F O U N D AT I O N S

OF AUSTRALIAN WINE

AU STRA LI AN W IN E DI SC OVERED
Australia’s unique climate and
landscape have fostered a fiercely
independent wine scene, home
to a vibrant community of growers,
winemakers, viticulturists, and
vignerons. With more than 100
grape varieties grown across 65
distinct wine regions, we have the
freedom to make exceptional wine,
and to do it our own way. We’re not
beholden by tradition, but continue
to push the boundaries in the pursuit
of the most diverse, thrilling wines
in the world. That’s just our way.
UNIQUE WINES
F RO M
U N S PO I LT
-- Australia has one of the most
diverse wine scenes in the world,
with more than 100 different

L A N DS
grape varieties grown across
65 wine regions.
-- The Australian wine community
is renowned for its creativity and
willingness to experiment.
-- Australian wines are an authentic
expression of the people who craft
them and the country’s varied soils
and climate.
-- Australia is home to a highly-skilled
winemaking community, crafting
premium wines that stand among
the world’s best.
TODAY

WE’LL -- The history of

Australian wine
-- Geography, climate
and soil

COVER…
-- Noteworthy regions
-- Key varieties and
wine styles
 THE FORTIFIED ERA:
1900 to 1940s
THE HISTORY -- Driven by
domestic and
-- Rutherglen
Muscats and
-- The thirst for fortified
wines meant that old

OF AUSTRALIAN export demand,

fortified wine
Muscadelles
were a highlight
Shiraz, Mataró (Mourvèdre)
and Grenache vines

WINE dominated
production
and trade
of this era were maintained – to
be rediscovered and
treasured decades later

THE PIONEER ERA:

LATE 1700s, 1800s
-- Australia’s wine -- Important regions were -- James Busby brought
pioneers planted established, including back hundreds of
vines, expanded the Hunter Valley, cuttings from Europe,
their vineyards Tasmania, Yarra Valley, which today are the
and began McLaren Vale, the source of precious
exporting Barossa and Rutherglen old vines
 THE GOLDEN AGE:
1960s to TODAY
-- Food and table‑wine
culture grew, and
trailblazing winemakers
discovered or
rediscovered an array
of cool-climate regions
THE RENAISSANCE ERA:
1940s to 1960s
-- Ambitious growers and
winemakers defied
consumer demands for
fortifieds to produce
tiny amounts of some of
Australia’s finest table wines
-- Red wine sales -- By the early 1980s, -- Today the Australian
boomed in the 1970s Australia was the wine community is
and demand for white 18th largest wine diverse, unique and
wine rose in the 1980s exporter; by the early truly world class
1990s it was sixth
-- The popularity of
fortified wine reached
its peak and people
began to develop a
taste for table wines
AUSTRALIA’S GEOGRAPHY,
CLIMATE AND SOILS:

ANCIENT
AND
D I V E RS E
 DARWIN

World’s sixth-
SWEDEN
IRELAND

largest country,
UK

bigger than Europe GERMANY

POLAND

CZECH
FRANCE REPUBLIC

AUSTRIA
UKRAINE

HUNGARY
BRISBANE
GEOLOGICALLY ANCIENT PORTUGAL
SPAIN ROMANIA

AND BIOLOGICALLY DIVERSE ITALY YUGOSLAVIA

VINEYARDS ACROSS PERTH BULGARIA

THE COUNTRY, BUT ADELAIDE GREECE

SYDNEY

CONCENTRATED IN THE CANBERRA

SOUTHEAST AND SOUTHWEST

MELBOURNE
THE COLD SOUTHERN OCEAN
KEEPS TEMPERATURES COOL
IN THE SOUTH, IDEAL FOR HOBART
MAKING WINE
*Indicative only
WESTERN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES
1 Swan District 30 New England Australia
2 Perth Hills 31 Hastings River
3 Peel 32 Hunter
4 Geographe 33 Mudgee DARWIN
5 Margaret River 34 Orange
6 Blackwood Valley 35 Cowra
7 Pemberton 36 Riverina
8 Manjimup 37 Hilltops
NORTHERN
9 Great Southern 38 Southern Highlands TERRITORY
39 Gundagai

