Australian Wine

While the country’s warm climate often lends itself to producing wines with rich, ripe fruit flavors, many regions benefit from cooling influences that allow for producing elegant and restrained wines. This, combined with the innovation and creativity of Australian winemakers, has led to the country’s reputation for delivering exceptional wines that cater to a broad spectrum of tastes and preferences.

Winemaking has been a massive part of Australian industry since the late 1700s, with exporting beginning in the early 1800s. Although local trade makes up a large chunk of the country’s market, it’s now one of the largest global wine exporters in the world, sending out high-quality red, white, fortified and sparkling wines across the globe. Australia is the fifth largest wine-producing country in the world, producing an average of 285 million gallons per year, behind other wine countries like Italy and Spain.

Since Australia is so large and incredibly diverse when it comes to terrain and climate, it’d be easier to list which wine grapes aren’t grown in Australia. Over 100 different wine grape varieties grow there, but what makes this country so unique is the huge range of wine styles produced. Australia is also at the forefront of new winemaking technology and Aussie winemakers have experimental attitudes, which results in exciting wines with every vintage.

There are over 60 Australian wine regions spread out across the country, all benefitting from varying climates and soils, but the most popular and famous wine regions can be found in South Australia. This is where regions like Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills and Eden Vale sit, producing premium, big-flavor wines, including Aussie staples like Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.

Cooler regions exist, like the Yarra Valley near Melbourne in Victoria, which is known for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, and Adelaide Hills, which produces cool-climate wines with light flavors and refreshing acidity. Warmer regions like Barossa Valley produce red wines bursting with rich, fruity flavors—notably Shiraz.

Other regions to explore include Hunter Valley—Australia’s oldest wine region, acclaimed for its distinctive Sémillon and Shiraz wines—and Margaret River, famous for its maritime climate and fertile soils, which help produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines.

Australia is renowned for producing a wide range of high-quality red wines that have gained international recognition. The two most popular red wines produced in Australia are Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Aussie Shiraz is known for being bold and full-bodied, with plenty of tannins and intense flavors of black fruit (blackberry, plum), smoky black pepper and dark chocolate. Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale are particularly famous for their outstanding Shiraz wines.

Similar to Shiraz, Aussie Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied and dry with plenty of tannins, but its flavors are warming — think black cherry, black currant, baking spices and cedar. Coonawarra and Margaret River are esteemed regions for producing excellent Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

Other famous Australian red wines to look out for include Merlot, Cabernet Franc (typically blended with Cabernet Sauvignon), Pinot Noir and Grenache.

Many Australian red wines complement barbecue dishes centered on grilled red meats and hearty vegetables. With its fruit-forward style and smokiness, an Aussie Shiraz is a firm favorite when served with burgers, steak or venison. But if a Cabernet Sauvignon is more your style, you’ll find it pairs well with braised lamb or prime ribs and salads topped with Gorgonzola or Parmesan.

Australia is also celebrated for its impressive array of high-quality white wines.

Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted white grape varieties in Australia. The wines produced from Chardonnay range from rich and oaky to crisp and unoaked. Regions like Margaret River and Adelaide Hills are recognized for their exceptional Chardonnay wines.

Vibrant and zesty Sauvignon Blanc wines with flavors of tropical fruits, citrus, gooseberry and herbaceous notes are produced in several regions across Australia. Margaret River, Adelaide Hills and the Marlborough region of Western Australia are known for their top-notch Sauvignon Blanc wines.

Riesling thrives in the cool climate regions of Australia and is known for its aromatic profile, displaying floral, citrus and stone fruit flavors like nectarine and apricot. Clare Valley and Eden Valley are known for producing world-class Riesling wines.

There’s an Australian white wine to perfectly match dishes from the country’s varied cuisines.  For example, Chardonnay pairs beautifully with shellfish like crab and shrimp, but also with chicken dishes like a Caesar salad topped with grilled chicken. Zippy Riesling makes an excellent partner to Asian dishes, such as a Madras curry, teriyaki vegetables or Sichuan pepper pork.