Australia is home to around sixty wine regions, producing top wines you can try in bars around the world. But nothing beats drinking in situ at the region and discovering the conditions and history of a wine for yourself.
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| Wine Region in Australia |
Margaret River
Where: 270 kilometres south of Perth
What to drink: cabernet sauvignon and semillon sauvignon blanc
Top wineries: Moss Wood, Robert Oatley, Leeuwin Estate, Woodshed
Producing 20% of Australian premium wine, Margaret River’s reputation as a world-class wine region is well deserved. The area’s proximity to the Indian Ocean, rainy winters and dry summers create perfect conditions for cultivating rich but elegant cabernet sauvignons and fresh SSBs and chardonnays.
Barossa Valley
Where: one hour from Adelaide
What to drink: shiraz
Top wineries: Jacobs Creek, Penfolds Estate, Henschke
The Barossa Valley’s dry hot climate has made the region synonymous with big, full bodied shirazes. While other grape varieties are grown in the area, including grenache, mataro and whites such as riesling and semillon, shiraz makes up 50% of wine production. The area has a rich history, strongly influenced by German immigration, hosting some of the oldest vineyards in Australia and sixth generation wine making families.
Related article: Guide to the Barossa Valley
Hunter Valley
Where: About 2 hours drive from Hunter Valley
What to drink: shiraz and semillon
Top wineries: McWilliams, Drayton, Wyndham Estate
Credited as the birthplace of Australian wine, the Hunter Valley has vineyards still in production since the 1860s. Now the area is home to 150 producers and cellar doors and is one of the country’s most visited regions. The warm and humid climate traditionally produces zesty semillons and hearty shirazes, with younger vintners receiving great results from experiments from varieties such as tempranillo, barbera and fiano.
Related article: Guide to the Hunter Valley
Yarra Valley
Where: 1 hour north of Melbourne
What to drink: pinot noir and chardonnay
Top wineries: Domaine Chandon, Oakridge, Punt Road
Rainy winters and dry, relatively cool summers make Yarra Valley one of Australia’s premium cool climate wine regions. Best known for the fruity pinot noirs and fresh chardonnays, the area has recently found success in shiraz and new varieties including nebbiolo, arneis and gruner veltliner. The proximity to Melbourne and abundance of cellar doors and restaurants make it a perfect day trip from the city.
Mornington Peninsula
Where: Less than 60 kms from Melbourne
What to drink: pinot noir and chardonnay
Top wineries: Moorooduc Estate, Paringa Estate, T’Gallant Vineyard
Like it’s inland neighbour the Yarra Valley, the Mornington Peninsula is famed for late ripening varieties including pinot noir and pinot gris. Surrounded by water on all sides, no winery is further than 7 kilometres from the ocean, the area features a strong maritime influence in wine styles.
Tasmania
Where: The island is accessed from the mainland via flights to Hobart and Launceston or ferry Launceston.
What to drink: pinot noir or sparkling
Top wineries: Janz, Bay of Fires, Josef Chromey
Surrounded by ocean and pristine natural environment, Tasmania offers some of the most picturesque settings for wineries in Australia. The most southern wine producing area in Australia is unsurprisingly famous for cool climate styles including elegant sparklings and intensely flavoured pinot noirs.
Check out the recommended Australia Tours here.
Related article: Australia’s Best Wine Regions
About the Author
Violet Cowells is an Australian blogger with a love for all things new! Violet is the owner at Violet’s Voyage.
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