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OpdotEd - Around the World of Wine by André Drobotoff

Australia 17 April 00, vol. 1. no. 7


 
As soon as Australia was selected as penitentiary colony, at the beginning of the XIXth century, British authorities wished to grow the vine for drinking of wine, less alcoholized, to take it on the rum consumption.
During the XIXth century and a good many years of the next century, the Great Britain absorbed the majority of the production. But the situation has changed a lot in the course of the past twenty-five years. Its success has got them in the forefront of the New World wine
producing countries.
This success was carried out in climatically difficult conditions that seem almost the reverse of what Europe regards as an advantage. As a general  rule, with the exception of the south of the country, the European vineyard is little sunny and does not lack rain. In Australia, on the contrary, the sun is overabundant and the rainfall is in insufficient quantity.

Western Australia is a vast almost desert State, except for its coastal area. This region specialized in the production of strengthened red wines and wine liqueurs, for a long time. Today, thanks to remarkable talent of Australian specialists, delicious white wines are produced. The most interesting come from the Swan Valley (Houghton Winery), isolated hillsides of the Margaret River (Evans and Tate) and the Lower Great Southern region (Chatsfield Wines), there, where the southeast point of the continent dives in the cold depths of the Pacific South.
- Red grapes : Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Malbec.
- White grapes : Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Sémillon, Chenin Blanc.

Southern Australia is the last State to have invested in the viticulture. It is now the first wine-growing  State in grape and wine volume. The essential of the grape is derived from banks of the Murray River, where a generous sunniness, waters of the river and a strong mechanization conjugate to give vineyards that count among the most worthwhile of the world.
To the north, green hillsides of the Clare Valley produce variety of wines; from table wines of " fresh climate " to as unexpected and excellent as Leasingham Wines.
The Barossa Valley is the traditional wine-growing region of the country. Most of the great wine companies have installed here (Penfolds Wines). In most cases, they do not use the grape of Barossa but the grape coming from the Riverland. A handful of wine-growers decided to preserve some old time vineyards (Peter Lehmann, St Hallet Wines, Seppelt). Thanks to them, wines from Barossa have found their exuberant style and their type.
Hills situated to the east of Barossa Valley produce a variety styles from the superb Shiraz to delicate effervescent wine.
To the south of Adelaide, the Southern Vales were formerly famous for their abundant "ferruginous" red wine production. The region produces currently important red wines in volume and white wines of great quality.
In the Padthaway (Hardy's Wines) and in the Coonawarra (Penley Estate, Wynns Coonawarra Estate), humid regions, one is witnessing splendid vineyard development giving exceptional wines.
- Red grapes : Cabernet-Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, Grenache.
- White grapes : Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon.

The Victoria was the greatest producer of wine in Australia during all the XIXth century, until the  phylloxera ravaged its vineyards. The State has recently found its wine-growing importance and its production testifies today, to a remarkable diversity. The most memorable wines are found in the zones of  Corowa-Rutherglen and Glenrowan-Milawa, in the Central Victoria, in the Yarra Valley (Coldstream Hills), the Mornington peninsula and the Gippsland.
- Red grapes : Cabernet-Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir.
- White grapes : Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Marsanne, Sauvignon, Muscat, Muscadelle.

The New South Wales. The history of modern Australia begins in New South Wales, and is reflected in the history of its viticulture. If the production is henceforth dominated by the great  irrigated vineyards of the back country, these are exuberant wines of the Hunter Valley (Allanmere Wines, Lindemans) and  Sydney, that have given the tone  of the Australian viticulture and enology.
- Red grapes : Cabernet-Sauvignon, Shiraz, Pinot Noir.
- White grapes : Riesling, Chardonnay, Sémillon, Traminer.

To know more about Australian wines, visit these site : Australian Wine Online, The Australian Wine Centre, AAA Australian Wine Page.

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