O F
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

G I O N S
40

E
Canberra District
10 Southern Flinders
Ranges
41
42
Shoalhaven Coast
Tumbarumba
WIN E R
AUS T RALIA
11 Clare Valley 43 Perricoota
12 Barossa Valley
13 Eden Valley VICTORIA
14 Riverland 44 Murray Darling
15 Adelaide Plains 45 Swan Hill
16 Adelaide Hills 46 Goulburn Valley QUEENSLAND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
17 McLaren Vale 47 Rutherglen 28
18 Kangaroo Island 48 Glenrowan
BRISBANE
19 Southern Fleurieu 49 Beechworth SOUTH AUSTRALIA 29
20 Currency Creek 50 King Valley
21 Langhorne Creek 51 Alpine Valleys NEW SOUTH WALES
30

22 Padthaway 52 Strathbogie Ranges

1 31
23 Mount Benson 53 Upper Goulburn PERTH
2
10
33 32

24 Wrattonbully 54 Heathcote 4
3 11
12 14
44
35 34
15
SYDNEY
13
25 Robe 55 Bendigo 5
6
16
17 21
36
37
38
7 8 9
26 Coonawarra 56 Pyrenees ADELAIDE 18 19 20 45
43
39 40
41

27 Mount Gambier 57 Macedon Ranges 23

22
24
47
46 48 49
55 54 52 50 51
42
CANBERRA
26 56
58 Sunbury 25
27 60
59 57 53 AUSTRALIAN
QUEENSLAND
58 62
61 64 CAPITAL TERRITORY
59 Grampians 63
28 South Burnett 60 Henty MELBOURNE
29 Granite Belt 61 Geelong
62 Yarra Valley VICTORIA
63 Mornington Peninsula 65

64 Gippsland TASMANIA
HOBART
TASMANIA
65 Tasmania
 Si
en
e

PARIS

Ma
ern
STRASBURG
e
Sien

Lo
ire Burgundy
NANTES
Lo
ire DIJON
ONLY

FRANCE 135,000
HECTARES
All
ier

(0.2%)

Rhône
LYON OF AUSTRALIA’S
TOTAL LAND
MASS IS
Bordeaux
e
Loir

UNDER VINE
This is slightly less
BORDEAUX Dordogne
than Bordeaux and
Rhône

Burgundy combined.
Gar
onn
e
 -- Australia’s latitude, maritime
influences and elevation
all contribute to a surprising
diversity of climates
-- Premium wine regions located
in the country’s temperate areas
-- Concentrated in NSW,
South Australia, Tasmania,
Victoria and Western Australia

T H E VA R I E D
C L I M AT E S
OF AUSTRALIA'S WINE REGIONS
 DARWIN
Degrees Celsius

39
36
33
30
27 NORTHERN
TERRITORY
24
21
QUEENSLAND
18
15
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
12
9 SOUTH AUSTRALIA BRISBANE
6
3
0
NEW SOUTH WALES
PERTH
-3
ADELAIDE SYDNEY
CANBERRA

MINIMUM
AUSTRALIAN
CAPITAL TERRITORY
MELBOURNE

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

VICTORIA

T E M P E R AT U R E TASMANIA

ANNUAL 30-YEAR AVERAGE 1976-2005 HOBART

 DARWIN
Millimetres

3200
2400
2000
1600
1200 NORTHERN
TERRITORY
1000
800
QUEENSLAND
600
500
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
400
300 SOUTH AUSTRALIA BRISBANE
200
0

