Discover Australian Wine – Regions and Varieties
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Wine Australia for Australian Wine Discover Australian Wine Regions and Varieties Discover Australian wine There’s nothing in the world like Australian wine because there’s nothing like the climate, soils and regions of Australia. We have some of the oldest geology and most complex soils in the world. The Australian wine community today is founded on the explorers of the past, who identified the optimal vineyard sites and the sophisticated winemaking techniques that make our fine wines so special. Australian winemaking and grapegrowing is constantly evolving. Our winemakers and viticulturists are curious, willing to experiment and to challenge convention to ensure that they craft authentic wines that are a true expression of place. From the iconic to the lesser known, our 65 wine regions each boast distinct characteristics that are expressed in wines made by talented winemakers attuned to their land. This brochure provides a snapshot of that regional diversity, and of the main wine styles for which Australia is renowned. Wine is the sum of its parts. There’s nothing like Australian wine because there’s nothing like the people and the places of Australia. We invite you to discover more about what makes Australian wine authentic, unique and exciting. Andreas Clark CEO Wine Australia Discover a snapshot of Explore eight of our our regions from page 4. wine styles from page 34. wineaustralia.com • WineAustralia • @Wine_Australia • WineAustralia • #AussieWine 10°S Darwin 15°S NORTHERN TERRITORY Indian Ocean 20°S QUEENSLAND WESTERN AUSTRALIA 25°S 28 South Eastern Australia* SOUTH AUSTRALIA Brisbane 29 30 Darling R NEW SOUTH WALES 30°S 1 31 2 10 Perth 33 32 3 Great 11 44 Lachlan R Pacific Ocean 12 14 35 34 4 Australian Bight 15 6 13 36 5 16 37 Sydney 17 38 7 8 9 Adelaide 21 Murr 18 19 20 ay R 39 40 45 41 43 22 VICTORIA 47 42 Southern Ocean 46 48 49 Canberra 56 23 24 55 54 52 50 26 51 (ACT) 35°S 25 59 57 53 27 60 58 62 61 64 63 Melbourne Wine regions Bass Strait TASMANIA of Australia 65 40°S Hobart Western Australia Queensland Victoria 1 Swan District 28 South Burnett 44 Murray Darling 2 Perth Hills 29 Granite Belt 45 Swan Hill 3 Peel 46 Goulburn Valley 4 Geographe 47 Rutherglen New South Wales 0 100 200 500 kilometres 5 Margaret River 48 Glenrowan 30 New England Australia 6 Blackwood Valley 49 Beechworth 31 Hastings River 0 100 200 500 miles 7 Pemberton 50 King Valley 32 Hunter 8 Manjimup 51 Alpine Valleys 33 Mudgee 9 Great Southern 52 Strathbogie Ranges 34 Orange 53 Upper Goulburn 35 Cowra South Australia 54 Heathcote 36 Riverina 10 Southern Flinders Ranges 55 Bendigo 37 Hilltops 11 Clare Valley 56 Pyrenees 38 Southern Highlands 12 Barossa Valley 57 Macedon Ranges 39 Gundagai 13 Eden Valley 58 Sunbury 40 Canberra District 14 Riverland 59 Grampians 41 Shoalhaven Coast 15 Adelaide Plains 60 Henty 42 Tumbarumba 16 Adelaide Hills 61 Geelong 43 Perricoota 17 McLaren Vale 62 Yarra Valley 18 Kangaroo Island 63 Mornington Peninsula 19 Southern Fleurieu 64 Gippsland* 20 Currency Creek 21 Langhorne Creek Tasmania 22 Padthaway 65 Tasmania* 23 Mount Benson 24 Wrattonbully 25 Robe 26 Coonawarra *South Eastern Australia and 27 Mount Gambier Gippsland are zones, Tamania is a state. © 2017 Wine Australia Regional snapshot A taste of some of our wine regions Langhorne Creek • 19 Adelaide Hills • 5 Margaret River • 20 Barossa Valley • 7 McLaren Vale • 22 Canberra District • 9 Mornington Peninsula • 24 Clare Valley • 11 Orange • 26 Coonawarra • 13 Riverland • 27 Granite Belt • 15 Rutherglen • 28 Heathcote • 16 Tasmania • 30 Hunter • 17 Yarra Valley • 32 Discover Australian Wine Regions • 5 Adelaide Hills Altitude and attitude The wines from Adelaide Hills are shaped by the The rebirth of the area as a wine region began with coolness of the region’s altitude, its changing seasons winemaker Brian Croser and his family planting and the skill and passion of its winemakers. There were Chardonnay in the region in 1979. Brian had identified vines planted in the Adelaide Hills as early as the 1870s the potential of the region as one of the best places but due to the challenges of cool-climate viticulture in Australia to plant cool climate loving varieties. He in those early days, most vines were removed by the was soon joined by other Australian wine pioneers 1930s. The rebirth of the Adelaide Hills region started including Stephen George at Ashton Hills, Geoff in 1970s and gained pace with the rise in popularity of Weaver in Lenswood and Michael Hill Smith and Martin cool climate wines in the 1980s and 1990s. Shaw at Shaw and Smith. Today there are around 100 producers in Adelaide Hills who have planted over The cooler climate defines the Adelaide Hills and 4,000 hectares of vines between them. provides them with a distinctive point of difference to other South Australian regions that has allowed it to While still a young wine region, the Adelaide Hills has spearhead the evolution of Australian wine in recent been acclaimed