When it comes to wine, whether it’s red or white, Australia is known for producing some of the best bottles in the world. From Victoria to Western Australia and New South Wales, the wine regions in Australia have a distinct flavour and taste unmatched anywhere else. Australian winemakers have perfected their craft and have locals and international visitors flocking in droves to their estates to taste what Australian wine has to offer. To understand just what makes Australian wine so iconic, use this guide to learn more now.
Regions
One of the most iconic aspects of Australian wine is the diverse and unique nature of the wine regions. Each wine region in Australia is known for its unique flavour and taste that allows wine drinkers to experience the complexity Australia has to offer. Hunter Valley wines are known for having some of the oldest vines in the country and producing some of the world’s best Shiraz and Semillon wines. This region is known for rolling green hills and a climate that is unique for growing grapes.
Compare this to the Adelaide hills, and you will feel like you’re looking at wine growers in two different countries. The cooler climates in South Australia have made for some of the most innovative winemaking you’ll see anywhere in the world. Producing wines that are both elegant and edgy, the Adelaide Hills region is a large part of what makes Australian wine so iconic. Each region in Australia offers something unique, whether it’s the weather or the winemakers themselves. No matter what region you set as your destination, you can be guaranteed a great wine tasting experience.
Fruits and harvests
The climate in Australia is one of the main reasons for its iconic stature in the winemaking community. A sub-tropical climate and a diverse offering across the country mean there is an abundance of fruit choices to create bold, flavourful wines. Cooler climates like those in Victoria and Tasmania mean fruit harvests are often bountiful and allow for stronger flavour profiles in the wine. The incredible harvests and fruit choices mean Australian winemakers can create versatile bottles that were made for drinking.
Other wine regions around the world often focus on creating wines to pair with food, whereas Australian winemakers have the luxury of creating a wine that is capable of standing out on its own. This is due in large to the abundance of fruit and strong harvests allowing for experimentation and innovation in winemaking not experienced elsewhere in the world. Having this opportunity to create a wine that is designed to be enjoyed on its own makes Australian wine iconic by design.
We make our wine
Australian winemakers have a luxury that is not experienced across the world, regulation-free winemaking. Our winemakers enjoy the ability to be free in their creative process, which helps to create far more innovative and unique wines.
In others parts of the world, traditional winemaking techniques and processes need to be followed, which can inhibit the creative process of winemakers. That results in uniform wines that won’t often surprise or delight wine enthusiasts. It doesn’t stop them from producing world-class wines, but it does mean you’re unlikely to get a new taste or flavour that you haven’t had before. Australian winemakers aren’t bound by these traditions and as such, can create incredible flavours that excite wine lovers the world over. This creative freedom has helped create the iconic reputation Australian wine enjoys.
History
Australia is home to some of the oldest vines in the world, thanks to our relative plague and disease-free history. European growers weren’t as lucky and had a lot of their vines destroyed during the plague. This rich history that Australia enjoys, means the wine produced by these vineyards is beyond incredible, it’s iconic. The older the vine, the more concentrated the wine that is produced, and Australia is home to some incredibly concentrated bottles and barrels. To go along with these historical vines is continuity in the growers.
Some of Australia’s oldest vines are still being harvested by descendants of the original growers. Not only is there history in the vine, but there is history in the wine as well. Family traditions are kept and the end product is iconic flavours.
Australia is well known for its incredible and iconic wines. The climate, history and harvests all have a huge part to play in the creation of some of the best wines you’ll find anywhere in the world. With a wine region in almost every state or territory, you won’t find it hard to get your hands on a bottle of this unique wine. Whether you’re an Australian or an overseas wine lover, you’ll want to add all of Australia’s wine regions to your travel list and sample some of these iconic wines for yourself.