NEW SOUTH WALES

PERTH

ADELAIDE SYDNEY
CANBERRA

A N N UA L
AUSTRALIAN
CAPITAL TERRITORY
MELBOURNE

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

VICTORIA

R A I N F A L L TASMANIA

30-YEAR AVERAGE 1976-2005 HOBART

 KEY FACTO RS
INFLUENCING CLIMATE IN
PREMIUM VITICULTURAL AREAS

COOLING
LAT I TUDE W E AT H E R
PAT T E R N S
Areas at higher latitudes COLD WINDS OF THE
– which are further from SOUTHERN OCEAN
the equator – are cooler, MODERATE THE WEATHER
making southern Australia IN MANY OF AUSTRALIA’S
much cooler than the north FAMOUS WINE REGIONS
A LT I T U D E GEOGRAPHICAL
Temperatures decrease by
approximately 0.65°C for
every 100 metres (328 feet)
in altitude; the highest
Australian wine regions
are up to
1,000-
1,200M
(3,281–3,937FT)
FEATURES
THREE MAJOR MOUNTAIN
RANGES INFLUENCE
CLIMATE AND WEATHER:
-- DARLING SCARP (WA)
-- MOUNT LOFTY RANGES (SA)
-- THE GREAT DIVIDING RANGE
(QLD, NSW, VIC)
GEOGRAPHICAL
F E AT U R E S
NORTHERN
TERRITORY

Great d i viding
range QUEENSLAND
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mount lofty
Darling ranges
scarp
NEW SOUTH WALES

AUSTRALIAN
CAPITAL TERRITORY

VICTORIA

TASMANIA
*Indicative only
 Regions in the centre of large
land masses that tend to
have hotter summers and
colder winters. CLARE
VALLEY

C O N T I N E N TA L
CLI MATE
EDEN
VALLEY
PARTS OF
GREAT
SOUTHERN
YARRA
VALLEY
 Regions near the coast,
where the climate has a
narrower range of temperatures
and rainfall is spread more
evenly throughout the year.

ADELAIDE

M A RI T I M E
HILLS

CLI MATE COONAWARRA

MORNINGTON
PENINSULA
TASMANIA
 Similar to maritime climates,
but summers tend to be
warm and dry. There is less
temperature variation between
the hottest and coldest months.
BAROSSA

MEDITERRANEAN
VALLEY

CLIMATE GEOGRAPHE
McLAREN
VALE
MARGARET
RIVER
(+ STRONG MARITIME
INFLUENCES)
 AUTUMN
AUSTRALIA’S ( M A RC H – M AY )
VERAISON AND

GRAPE
H A RV E ST

G ROW I N G SUMMER
SEASONS
( D EC E M B E R – F E B RUA RY )
B E R RY S E T
AND VERAISON

SPRING
( S E PT E M B E R – N OV E M B E R )
B U D B U R ST, G ROW T H
A N D F LOW E R I N G

WINTER
(J U N E – AU G UST )
WINTER BUD
A N D D O R M A N CY
 A U S TRA L I A ’ S
UNEARTHING
A N C I ENT SO I L S
-- Australia has been a land mass
for over 100 million years
-- Its soils are some of the most
ancient on Earth
-- There are also younger sand
and limestone soils, and fertile
volcanic soils
-- Soil types can vary greatly between
wine regions and within the regions
themselves – even across a single
vineyard block
G EO LO G I CA L
CLASSIFICATIONS
PRE-CAMBRIAN
AND CAMBRIAN
METAMORPHOSED
SEDIMENTARY
MARITIME VOLCANIC STRATA
DEPOSITS (BASALT)
(LIMESTONE) GRANITE Central Victoria,
Barossa Valley,
Eden Valley,
Southeast Margaret River, Northern Clare Valley,
South Australia, Mount Barker, Tasmania, Adelaide Hills,
Western Victoria, Grampians, Hunter Valley, Fleurieu Peninsula,
Murray Valley Northeast Victoria Orange Kangaroo Island
THE MAIN
S O I L G RO U PS
IN AUSTRALIA’S WINE REGIONS

SAND
Gritty, free-draining
soils that retain heat.
Easy to cultivate but
can lack nutrients.

C L AY
Heavy, poor-draining soils
that are rock-hard when dry
and tend to stay cooler.
 LOAM
Nearly an equal mix of silt, clay
and sand as well as organic matter.
Well-drained fertile soils that
promote vigorous vine growth,
making rigorous pruning important.

