Australian Wine - Right Up There With The Best Of Them!


Defined Tag: Australian Wine.

When most people think of a nice bottle of Chardonnay or perhaps Cabernet Sauvignon they will not be thinking of Australian wine.  That is a shame because Australia produces many excellent varieties that are matching the high standards of those from abroad.  There are many things that are overlooked from this country but none so more than this type of produce.  Let me give you a little history lesson.

Aussies have been producing wines since the early 1800’s and by 1822 it was being exported to other countries. Not only did this country produce it, it produced a very high quality as well. In French competitions in the later 1800's it scored very well with the judging experts. This didn't neccessarily go down well with the French but it did demonstrate that Australia could produce a fine product. Unfortunately this all came to a end in the late 1800's when phylloxera, a grapevine pest, devastated the grape production.

Once recovered from the devastation of the phylloxera epidemic, Australia returned to its high quality production in the late 1970's. Not only is the country a large exporter to the United States and Europe, it is the sixth largest producer in the world. In fact, their production is considered to be a significant contributor to the economic health of the country. It may be surprising to some, though that whilst Australia is a large player in this industry, the country has no native species of grapes.

All grape vine varieties have been brought in from other overseas locations. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling are among some of the major varieties of grapes grown in Australia and used in their lucrative production. In all, there are well over a hundred types of grapes used to produce the many excellent wines there.  Many well-known brands such as Penfolds Grange, an award winning product, come from Australia.

These days Australia is becoming better known for their reds and whites and are winning more acclaim every year.  They are earning respect from the very best European producers all the time.  So, if you are someone who repsects good tasting Chardonnay or Cab Sav just to mention a couple then you really should not miss the opportunity to enjoy the great varieties that are on offer from this wonderful country.  Why not have an Aussie theme at your next dinner party and share some Australian wine with your guests.  You will not be disappointed.