Australian Wine GuideFrom the outside, Australia as a wine-producing nation seems to have come from nowhere. It's wines have only made an impact on the international scene in the last two decades, and yet now it is responsible for more sales by volume in the UK than any other country, France included. The wines range from bargain basement reds and whites, up to the premium red wines such as Penfold's Grange and Jim Barry's Armagh. Of course, the view from the outside is somewhat distorted. Wine production, in both quantity and quality, has been a feature of Australia for centuries, not decades. It has well established wine styles that it can call its own, led by the splendid fortified Muscat wines. Sparkling red is also a popular style in Australia, and certain regions do wonderful things with the Semillon grape. And we haven't even mentioned the Shiraz (known as Syrah in the Rhône Valley in France) and Cabernet Sauvignon based red wines Although a vast continent, the vineyards of Australia are mainly concentrated in the south east, in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. There are regions of interest elsewhere, however, not least Margaret River, a relatively cool climate region in Western Australia. This is why, despite the amount of Australian wine available in the UK, and the size of the country itself, it only ever ranks sixth or seventh in the league tables for wine production by volume. The Big NamesThe wine industry in Australia, as with many nations of the New World, is dominated by a few big names. Without doubt the most significant in Australia is Southcorp, a veritable giant. It owns Penfolds, Lindemans, Seppelt, Seaview and Wynns among others, and as of 2001 it also took a controlling share in Rosemount Estate. There are a vast array of wines, produced in all the regions of the continent. Of the names listed, the most significant is Penfolds, but Rosemount also has an important slice of the UK market. New South WalesIn the
north east is the Hunter Valley, one of the most
long established wine regions, and in New South Wales
doubtlessly one of the most significant. Frequently
divided into Lower and Upper Hunter, it is responsible
for the excellent Semillon wines mentioned above, as well
as some characterful Shiraz, and nowadays some good
Chardonnay as well. Other
regions in New South Wales include Mudgee, a small region
not far from the Hunter Valley, and the Murrumbidgee
Irrigation Area, also known as Riverina, which has for long
been responsible for large amounts of cheap wine, but is
now seeing some investment at the hands of Rosemount. VictoriaTo the
south of New South Wales is Victoria, where there are
some exciting wines produced, not least from the cool
coastal areas. The Mornington Peninsula is one such area,
and it is responsible for some of the few interesting
Pinot Noir wines produced in Australia. Nearby is the
wonderful Yarra Valley, another classic
and long established cool region, with no less history
than the Hunter Valley. Here there are more excellent
Pinot Noir reds. The third of the cool
coastal regions is Geelong. This area was
devastated by the vine louse Phylloxera, but was replanted
in the 1960s. Further
inland, the Goulburn Valley and Great
Western are two of the more significant regions, the
others including Macedon and the Pyrenees. The Goulburn
Valley has a temperate climate and some famous old
wineries produce some delicious red and white wine. From
Great Western come some excellent sparklers and classic
Shiraz. |
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To the
north east are Rutherglen, King Valley and Milawa, fortified and
dessert wine regions. There are also some good table
wines produced. |
South AustraliaThe names of the wine regions of South Australia are some of the most familiar of this continent. Nevertheless, some of the most enjoyable wines are the regional blends, made from grapes harvested in a number of different wine regions. These wines are labelled solely as South Australia without any further detail on origin. Many will be mass produced wines made for early consumption, but some are of top quality with excellent cellaring potential. Such wines include those from the Penfold's stable, led by their flagship wine Grange, as well as their Bin 707 and Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignons and Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz. Furthest
south is Coonawarra, a region of
considerable repute, and many would agree it is the
finest region of South Australia. Its future depends on
whether the name can be restricted to those parts that
lie on the famous Terra Rossa soils which are
responsible, to some extent, for the quality of the wines
produced. Cabernet Sauvignon excels here, but there is
also Chardonnay, Shiraz and other grapes. Further
north, Padthaway produces some
excellent Chardonnay, as well as some sparkling wines.
