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- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Rutherglen
A superb Rutherglen from some of the very best vineyards in the region. Supremely balanced with aromas of dark chocolate, coconut and almond. Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Rutherglen
A superb Rutherglen from some of the very best vineyards in the region. Supremely balanced with aromas of dark chocolate, coconut and almond. Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
- Adelaide Hills
A bright and fresh Sauvignon with lovely hints of passionfruit and citrus on the nose complemented by flavours of lime, grapefruit and melon. Read More- Origin
- South Australia
- Adelaide Hills
A bright and fresh Sauvignon with lovely hints of passionfruit and citrus on the nose complemented by flavours of lime, grapefruit and melon. Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- South Eastern
This Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend is a lovely expression of soft rich fruits. Combined with its delicate bouquet and soft fizz, it has an elegant s... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- South Eastern
This Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend is a lovely expression of soft rich fruits. Combined with its delicate bouquet and soft fizz, it has an elegant s... Read More -
- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
The nose is dominated by kaffir lime leaf and grapefruit that leap from the glass, accompanied by a light ginger note. Mouth filling white peach and l... Read More- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
The nose is dominated by kaffir lime leaf and grapefruit that leap from the glass, accompanied by a light ginger note. Mouth filling white peach and l... Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
- Coonawarra
A beautifully aged wine with a nose of ripe dark fruit, black olive & subtle oak. Palate is dense & rich in lovely dark fruits, with an impres... Read More- Origin
- South Australia
- Coonawarra
A beautifully aged wine with a nose of ripe dark fruit, black olive & subtle oak. Palate is dense & rich in lovely dark fruits, with an impres... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
A bright green gold. Opens with aromas of white nectarine and peach, lemon verbena and grapefruit pith before revealing attractive savoury, nutty note... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
A bright green gold. Opens with aromas of white nectarine and peach, lemon verbena and grapefruit pith before revealing attractive savoury, nutty note... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
The 2021 vintage starts off with a little spritz and flows into juicy sherbet. Packed with notes of lemon, tonic and lime leaf, a good dose of sweetne... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
The 2021 vintage starts off with a little spritz and flows into juicy sherbet. Packed with notes of lemon, tonic and lime leaf, a good dose of sweetne... Read More -
- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
A lovely purity of white stone fruit and a line of dried pears and even chamomile. There are lifted florals and delicate spicing from gentle oak which... Read More- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
A lovely purity of white stone fruit and a line of dried pears and even chamomile. There are lifted florals and delicate spicing from gentle oak which... Read More -
- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
A lifted, floral bouquet showing red and dark berry fruits with hints of dark chocolate, violets and cedar. The palate displays sweet red and dark ber... Read More- Origin
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
A lifted, floral bouquet showing red and dark berry fruits with hints of dark chocolate, violets and cedar. The palate displays sweet red and dark ber... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
Deep and bright purple-red colour with an intense peppery aroma signifying Shiraz from a very cool site. Medium-bodied with pure silky tannins, full o... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
Deep and bright purple-red colour with an intense peppery aroma signifying Shiraz from a very cool site. Medium-bodied with pure silky tannins, full o... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Western
- Margaret River
Perfumed red and black berries, bay leaf, and subtle oak on the nose. The palate is full of concentrated fruit, fresh tannins, crunchy acidity and a l... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Western
- Margaret River
Perfumed red and black berries, bay leaf, and subtle oak on the nose. The palate is full of concentrated fruit, fresh tannins, crunchy acidity and a l... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
The 2022 vintage starts off with a little spritz and flows into juicy sherbet. Packed with notes of lemon, tonic and lime leaf, a good dose of sweetne... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Geelong
The 2022 vintage starts off with a little spritz and flows into juicy sherbet. Packed with notes of lemon, tonic and lime leaf, a good dose of sweetne... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- South Australia
- McLaren Vale
This is a powerful, rich & plush wine with great vibrancy & purity. The palate is plush, opulent & velvety. This wine is delicious now, bu... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- South Australia
- McLaren Vale
This is a powerful, rich & plush wine with great vibrancy & purity. The palate is plush, opulent & velvety. This wine is delicious now, bu... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Barossa Valley
Beneath a rich shade of crimson lies at it's heart a deep, complex structure. Full of dried cranberry, cacao, blueberry & cherry. This wine is bol... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Barossa Valley
