Australian Wine

27th November 2024

Australian Wine

Governor Arthur Phillip brought with him the first Vines to Sydney in 1788 and planted them in Farm Cove.

In 1833 a man by the name of James Busby, born in Edinburgh, brought with him Vine cuttings from France and Spain when he visited Australia, he is the one that introduced Shiraz and Grenache to the country.

Australia’s Wine production focused mainly on sweet, fortified Wines at the beginning, it would take a time during the 1960s before they would start focusing on table Wines.

Australia produces around 946 million litres of wine a year, with over 2,400 wineries in 65 wine regions around the country.

The 65 wine regions of Australia:

Western Australia:

  • Swan District
  • Perth Hills
  • Peel
  • Geographe
  • Margaret River
  • Blackwood Valley
  • Pemberton
  • Manjimup
  • Great Southern

South Australia:

  • Southern Flinders Ranges
  • Clare Valley
  • Barossa Valley
  • Eden Valley
  • Riverland
  • Adelaide Plains
  • Adelaide Hills
  • McLaren Vale
  • Kangaroo Island
  • Southern Fleurieu
  • Currency Creek
  • Langhorne Creek
  • Padthaway
  • Mount Benson
  • Wrattonbully
  • Robe
  • Coonawarra
  • Mount Gambier

Queensland:

  • South Burnett
  • Granite Belt

New South Wales:

  • New England Australia
  • Hastings River
  • Hunter
  • Mudgee
  • Orange
  • Cowra
  • Riverina
  • Hilltops
  • Southern Highlands
  • Gundagai
  • Canberra District
  • Shoalhaven Coast
  • Tumbarumba
  • Perricoota

Victoria:

  • Murray Darling
  • Swan Hill
  • Goulburn Valley
  • Rutherglen
  • Glenrowan
  • Beechworth
  • King Valley
  • Alpine Valleys
  • Strathbogie Ranges
  • Upper Goulburn
  • Heathcote
  • Bendigo
  • Pyrenees
  • Macedon Ranges
  • Sunbury
  • Grampians
  • Henty
  • Geelong
  • Yarra Valley
  • Mornington Peninsula
  • Gippsland

Tasmania:

  • Tasmania

A selection of the grapes grown in Australia:

  • Vitis Vinifera
  • Shiraz
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Chardonnay
  • Sauvignon blanc
  • Sémillon
  • Pinot noir
  • Grenache
  • Corvina
  • Cienna
  • Merlot
  • Tempranillo
  • Mataro
  • Pinot Meunier
  • Sangiovese
  • Marzemino
  • Touriga Nacional
  • Negroamaro
  • Nero d’Avola
  • Tarrango
  • Aligoté
  • Baco Noir
  • Alvarelhão
  • Siegerrebe
  • Mondeuse Noire
  • Chenin Blanc
  • Fiano
  • Malbec
  • Petite Sirah
  • Muscat
  • Aubun
  • Aleatico
  • Black Muscat
  • Chambourcin
  • Nebbiolo
  • Barbera
  • Gamay
  • Dolcetto
  • Alicante Bouschet
  • Petit Verdot
  • Ruby Cabernet
  • Trousseau
  • Aglianico
  • Lagrein
  • Mencía
  • Muscat Rouge à Petits Grains
  • Sagrantino
  • Teroldego
  • Riesling
  • Clairette Blanche
  • Muscat of Alexandria

Oliver Walkey

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Writer, Focused on Bringing the Exciting and Fascinating World of Bubbly to You.