S I LT
Smooth, fine-grained soils that
promote water retention and can be
richer in nutrients than sandy soils.
PROMINENT
R E G I O N S
NORTHERN
TERRITORY

QUEENSLAND

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

SOUTH
AUSTRALIA

hunter
NEW SOUTH WALES valley
CLARE Orange
VALLEY
BAROSSA VICTORIA
canberra district
MARGARET McLAREN VALE Rutherglen
RIVER
adelaide hills YARRA VALLEY
0 500
COONAWARRA TASMANIA
Kilometres TASMANIA
Mornington
Peninsula
 ONE OF
R E B O R N I N T H E 1 9 70 s M O D E R AT E
AUSTRALIA’S when vines were M A R I T I M E C L I M AT E
MOST ELEVATED re‑planted. Today it’s
AND COOL- with cool-climate
CLIMATE WINE key to the evolution characteristics
REGIONS of Australia wine

ADELAIDE
HILLS KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Sauvignon Blanc
-- Chardonnay
-- Pinot Noir
-- Shiraz
-- plus various
alternative varieties
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
B A RO S S A VA L L E Y
-- Shiraz
-- Cabernet Sauvignon
-- Grenache
E D E N VA L L E Y
-- Riesling
-- Chardonnay
-- Shiraz

BAROSSA
-- Cabernet Sauvignon

B A RO S S A VA L L E Y
O N E O F AU S T R A L I A' S HOME TO warm, Mediterranean
SOME OF THE
most celebrated OLDEST VINES climate
and historic IN THE
WORLD E D E N VA L L E Y
wine regions
cooler climate with
various mesoclimates
 CORNERSTONE OF WA R M , M O D E R AT E LY
CLASSIC, TRADITIONAL
PRODUCERS COUPLED G LO B A L R E P U TAT I O N C O N T I N E N TA L C L I M AT E
WITH HISTORY OF for Riesling, setting the with significant
EXPERIMENTATION
benchmark for classic, diurnal variation
age-worthy wines and cooling breezes

CLARE
VA L L E Y KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Riesling
-- Shiraz
-- Cabernet
Sauvignon
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Cabernet
Sauvignon
-- Shiraz
-- Merlot

C O O N AWA RR A
M O D E R AT E ,
R E N OW N E D FAMED FOR O C E A N - I N F LU E N C E D
for producing ITS STRIP OF C L I M AT E
premium, age‑worthy TERRA ROSSA
(‘RED SOIL’) with a dry, moderately
red wines cool summer
 ONE OF THE MOST WA R M
THE
BIRTHPLACE P RO G R E S S I V E MEDITERRANEAN
OF WINE and environmentally C L I M AT E
IN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
conscious wine with a range of
communities in Australia mesoclimates
and microclimates

McLAREN
VA L E KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Shiraz
-- Cabernet
Sauvignon
-- Grenache
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc
blends
-- Chardonnay

M A RGA RE T
-- Cabernet
Sauvignon

RIVER
G EO G R A P H I C A L LY MEDITERRANEAN
ONE OF THE WORLD’S I S O L AT E D C L I M AT E
YOUNGEST WINE with ideal with strong maritime
REGIONS, BUT HAS
QUICKLY BUILT A grape‑growing influences, with ocean
GLOBAL REPUTATION conditions on three sides
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Riesling
-- Shiraz

CA N B E RR A
DISTRICT
R E L AT I V E LY YO U N G C O N T I N E N TA L
ENCOMPASSES
region producing VINEYARDS C L I M AT E
premium wines IN ACT OF EXTREMES
AND NSW
 AUSTRALIA’S HOME TO SOME S U B T RO P I C A L
FIRST OF THE OLDEST
VINE STOCK IN C L I M AT E
COMMERCIAL
WINE REGION THE WORLD with maritime
influences

H U N T E R
VA L L E Y KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Semillon
-- Chardonnay
-- Shiraz
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Chardonnay
-- Sauvignon Blanc
-- Shiraz
-- Cabernet
Sauvignon

O R A N G E
C O O L- C L I M AT E C O N T I N E N TA L
SOME OF
R EG I O N O N T H E R I S E THE HIGHEST C L I M AT E
producing a ALTITUDES IN featuring warm summer
AUSTRALIA
growing range of days, cool nights and
premium wines dry autumn conditions
 SMALL SEASIDE BOUTIQUE WINERIES T RU E M A R I T I M E
REGION
SURROUNDED BY
and vineyards C L I M AT E
THREE BODIES producing premium with an array of
OF WATER cool‑climate wines mesoclimates
and microclimates

