wines from australia

Wines from Australia are gaining more and more importance worldwide. Australia’s vineyards cover 170,000 hectares in various wine regions in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and a smaller area in Queensland. In 2015, Australia was the seventh largest wine producing country with approximately 1,200 million liters of wine produced. The first vines arrived in the late eighteenth century aboard the ships of Governor Phillip’s first fleet en route to New South Wales.

The climate of each region has the greatest influence on the style of Wines from Australia. The key to unlocking the potential of wines from Australia, therefore, is understanding the geographic distinction of vineyards. The five main wine states in Australia are: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania.

Today, the main grape varieties grown in Australian wine regions are: Shiraz (Syrah), Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Riesling, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Sangiovese, Mourvèdre and Pinot Grigio.