Beneath a rich shade of crimson lies at it's heart a deep, complex structure. Full of dried cranberry, cacao, blueberry & cherry. This wine is bol... Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
Intense black berry fruit with hints of chocolate and expresso. Concentrated and refined. This was a fantastic year for Grange in fact it has been pro... Read More- Origin
- South Australia
Intense black berry fruit with hints of chocolate and expresso. Concentrated and refined. This was a fantastic year for Grange in fact it has been pro... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
A heady and full-bodied blend of Cabernets with expressive notes of blackberry, red currant and other black fruit. Perfectly balanced with firm, yet s... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
A heady and full-bodied blend of Cabernets with expressive notes of blackberry, red currant and other black fruit. Perfectly balanced with firm, yet s... Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
- Barossa
Super-premium fruit parcels are selected from the best sites in the Barossa Valley. Careful vinification of the intensely concentrated fruit has creat... Read More- Origin
- South Australia
- Barossa
Super-premium fruit parcels are selected from the best sites in the Barossa Valley. Careful vinification of the intensely concentrated fruit has creat... Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
- Barossa
Rich and concentrated with elegant black fruit character. A bit of a secret wine as it is made from barrels that don’t quite make the top wine. Read More- Origin
- South Australia
- Barossa
Rich and concentrated with elegant black fruit character. A bit of a secret wine as it is made from barrels that don’t quite make the top wine. Read More -
- Origin
- Western Australia
- Great Southern
A zesty wine with classic New World Riesling charm. Limes and citrus give the wine a real freshness which comes from the cool night harvesting. Read More- Origin
- Western Australia
- Great Southern
A zesty wine with classic New World Riesling charm. Limes and citrus give the wine a real freshness which comes from the cool night harvesting. Read More -
- Origin
- South Australia
Often referred to as 'Baby Grange' as some of the components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. Thi... Read More- Origin
- South Australia
Often referred to as 'Baby Grange' as some of the components of the wine are matured in the same barrels that held the previous vintage of Grange. Thi... Read More -
- Origin
- South Eastern Australia
- Victoria
Rich dark berry aromas with hints of spice and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied, showcasing ripe plum, blackberry, and subtle oak, with velvety smoo... Read More- Origin
- South Eastern Australia
- Victoria
Rich dark berry aromas with hints of spice and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied, showcasing ripe plum, blackberry, and subtle oak, with velvety smoo... Read More -
- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Rutherglen
A nose of fresh raisins; rich fruit, clean spirit & great length of flavour develope on the palate. Well balanced and fresh, this goes well with any d... Read More- Origin
- Australia
- Victoria
- Rutherglen
A nose of fresh raisins; rich fruit, clean spirit & great length of flavour develope on the palate. Well balanced and fresh, this goes well with any d... Read More
By the 1830s the main regions of today were producing wine and by the end of the century there existed an export market to Britain, mainly for fortified "Empire" wine. Eventually immigration, particularly from Italy and Greece, saw local demand for table wine develop the industry.
In the late 19th century Phylloxera, a vine-munching bug, ate its way through Victorian and New South Wales vineyards though largely left South Australia alone and so it has achieve a wine pre-eminence it has not since relinquished.
The Classification System
No classification exists though a Geographical Indication (GI) system was introduced in 1994 to help identify each wine based on the state, zone and region the grapes were grown. Effectively if a GI appears on the label then 85% of the grapes in the bottle must have been grown in that GI. While some wines can still be labelled as 'South Eastern Australia', for more specific regions such as the Barossa Valley and Margaret River the GI is much more relevant and helpful in determining terrior influences.
Also by law the designated grape varieties on the front label must make up 85% of what is in the bottle, while the back label must identify 95% of the grapes used.
This system does not restrict what grapes are grown in any region nor does it monitor wine quality, unlike similar laws in Italy or Spain. But encouragingly the GI system does give the winemaker and grape grower more freedom in production and helps them to try new and potentially brilliant ideas.
The result is that it does require the wine buyer to know their wines, or at least ask a merchant for a little advice, to be sure to buy good quality wine.
Climate and Conditions
The perennially sun-kissed image of Australia may not be quite as accurate as its tourist board portrays, but it does possess a climatic consistency that Europe is lacking and there is enough diversity in this huge country to suit different grapes and imbue them with character. New areas, with differing climate and conditions, continue to open up as the industry expands and it is only the difficulty of irrigation that stems the expansion.
The Wines of Today
In the 1970s the modern wine industry of Australia was born. Cutting-edge techniques, experimentation, and accessible labelling came to the fore and the world beyond Britain suddenly realised what the country could do. The export market boomed and the industry has never looked back.
Australian wine is filled with every type of producer: huge corporations, boutique hand made wineries, and newcomers blazing a trail towards the next great style. It has achieved consistency whilst retaining value for money and forever an enterprising fun loving spirit.