Australia

With 160,000 hectares under vine, Australia is the world's sixth largest wine producing country after France, Italy, Spain, USA and Argentina. It’s also the fourth largest exporter of wine, exporting to over 120 countries, just behind the traditional wine-producing old world giants.

Australia has a long history of wine making, but it wasn't until the early 1980’s that the country started to become a key player in the global wine scene. This relatively recent success is largely attributable to the general appeal of the fruit-driven, consistent (due to innovative use of technology) and "user-friendly" style of the wines.

There are over 2,300 wine companies in Australia, but 90% of the grapes go to five large companies, producing cross-region blended wines. Other than the high volume global brands, most of the wineries in Australia are very small. Many of these boutique wineries are now discovering the wealth of terroirs and producing site-specific wines. Australian wines showcase a large and diverse range of wine styles at every price point.

South Australia

It is a vast area producing almost half of the countries wines, from the cheapest to its most expensive. Barossa Valley produces its classic Shiraz from old, ungrafted vines, and showcases a full-bodied, ripe and soft fruit character. Outstanding Riesling can be found in the cooler vineyards of Eden Valley and Clare Valley. The high altitude of Adelaide Hills is home to some of the best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, both of which are also used to produce outstanding sparkling wines. Coonawarra’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon, grown from its terra rossa soil, is considered one of the best in the country. McLaren Vale is a famous red wine region where old vine of Shiraz and Grenache can be found.

Victoria

This famous cool-climate area is second only to South Australia in terms of wine production, offering a diverse range of premium quality wines. Benefitting from the long growing season, Yarra Valley’s famous Pinot Noir is considered by many as Australia’s answer to Burgundy. This region is also renowned for its Chardonnay and sparkling wines, as well as elegantly-styled Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The cool, maritime climate of Mornington Peninsula also favours the production of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but also makes acclaimed Viognier and Pinot Gris. With similar climatic conditions as Mornington, Geelong also produces renowned Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon also gaining popularity. Shiraz, the most famous grape, thrives on the rich, red volcanic soil of Heathcote.

Western Australia

Producing only 5% of Australia’s wine, the area has gained attention belying its size from around the world. With a moderate maritime climate, Margaret River is no doubt the most renowned wine region in this area, producing world-class wines especially with its Cabernet Sauvignon. Other wine regions include Mount Barker and Frankland River.

New South Wales

Coming third after Victoria in terms of wine production volume, New South Wales’s most famous wine region is the Hunter Valley, especially the Upper Hunter. The hot, humid climate, especially during the peak of summer is tempered by the cloud cover, which helps to produce some of the longest-lived Semillon, with honey and toasty character developed in the bottles through ageing.

Tasmania

Enjoying the coolest climate in Australia, Tasmania used to only produce high quality sparkling wine. It’s now also gaining reputation for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling.