Facebook

Twitter

Hoping to learn more about the different wine regions in the world? Peruse our guide to everything you need to know about Australian wine—and then plan a visit!

Exploring the world is a wine lover’s dream. Why? Because there are so many wine countries to fall in love with. There are so many wineries, vineyards, and bottles you’d never get to experience if you only stayed in your area. Getting in your car, on a train, or flying to a new location is one of the best ways to truly diversify your wine palate.

We’ve talked quite a bit about France, Italy, and other popular wine countries. But what about some of the other countries that don’t get as much attention? Today, we’ll explore Australian wine and dig into some of the key wine regions within—Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania. To begin our journey on everything you need to know about Australian wine, let’s learn more about the country’s climate and topography!

Australia’s Look & Feel

So, before you jet off to Australia once the world opens up again, let’s make sure you know what you’re getting. Endless beauty comes to mind when we imagine visiting Australia, but do we really know to what extent the beauty extends? Not sure—let’s get into it!

Topography

A lot of people think of the stereotypes when it comes to Australia—kangaroos, dusty flatlands, and white sand beaches all around. But there’s quite a bit more to it than that. There are mountain ranges, lush green pastures (New Zealand-esque), and most importantly, varied soils.

There are four different topographic regions: sandy coastal plains, highlands, central plains, and the western plateau. Why’s this important for the wine? Because these different regions provide different soil systems to create some absolutely stunning wines. Now, let’s get into the climate.

Climate

Similar to the topography, Australia is so massive that there are quite a few different climates to experience as well. As the home of many wineries, Northern Australia has a more tropically-influenced climate. Most of our wine regions of interest sit in the southern parts of the country, which is filled with mild summers and cool winters.

For our vineyards, this weather makes a mark on how our grapes taste. The climate of individual regions impacts the style of the wine we drink, so before you even start planning your trip, make sure to keep climate and wine styles in mind. To help you out, we’re going to get into good stuff about Australian wines!

Western Australia

The first region we’ll dig into is breathtaking Western Australia. Here, you won’t get as much of the dry heat; instead, you’ll get warm yet breezy summer days with cooler nights—meaning that we get wine that’s perfectly ripe and unbelievably fresh.

The topography is a bit hilly, but the main focus of the area are the rivers that run through it. The Margaret River is a sub-region you don’t want to miss. There’s a nice rich soil, but also a nice cool climate that create some super distinct wines. Here are some of the other key sub-regions:

• Great Southern
• Peel
• Pemberton
• Swan District

Key Wines

• Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay (especially Margaret River’s)
• Riesling
• Verdelho

Places to Visit:

Amelia Park Wines in Margaret River and Pinelli Wines in Swan Valley

New South Wales

New South Wales isn’t as new to the wine world as the name suggests. In fact, this area is where Australia’s first vineyards were planted. Known as the birthplace of Australian wine, the east coast state has a diverse range of climates. You get coastal climates near Sydney, but you can also find alpine climates and warmer river climates.

Though New South Wales was the beginning of Australian wine history, it’s actually not the top producing region in the country. That said, there are plenty of popular sub-regions to visit that allow you to admire Australia’s scenic beauty and the wine’s exquisite flavors. We’ve laid out some of the main sub-regions within New South Wales as well:

• Hunter Valley (where delicate, aged white wines come from)
• Canberra District
• Murray Darling
• Tumbarumba

Key Wines

• Semillon
• Shiraz

Places to Visit:

Lark Hill Winery in Canberra and Allandale Winery in Hunter Valley

South Australia

South Australia is one of the most popular wine regions in the country. It produces the majority of the wine and also contains some of the oldest vineyards, which means you get plenty of depth in your bottle. What makes this region so popular for winemaking?

The climate in this area is dry and hot, which makes for ripe grapes and beautifully bold, concentrated, and dense wines. In fact, Barossa Valley—one of the most popular sub-regions in Australia—is home to an iconic red wine scene. Here, you’ll comprehend why Shiraz is such a big deal, but you can also fall more in love with wines like Grenache, Morvedre, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are some of the other popular sub-regions:

• Adelaide Hills (one of the best cool-climate sub-regions!)
• Langhorne Creek
• Coonawarra
• McLaren Vale

Key Wines

• Shiraz
• Cabernet Sauvignon (especially from Coonawarra)
• Grenache

Places to Visit:

D’Arenberg Winery in McLaren Vale and St. Hugo Winery in Barossa

Tasmania

Did you know that Tasmania is its own little island separated from mainland Australia? The Bass Strait separates this quaint island from the rest of the wine, but you can come here and not be upset that you’re anywhere but. Truly.

Filled with more than just incredible cool-climate wines, Tasmania also boasts some of the best seafood in the world (who would have thought!). Enjoy your fresh-caught fish with exquisite sparkling wine, Riesling, or even a Pinot Noir. You won’t find heavy wines here! Though an island, there are still specific sub-regions to explore:

• Tamar Valley
• Cool River Valley
• East Coast
• Pipers River

Key Wines:

• Tasmanian Méthode Champenoise
• Riesling
• Chardonnay

Places to Visit:

Goaty Hill Wines in Tamar Valley and Milton Winery in East Coast

Victoria

We can’t tell you everything you need to know about Australian wine without mentioning Victoria, as this region has some of the most diverse conditions for vineyards. That topography and climate make an impact here, allowing for hot and dry areas, but also cool-climate and low elevation areas as well. That diversity is so popular, that this region actually has the most wineries of all regions! Here are some of the key sub-regions:

• Yarra Valley
• Mornington Peninsula
• Rutherglen (dessert wine, anyone?)

Key Wines:

• Pinot Noir
• Muscat
• Chardonnay

Places to Visit:

Oakridge Wines in Yarra Valley and Quealy Winemakers in Mornington

There you have it—Wines ‘Til Sold Out’s take on Australian wine. Want to taste some Australian wine without having to fly there? With our special wine offers, you can get your pick of delicious wine without the hefty price tag. Explore our selection now and see what scrumptious wines you can enjoy!

Facebook

Twitter