The Australian wine industry is the fourth largest in the world, ^[1] exporting over 400,000,000 litres a year to a large international export market that includes "old world" wine-producing countries such as France, Italy and Germany.^[2] There is also a significant domestic market for Australian wines, with Australians consuming over 400,000,000 litres of wine per year ^[3]. The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export and tourism. Throughout this article, the unqualified term dollar and the $ symbol refer to the Australian dollar. ...

A vineyard in the Hunter Valley.

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x296, 355 KB) Hunter Valley Panorama, mfunnell, stitched from separate shots by the author on 19NOV2005. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1080x296, 355 KB) Hunter Valley Panorama, mfunnell, stitched from separate shots by the author on 19NOV2005. ... The Hunter Valley is a region of New South Wales, approximately 160 kilometres north of Sydney, Australia with an approximate population of 700,000 people, most of which live in the Newcastle metropolitan area. ...

History

Vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope were brought to the penal colony of New South Wales by Governor Phillip on the First Fleet (1788). An attempt at wine making from these first vines failed, but with perseverance, other settlers managed to successfully cultivate vines for winemaking, and Australian made wine was available for sale domestically by the 1820s. ^[4]. In 1822 Gregory Blaxland became the first person to export Australian wine, and was the first winemaker to win an overseas award. ^[5]. The production and quality of Australian wine was much improved by the arrival of free settlers from various parts of Europe, who used their skills and knowledge to establish some of Australia's premier wine regions. For example, emigrants from Prussia in the mid 1850s were important in establishing South Australia's Barossa Valley as a winemaking region. The Cape of Good Hope; looking towards the west, from the coastal cliffs above Cape Point. ... A Penal Colony is a colony used to detain prisoners and generally use them for penal labor in an economically underdeveloped part of the states (usually colonial) territories, and on a far larger scale than the prison farm. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... Admiral Arthur Phillip (1786 portrait by Francis Wheatley, National Portrait Gallery, London) Admiral Arthur Phillip, RN (11 October 1738 – 31 August 1814) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator. ... The First Fleet is the name given to the 11 ships which sailed from Great Britain on May 13th 1787 to establish the first European colony in New South Wales. ... Gregory Blaxland Gregory Blaxland (17 June 1788 — 31 December 1852) was a pioneer farmer and explorer. ... Motto: Suum cuique Latin: To each his own Prussia at its peak, as leading state of the German Empire Capital Königsberg, later Berlin Political structure Duchy, Kingdom, Republic Duke1  - 1525–68 Albert I  - 1688–1701 Frederick III King1  - 1701–13 Frederick I  - 1888–1918 William II Prime Minister1,2... Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... Tanunda is surrounded by vineyards showing Autumn colour. ...

Early Australian winemakers faced many difficulties, particularly due to the unfamiliar Australian climate. However they eventually achieved considerable success. "At the 1873 Vienna Exhibition the French judges, tasting blind, praised some wines from Victoria, but withdrew in protest when the provenance of the wine was revealed, on the grounds that wines of that quality must clearly be French." Australian wines continued to win high honors in French competitions. A Victorian Syrah (also called Shiraz) competing in the 1878 Paris Exhibition was likened to Château Margaux and "its taste completed its trinity of perfection." One Australian wine won a gold medal "first class" at the 1882 Bordeaux International Exhibition and another won a gold medal "against the world" at the 1889 Paris International Exhibition. That was all before the destructive effects on the industry of the phylloxera epidemic. Provenance is the origin or source from which anything comes. ... Shiraz is one name, equivalent to Syrah, for a noble grape variety widely used to make dry red table wine. ... Shiraz grapes have a characteristically deep purple color that is reflected in their wine. ... The vineyard of Château Margaux stands as the producer of one of the worlds greatest and most sought-after red wines. ... Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, family Phylloxeridae, superfamily Aphidoidea) is a serious pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. ...

In the decades following the devastation caused by phylloxera until the late 1970s, Australian wine production consisted largely, but not exclusively, of sweet and fortified wines. Since then, Australia has rapidly become a world leader in both the quantity and quality of wines it produces. For example, Australian wine exports to the US rose from 578,000 cases in 1990 to 20,000,000 cases in 2004 and in 2000 it exported more wine to the UK than France for the first time in history. The sweetness of a wine is defined by the level of residual sugar (or RS) in the final liquid after the fermentation has ceased. ... Formed in December of 2004, Fortified began creating and shaping their destiny to becoming what it is now. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ...

The industry has also suffered hard times in the last 20 years. In the late 1980s, governments sponsored growers to pull out their vines to overcome a glut of winegrapes. Low grape prices in 2005 and 2006 have led to calls for another sponsored vine pull.^[6] Cleanskin wines were introduced into Australia during the early 2000's as a means to combat oversupply and poor sales. Consumption of wine in Australia has greatly increased since the introduction of cleanskins and many cleanskin varieties are now sold as cheaply as many beers. In Australia, cleanskin wine is a term for wine whose label does not indicate the winery or the winemakers name. ...