M O RN I N GTO N
PENINSULA KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Pinot Noir
-- Chardonnay
-- Pinot Gris/Grigio
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Muscat and
Muscadelle
(fortified wines)
-- Shiraz
-- Durif

RU T H E RG L E N
C L A S S I C C O N T I N E N TA L
H I S TO R I C R EG I O N C L I M AT E
FIFTH- AND
and Australia’s SIXTH‑GENERATION with cooling influences
WINEMAKERS
capital of PRODUCE A RANGE OF
from the foothills of the
fortified wines AWARD‑WINNING WINES Victorian Alps
 BIRTHPLACE DIVERSE LANDSCAPE LEADING
OF VICTORIA’S with continental C O O L- C L I M AT E R EG I O N
WINE climate and substantial
INDUSTRY
with winemakers
mesoclimatic variations embracing both
classic and boundary-
pushing techniques

Y A R R A
VA L L E Y KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Chardonnay
-- Pinot Noir
-- Shiraz
-- Cabernet Sauvignon
 KE Y VA R I E T I E S
-- Pinot Noir
-- Chardonnay
-- Riesling

TA S M A N I A
MODERN WINE M O D E R AT E M A R I T I M E
THIS PRISTINE
I N D U S T RY ISLAND IS ONE C L I M AT E
started in 1970s and has OF AUSTRALIA’S coolest in Australia
FINEST COOL-
quickly built a global CLIMATE WINE
reputation, particularly REGIONS
for sparkling wines
NOTEWORTHY

VA RI E T I E S
A N D STYL E S
SPARKLING WINE:
R I VA L L I N G T H E
W O R L D ’S B E S T
-- Australia has been making sparkling
wine since the late 19th century
-- Today, Australia is a world-leading
producer of a range of styles
-- Sparkling wine represents a small but
significant proportion of production
-- Considerable growth in recent years
 D
KEY
REGIONS
S T Y L E S A N
R I S T I C S
CHARAC T E
ADELAI DE HI LLS
One of Australia’s most
exciting sparkling wine
DRY BRUT STYLE regions where crisp,
the most popular; aromas cool‑climate wines meet
include biscuit, dough, subtlety and style
toast, apple and grapefruit

SPARKLING
THREE MAIN STYLES
TASMAN IA YARRA VALLEY
Produces sparkling Cool climate and
wines of impeccable good soil have
AUST R A L I A N

SPARKLING RED, SPARKLING ROSÉ structure and style, made it a magnet

ESPECIALLY SHIRAZ a niche style; many of which are for exceptional
a uniquely Australian aromas include premium, Traditional sparkling wine
style; crimson floral, rose petal, Method wines producers
coloured, juicy, fruity strawberry, raspberry
and refreshing and red currant
RIESLING:
DIVERSE AND DISTINCTIVE
-- Australia is one of the world’s
top Riesling producers
-- Long history in Australia; today one
of the most renowned varieties
-- Planted in most wine regions;
best examples from cooler areas
-- Minimal-intervention winemaking
approach is common
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S

THE MOST
COMMON STYLE
AROMATIC, IS DRY, WITH
LIGHT‑BODIED TO SOME OFF-DRY
MEDIUM‑BODIED, AND DESSERT
HIGH ACID PRESENCE WINES ALSO
PRODUCED

RIESLING
YOUTHFUL AGED -- Citrus
AUST R A L I A N

TYPICAL
Zippy, fresh Honeyed, F L AVO U R S -- Apple
and drinkable smooth and rich
-- Honey
KEY REGIONS

Great So uthern
Canberra CLARE Valley Rieslings of great
district Some of Australia’s intensity that are fresh
Typical style is crisp best Riesling; and nervy in their youth
and dry; off-dry signature notes and age superbly
styles are making of lemon and lime,
a comeback. with fruit richness
Excellent ageing and a long, lingering
potential persistence

So uth Tasman ia

RIESLING
Western Great length with
Victoria citrus and mineral
characters and
Fine, lime-
Eden Valley accented and
high levels of
AUST R A L I A N

