's wine regions comprise five sub-regions, including the western area, New South Wales, the southern part of Australia, and the regions of Tasmania and Victoria. The vineyards are mainly concentrated in the cooler southeastern and southwestern regions, comparable in size to Bordeaux and Burgundy combined.
The country's climate and soils are very diverse, from alpine to Mediterranean and tropical zones. In the cooler southern areas, the cold Southern Ocean influences winemaking conditions. Australia's southern shores benefit from pure air, low population density, and strong environmental regulations, ensuring the best grape growing conditions.
In Western Australia, notably the Margaret River region, the vines benefit from warm days and cool nights and rivers contributing to an optimal terroir. New South Wales, home to Australia's initial vineyards, the diverse weather patterns challenge winemaking but results in some of the best wines from Australia..
South Australia's Barossa Valley is renowned for mits high class reds, especially from Shiraz, while Clare Valley produces high-quality Riesling. McLaren Vale, close to the sea, is an area of winemaking innovation. Tasmania is renowned its exclusive sparkling wines, and Victoria's Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula produce a number of very popular wines.
Wine producers
Classifications of Australian wines
Australia has a Geographical Indications (GIs) system for vineyards, like Europe's, providing protection and international recognition for regional names.
A GI in Australia encompasses a contiguous area with at least five independently owned vineyards, each spanning a minimum of five hectares and annually producing 500 tonnes of wine grapes, showcasing homogeneous grape-growing characteristics.
Labelling laws mandate a minimum of 85% regional content for a wine to bear the region's name. Furthermore, regulations specify an 85% minimum for a single grape variety to be labelled as such, distinguishing Australia's standard from the US (75%) and the EU (85%).