The Adelaide
Hills, together with the Eden Valley
and Clare Valley further north
again, have also gained a reputation for some excellent
white wines. Adelaide has some excellent Chardonnay,
whereas both Eden and Clare have gained a reputation for
Riesling, although the latter also produces some very
significant Shiraz. And now we
come to another of Australia's oldest and best known
regions, the Barossa Valley. Barossa made its
name with big, blockbuster Shiraz, but there are also
some good Semillon wines, although none to rival those of
the Hunter Valley. As well as numerous vineyards, there
are many wineries situated in the Barossa, vinifying
grapes trucked in from all over the state. Nearer the
coast is McLaren Vale, an historic
region which has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years.
It is best known for its red wines. Other RegionsOn the
west coast the relatively cool climate Margaret
River has made dramatic leaps in quality. The
wines have gained a reputation for elegance rather than
power. Nearby is Great Southern, where there are
also some wines of interest, and the Swan Valley, a region
decreasing in significance. Tasmania,
off the coast of Victoria, is another cool climate region
that has seen expansion in recent years. The vineyards
are best suited to white varieties, and there are some
good table and sparkling wines appearing. VintagesIt is not uncommon to see wine publications offering advice on vintages for the whole of Australia, or perhaps individual states, suggesting that the climate across this huge continent is uniform throughout the year, which is plainly ridiculous. Fortunately, because of Australia's enviable fine weather, vintages are slightly less important than in Europe, where a spot of bad weather can produce an array of weak, diluted wines and thus ruin a vintage. Nevertheless, I'm not going to generalise about vintages in Australia. Trying to be specific, good vintages for Coonawarra Cabernet include 1998, 1996, 1994, 1991, 1990, 1986 and 1982. New Zealand Wine Guide |
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A country now well known for its unique, intense style of Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand also produces some excellent Chardonnay and Riesling. Until recently the red wines have never been very impressive, but recent vintages have demonstrated that this is no longer the case. New Zealand is now responsible for some good Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot based wines, but is also beginning to produce Pinot Noir of world-beating quality. Like Australia, some big names dominate the industry. Montana, based in Auckland, is responsible for much of the wine produced, releasing wines under its own name as well as McDonald Winery. Other wineries dominating the industry include Corbans (brands Stoneleigh, Longridge) and Villa Maria (brands Vidal, Esk Valley). Both are also based in Auckland. Together these three account for well over half the wine produced in New Zealand. |
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South IslandIt is the South
Island that produces the most significant wines. The Marlborough region, New
Zealand's largest, near the northern tip, is well
established as a the country's top region when it comes
to Sauvignon Blanc. It is the combination of good
ripening conditions combined with cool nights which
maintain natural acidity in the grapes that has made it
so successful. There is also some good Riesling. Other
regions of the South Island include Nelson and Canterbury,
which includes Waipara. These are
somewhat overshadowed by Marlborough. Further south,
however, is a region which is certainly not overshadowed,
and that is Central Otago. The Pinot Noir
produced here is of ever increasing quality, and worth
looking out for. North IslandAt the
southernmost tip is Wairarapa, which includes Martinborough.
Martinborough is
a small region which has seen success with mainly white
grapes, but also some wonderful Pinot Noir. Hawke's
Bay, further north, has a warmer climate and a
history of success with red grapes as well as white. Some
wines produced are outstanding. Gisborne, conversely, has
mainly white varieties, whereas the vineyards of Waikato,
Auckland and the Bay of
Plenty are both known for reds and whites. In the
far north, Northland produces a small
amount of grapes. VintagesNew Zealand has had some good vintages recently, in particular 2000. Opt for wines from this vintage if there is a choice. Otherwise opt for the youngest vintage available, as most Sauvignon Blanc will be better drunk young rather than aged. As for reds. Central Otago had good vintages in 1995 and 1996 for Pinot Noir. Older vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines are probably best avoided. |
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