around the world for many years years. Its winemaking evolution continues to this day, for wonderful expressions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and it is now a hotbed of creativity; home to bold, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. The region has played a boundary-pushing grape growers and winemakers. vital part in the evolution of Australian wine and is itself constantly evolving. Emerging varieties are finding a home in the Hills and it is home to cutting-edge winemakers pushing the boundaries and expanding the possibilities for fine Australian wine. Total vineyard area Altitude Latitude 3052ha 400–500m 34° 00'S Growing season rainfall Mean temperature (Jan) Heat degree days 280–320mm 19.1°C 1270 Discover Australian Wine Regions • 6 Adelaide Hills Top varieties grown Climate Chardonnay • Altitude creates various meso- • Complex medium weight wines with good natural acidity. climates but overall the climate A decent amount of Chardonnay, especially from the is cool cooler sites, is used in the production of sparkling wine. • The region is very hilly with various valleys and sub-valleys Pinot Noir • Some west-facing slopes in the • Adelaide Hills is the leading region in South Australia northern area are warm enough for the production of high quality Pinot Noir. The style is to ripen Cabernet Sauvignon typically medium-bodied with ripe cherry and strawberry fruit with soft tannins. A proportion of Pinot Noir • Most of the region is best suited contributes to the production of high quality sparkling to early ripening varieties wines. Sauvignon Blanc • This is the most widely planted white variety in the Soil Adelaide Hills and is often referred to as the benchmark for Sauvignon Blanc in Australia. The style tends towards • Predominantly grey-brown or ripe tropical flavours with hints of gooseberry and brown loamy sands herbaceousness, with crisp acidity, great length and • Some patches of mostly sandy intensity. soils Shiraz • While the concept of Shiraz and Pinot Noir performing well in the same region may be a beguiling concept to some, the success of these varieties in the Adelaide Hills speaks volumes for the size of the region and diversity of microclimates available to grape growers and winemakers. In recent years the region has become a leader in cool climate Australian Shiraz, producing wines with elegance, length and balance. Plan your trip • To find out more about the region’s wineries and events and how to get around, go to adelaidehillswine.com.au Discover Australian Wine Regions • 7 Barossa Valley Old vines and classic wines If you could only choose Australian wine region to writers and sommeliers to wine geeks and novices. truly showcase the history, evolution and revolution of Shiraz is the Barossa’s star performer, but varieties like Australian wine then you could do a lot worse than pick Grenache, Mourvedre/Mataro, Riesling and Semillon the Barossa Valley. There are sixth generation grape all have a long and distinguished history of producing growing families in the region, custodians to Australia’s exceptional wines. largest collection of old vines with blocks dating back Today, there’s a generation of winemakers who are, to the 1840’s. once again, helping to change the face of wine in the In recent years, traditional Barossa varieties like Shiraz, Barossa Valley. Some come from families that have Grenache and Mataro have been joined by a new been part of the fabric of the region since the 1800s. wave of Mediterranean varieties, suited to the region’s Others have been drawn from afar, coming from soils and climate. The region has also been invigorated around the world to explore the rich tapestry of soils by a new breed of winemakers who have challenged and terroirs that make the region world renowned. the status quo while still maintaining an inherent love They are exploring innovative choices of grape and respect for the Barossa traditions and culture. varieties and experimenting with grape growing and With a rich vine and wine history dating back to winemaking styles. Organic and biodynamic farming, 1842, the Barossa Valley is one of the most historic earlier picking dates, whole bunch fermentation, wine producing regions in Australia. The region was extended skin contact, fermentation in amphorae and pivotal in the evolution of Australian wine in the 1970s minimal intervention winemaking are just some of the and 1980s, helping to bring fine Australian wine to a ways that people are innovating in a traditional wine global audience. The diverse range of wines from the region like the Barossa Valley. region have won over the world’s wine lovers, from wine Total vineyard area Altitude Latitude 11,370 ha 250–370m 34° 29'S Growing season rainfall Mean temperature (Jan) Heat degree days 160mm 21.4°C 1710 Discover Australian Wine Regions • 8 Barossa Valley Top varieties grown Climate Cabernet Sauvignon • The region has a Meditarranean • Tends to do best in the cooler sites and in cooler vintages climate ideal for full-bodied red in this region.