Although it is now the fourth largest wine producing country in the world, Australia is still considered by many to be a ‘new world’ wine maker – with less than three hundred years of wine making experience (compared to the wealth of experience most European countries can boast) it has undoubtedly created a loud rumble in the world of viticulture. There are now over 2000 wine producers in Australia though most of these are smaller operators and the market is heavily dominated by a small number of major producers such as The Foster’s Group, Hardy Wine company (now Constellation Wines Australia), and Casella Wines.
The first vine cuttings were brought by Governor Phillip on the first fleet from the Cape of Good Hope in 1788. Lack of experience in cultivating wines meant that the first few harvests initially failed but by the early nineteenth century, wines were being exported from Australia and the first vineyards were established in the Hunter valley. The climate of Australia has proved demanding to get to grips with, and the diverse landscape has meant that whilst some crops have fallen victim to droughts, others have fallen victim, and are still vulnerable to, phylloxera and Botrytis – parasites and disease.
Whilst Australia has no native grape, it has certainly contributed greatly to original blends and continues to use over 130 different grape varieties throughout the wine making areas. Unlike most other countries, the diverse landscape of Australia makes it somewhat easier to distinguish the wine producing regions and out of the seven major territories it is the southern state of Victoria that is probably the most significant, simply because of the vast number of wine regions it has. Victoria benefits from a warm climate but with plenty of refreshment in the North West from the Murray River.
Some of the better known regions include Swan Hill which is noted for its white chardonnay, it has particular success with the reds too, specifically Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. Buller’s Beverford, Andrew Peace Wines and Oak Dale wines are just some of the more successful wineries in the area. The King Valley is another gem of Victoria and is noted for its mix of mountainous terrain in the south to flat lands of the north. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape in the King Valley region particularly because its climate allows for quick ripening. The Brown Brothers’ Patricia Cabernet Sauvignon has many awards to its name and continues to thrive.
South Australia also has much to offer with its red wines and the Shiraz in particular has thrived here. The Shiraz is considered to be of great importance in Australia and whilst is tends to have an almost ‘peppery’ reputation in most other parts of the world, the Shiraz of the Southern territory is affected by its cooler climate and seems to have a more fruity flavour, notably plum, blackberry and frequently with hints of liquorice and more gamey scents. The Eden Valley is a significant red wine producer with Craneford Wines, Eden Springs and Robert Johnson Vineyards being amongst the most widely recognised names. One of the greatest success stories of the Southern Territory has to be that of Wolf Blass in the Barossa Valley – established in 1966 and owned by the Foster’s Group, Wolf Blass has not only won many awards, but has become a leading export with particular prominence in the UK. The Barossa Valley is also home to the world famous Jacob’s Creek. Owned by Orlando Wines, the first wine released with the Jacob’s Creek label was the 1973 Vintage Shiraz Cabernet Malbec. The brand is now exported to over sixty countries which should give some indication as to how popular it is.
The Swan District and Peel regions of Western Australia likewise produce a large bulk of Shiraz, though the region as a whole tends to be more widely associated with its popular white wines such as the Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay. The Peel Estate was established by Will Nairn in 1974 starting with a Shiraz vine, and whilst other varieties have since been established, it is the sweet medium-bodied Shiraz that prevails.
One of Australia’s most famous red wines is the Penfold’s Grange Shiraz. Since 1962 it has won in excess of fifty gold medals with its 1971 vintage winning first prize at the Paris Wine Olympics! Other wines that have achieved international recognition for their success include Clrendon Hills Astralis and Torbreck Run Rig.
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