Signature slate, mineral natural acidity

age-worthy
character, strong lime wines
juice and fragrant
floral aromas; can take
10+ years to reach peak
SEMILLON:
A T RU LY U N I Q U E
E X P RE S S I O N
O F A C L AS S I C
-- Long history in Australia
-- Delicate, versatile grape produced
in a range of styles
-- Potential to age for many years
-- Lends itself to botrytis, or ‘noble rot’,
to produce one of Australia’s most
celebrated sweet wine styles
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S

FOUR DISTINCT
COMMONLY BLENDED
LIGHT-BODIED STYLES: WITH OTHER
TO MEDIUM- UNOAKED, OAKED, VARIETIES INCLUDING
BODIED BLENDED, SAUVIGNON BLANC
DRY WINES DESSERT WINE

SEMIL L ON
BLENDS

SEMILLON CRISP, CLEAN,

YOUTHFUL AGED
CONTRIBUTES ELEGANT
Crisp, fresh Richer with notes FLAVOUR AND AND FRUIT-DRIVEN,
and citrusy of toast and honey
AUST R A L I A N
ROUNDNESS TO AND GENERALLY
THE SHARPER MADE FOR EARLY
SAUVIGNON BLANC DRINKING
-- Citrus TYPICAL NOTES
-- Apple F L AVO U R S
-- Honey
KEY REGIONS

Barossa Valley
Typically riper, richer
styles that are often barrel MARGARET RI VER
fermented, however styles Semillon Sauvignon
are becoming more crisp Blanc blend is a
and delicate signature style, known
for its liveliness and
bright personality

SEMIL L ON
Hunter Valley
Unoaked Hunter Valley
Semillon is unique in the RI VERI NA
wine world, capable of Produces gloriously
AUST R A L I A N

ageing gracefully for sweet, intense

well over 20 years and complex
botrytis Semillon
dessert wines
C H A R D O N N AY :
AUSTRALIA’S CLASSIC WHITE
-- The most planted white variety
and accounts for more than half
of white wine production
-- Australia has some of the oldest
plantings in the world
-- This versatile variety is vinified into
all manner of expressions
-- Evolved from the big, oaky wines
of the 1980s and ’90s to more
restrained and elegant styles
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S

AUSTRALIAN
WINEMAKERS HAVE
EMBRACED ALL
FLAVOURS AND
CHARACTERISTICS
UNOAKED OAKED SPARKLING
OF THIS VARIETY

CHARDONNAY
T H R E E B ROA D S T Y L E S

STYLES RANGE FROM

LEAN AND LIGHT-BODIED TYPICAL -- Citrus
COOL-CLIMATE EXPRESSIONS F L AVO U R S -- Stone fruit
AUSTRALIAN

TO FULLER-BODIED, RICH -- Nuts

AND RIPE VERSIONS FROM
WARM CLIMATES
KEY REGIONS
M ORNI NGTON
PENI NSULA
Styles range from delicate
adelai de hi lls HUNTER Valley and unoaked through
Elegant, textured The previously oaky to medium‑bodied wines
and lean, these and rich styles of with rich complexity.
wines stand up this warm-climate Typical flavours of melon,
against the finest region have evolved citrus and fig
cool-climate into elegant and

CHARDONNAY
Chardonnays in restrained yet full-
the world flavoured wines
TASMAN IA YARRA VALLEY
Dry, delicate Elegant and
wines with age-worthy cool-
MARGARET RI VER piercing natural climate wines
World-class, age-worthy acidity and with high levels
wines with fruit ripeness, intense fine of acidity and
flavour depth and flavours flavours of citrus
AUSTRALIAN

refreshing acidity and stone fruit

PINOT NOIR:
C O O L- C L I M AT E
C H A RM
-- Relative latecomer to the
commercial wine community
but now an integral variety
-- One of the hardest grapes to grow
-- Best examples come from
cool‑climate regions
-- Clonal diversity has been
linked to an increase in wine
quality and complexity
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S

PREMIUM
LIGHT-BODIED TO WINES
MEDIUM-BODIED CHARACTERISED
AND RESTRAINED BY SUBTLETY
IN NATURE AND FINESSE

PINOT NOIR
AUS T R A L I A N
YOUTHFUL AGED -- Cherry
TYPICAL
Fine cherry, Develops F L AVO U R S -- Strawberry
red berry and herbal classic earthy
-- Raspberry
notes with silky or or ‘forest floor’
satiny texture savoury characters
KEY REGIONS
Adelai de Hi lls Tasman ia
The elevation and Ideal for producing
cool climate produces high‑quality Pinot Noir
medium‑bodied styles due to its cool climate;
with richer, ripe cherry typically light-bodied to
and berry flavours medium‑bodied with
delicate cherry and
strawberry flavours

PINOT NOIR
M orni ngton
peni nsula Yarra valley
Cool, seaside AUS T R A L I A N
Produces various
region producing expressions due to
medium‑bodied different elevations
wines with characters and aspects; typically
of strawberry light-bodied to
and cherry and a medium‑bodied,
backbone of acidity with flavours of cherry,
strawberry and plum
G RE N AC H E:
REBIRTH OF
A CLASSIC
-- One of the original varieties planted
in Australia
-- Australia boasts some of the oldest
Grenache vines in the world
-- A workhorse grape somewhat
overlooked in the early years
-- Today its enjoying a revival
as winemakers recognise its
exciting potential
STYLES AND
CHARACTERISTICS KEY
USED IN
SEVERAL WAYS:
REGIONS
AS A VARIETAL
RED WINE,
IN BLENDS, Barossa valley
IN ROSÉS AND Warm conditions and cool
IN FORTIFIED nights produce medium-bodied
WINES Typically medium- to full-bodied wines with rich
bodied to full-bodied texture and notes of red fruit,
earth and white pepper;
Perfumed, elegant GSM blends often consist
TYPICAL and food-friendly of Grenache from old vines
F L AVO U R S

GRENACHE
-- Cherry
-- Berry
-- Spice AUS T R A L I A N McLaren Vale
Medium-bodied to

DAY ’S STY LES V ARY F ROM full‑bodied wines with

TO TO L IG HTER, rich texture, spice and

RICH AND IN TE N S E ripe, juicy fruit; GSMs are

full-bodied, with a juicy
BRIGHTER WINES mouthfeel, fine tannins
and great length
SHIRAZ:
A N AUST R A L I A N L EG E N D
-- Australia’s iconic grape and its
most famous wine export
-- Grown in almost every region and
accounts for nearly one-quarter
of total wine production
-- Produced in a wide range of
expressions, from affordable,
quaffable reds to age-worthy classics
-- Australia has one of the oldest
continuously producing Shiraz
vines in the world
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S
IDEAL BLENDING
WARM-CLIMATE PARTNER –
BOLD FLAVOURS, JUICY GSM, SHIRAZ
JAMMY DARK FRUITS, CABERNET,
RIPE TANNINS AND SHIRAZ
SEAMLESS TEXTURE VIOGNIER

STYLES

COOLER-CLIMATE
ELEGANT, FOOD-FRIENDLY,
MEDIUM-BODIED WARM CLIMATE
-- Dark cherry

SH I RAZ
-- Plum
-- Chocolate
AUST R A L I A N

TYPICAL
YOUTHFUL AGED F L AVO U R S
Richly textured; ripe, Softer tannins;
rich, dark fruits smoother character; COOL CLIMATE
spice, liquorice and
-- Ripe red fruits
earth characters
KEY REGIONS
Eden Valley
The Gram pians Medium-bodied
adelai de hi lls Elegant, savoury to full-bodied with
Moderate alcohol Barossa Valley and spicy; deeply classic berry, sage
levels, pepper and Bold Shiraz purple in colour and pepper notes
spice aromas, fine bursting with flavour
tannins and acids and character

Hunter Valley
Canberra district Evolved into medium-bodied
Powerful yet elegant Shiraz wines that are savoury,
that’s spicy, balanced and complex and food-friendly
full-flavoured

SH I RAZ McLaren Vale M ount barker

AUST R A L I A N

Clare valley Full-bodied Silky, elegant

Plush, full-bodied and with rich Shiraz with notes
richly textured, with blueberry fruit of liquorice,
flavours of blackberry, and chocolate black cherry and
plum and liquorice characters peppery spice
CA B E RN E T SAU V I G N O N :
POWERFUL AND AGE-WORTHY
-- Australia’s third most planted
grape variety
-- Known for its intensity of colour,
flavour, acidity and tannins, and its
ability to age for many decades
-- A fixture in a lot of Australia’s most
historic and successful wines
-- Grows best in warm to cool,
dry regions
STYLES AND
C H A R ACT E RI ST I C S

AUSTRALIA IS KNOWN SUCCESSFUL AS

FOR FULLER-BODIED, BOTH A SINGLE-
CONCENTRATED CABERNET, VARIETY WINE
BUT ALSO PRODUCES AND A DOMINANT
MEDIUM‑BODIED, FEATURE IN
TANNIN‑DRIVEN STYLES CLASSIC BLENDS

SAUVIGNON
CABERNET -- Blackberry
AUST R A L I A N

YOUTHFUL AGED TYPICAL

Firm tannins, Tannins soften, F L AVO U R S -- Cherry
high acidity, mellow and smooth, -- Mint
flavours of cassis, characteristics of
blackberry cedar, tobacco,
and herbs earth, cocoa
KEY REGIONS
Coonawarra
Powerful, complex Cabernet
wines; medium‑bodied to
full-bodied with concentrated
flavours of blackcurrant,
mulberry, plum, blackberry Margaret ri ver
and dark cherry Medium-bodied to
full‑bodied; richer
and more rounded
in texture than those
of Coonawarra;
dark, blueberry fruit

SAUVIGNON
Langho rne characters and bay

CABERNET
leaf, bouquet garni or
Creek dried‑herb aromas
Full-bodied, rich,
AUST R A L I A N

flavourful wines with soft

tannins and ripe black-
fruit flavours. Signature
style blends Australian
Shiraz with Cabernet
A LT E R N AT I V E
VA R I E T I E S :
I N N OVAT I O N
AND DIVERSITY
-- Southern Mediterranean varieties
well suited to Australia’s climate,
food and lifestyle
-- Each year the number of alternative
varieties being planted increases
-- They currently account for only 4% of
Australia’s wine-producing vineyards,
but are attracting attention worldwide
VA RI E T I E S
ON THE RISE
FIANO: Crisp, fresh and NEBBIOLO: Fruit-pure SANGIOVESE: Firm tannins;
aromatic; flavours range from and fresh to powerful, aromatic notes of plum,
citrus to stone fruit to hazelnut aged and age-worthy cherry, herbs
GRÜNER VELTLINER

VERMEN TINO
NERO D’AVOLA

SANGIOVESE
NE BBIOLO
FIANO

GRÜNER VELTLINER: Aromatic NERO D’AVOLA: Medium‑bodied, VERMENTINO: Ranges from fresh
and refreshing; quite dry, naturally fresh acidity, generous to textural; notes of almond,
savoury and somewhat fruity tannins, food-friendly citrus, green apple and ‘sea spray’
AUST R A L I A N W I N E:
AS D I V E RS E AS
T H E C O U N T RY KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:

T H AT M A D E I T -- The first vines were planted in

Australia in 1788; today there are
65 wine regions growing more
than 100 grape varieties
-- Australia’s climate and soils are
extremely diverse, and wine is
produced across the country,
although it’s concentrated around
the southeast and southwest
-- Australia has been a land mass
for over 100 million years, and its
soils are some of the most ancient
on Earth; soils vary greatly between
and within regions
-- Latitude, maritime influences and
elevation all contribute to a surprising
diversity of climates – ranging from
alpine zones, to Mediterranean areas,
to the tropics, to the very dry centre
-- Each of Australia’s 65 wine regions
has its own characteristics and
wine styles; in general, higher-value
premium wines come from smaller
and cooler-climate regions
-- Australia’s most prominent varieties
and wine styles are sparkling wines,
Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir, Grenache, Shiraz and
Cabernet Sauvignon
-- Alternative varieties – largely
Mediterranean vines – are rapidly
growing in popularity, adding to
the diversity of Australian wine
T H A N K YO U