In recent years organic and biodynamic wines have been increasing in popularity, following a worldwide trend. In 2004 Australia hosted the First International Biodynamic Wine Forum which brought together biodynamic wine producers from around the globe. Despite the overproduction of grapes many organic and biodynamic growers have enjoyed continuing demand thanks to the premium prices winemakers can charge for their organic and biodynamic products, particularly in the European market. Biodynamic wines are those made using the principles of biodynamic agriculture. ...

Grape varieties

Major grape varieties are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon^[7], Chardonnay^[8] , Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Riesling. The country has no native grapes, and Vitis vinifera varieties were introduced from Europe and South Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some varieties have been bred by Australian viticulturalists, for example Cienna and Tarrango. This is a list of varieties of cultivated grapes, whether used for wine, or eating as a Table grape, fresh or dried (raisin, currant, sultana). ... Shiraz grapes have a characteristicly deep purple color that is reflected in their wine. ... Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red grape mainly used for wine production, and is, along with Chardonnay, one of the most widely-planted of the worlds noble grape varieties. ... Oak-aged Chardonnay is particularly popular in the United States. ... Sauvignon blanc is a white wine grape probably originating in the Bordeaux region of France that is now planted in much of the worlds winelands producing a crisp dry refreshing white varietal wine. ... Sémillon is a golden-skinned grape used to make dry and sweet white wines, most notably in France and Australia. ... Ripe grapes of Riesling Riesling is a white grape variety and varietal appellation of wines grown historically in Alsace (France), Austria, Germany (see German wine), and northern Italy. ... Binomial name Vitis vinifera L. For thousands of years, the fruit and plant of Vitis vinifera, the European grapevine, have been harvested for both medicinal and nutritional value; its history is intimately entwined with the history of wine. ... Cienna is an Australian red grape variety first bred in 2000. ... Tarrango is a variety of red grape used in the manufacture of red wine in Australia. ...

Although Syrah was originally called Shiraz in Australia and Syrah elsewhere, its dramatic commercial success has led many Syrah producers around the world to label their wine "Shiraz".

About 130 different grape varieties are used by commercial winemakers in Australia. Over recent years many winemakers have begun exploring so called "alternative varieties" other than those listed above. Many varieties from France, Italy and Spain for example Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier are becoming more common. Wines from many other varieties are being produced. Petit verdot is a variety of black grape used in the production of red wine, principally in blends with Cabernet Sauvignon. ... Pinot Gris is a white wine grape of species Vitis vinifera related to Pinot noir which goes by a lot of other names: Pinot Grigio (Italy) Pinot Beurot (Loire Valley, France) Ruländer (Austria and Germany, Romania, sweet) Grauburgunder or Grauer burgunder (Austria and Germany, dry) Grauklevner (Germany) Malvoisie (Loire... Sangiovese (synonyms: Sangiovese grosso, Brunello, Uva brunella, Morellino, Prugnolo, Prugnolo gentile, Sangioveto, Tignolo and Uva Canina) is a red wine grape variety originating in Italy where it is now recognised as a superior variety. ... Tempranillo is a variety of vitis vinifera, the red grape used commonly in winemaking. ... Voignier is a white wine grape. ...

Australian winemaking results have been impressive and it has established benchmarks for a number of varietals, such as Chardonnay and Shiraz. Moreover, Australians have innovated in canopy management and other viticultural techniques and in wine-making, and they have a general attitude toward their work that sets them apart from producers in Europe. Australian wine-makers travel the wine world as highly skilled seasonal workers, relocating to the northern hemisphere during the off-season at home." They are an important resource in the globalization of wine and wine critic Matt Kramer notes that "the most powerful influence in wine today" comes from Australia (Kramer). The globalization of wine is largely a post-1976 phenomenon. ...

Major labels

Grapevines at Russet Ridge Winery near Naracoorte in the Wrattonbully region

Australia's most famous wine is Penfolds Grange. The great 1955 vintage was submitted to competitions beginning in 1962 and over the years has won more than 50 gold medals. The vintage of 1971 won first prize in Syrah/Shiraz at the Wine Olympics in Paris. The 1990 vintage was named 'Red Wine of the Year' by the Wine Spectator magazine in 1995, which later rated the 1998 vintage 99 points out of a possible 100. Wine critic Hugh Johnson has called Grange the only First Growth of the Southern Hemisphere. The influential wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr., who is well known for his love of Bordeaux wines, has written that Grange "has replaced Bordeaux's Pétrus as the worlds most exotic and concentrated wine". ^[9] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 1323 KB) Vines near Russet Ridge Winery Source: Scott Davis File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wrattonbully User:ScottDavis/Images Australian wine Metadata This file contains... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2032x1354, 1323 KB) Vines near Russet Ridge Winery Source: Scott Davis File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Wrattonbully User:ScottDavis/Images Australian wine Metadata This file contains... A historic locomotive in a park in Naracoorte Grapevines near Naracoorte Naracoorte (36°57′ S 140°45′ E, approx. ... Wrattonbully is a wine region in South Australias South East, between the Padthaway and Coonawarra regions, between the Riddoch Highway and the Victorian border. ... Penfolds Grange (until the 1989 vintage labelled Penfolds Grange Hermitage) is a famous, prestigious and expensive Australian wine, made predominantly from the Shiraz grape and usually a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. ... A Wine Olympics was organized by the French food and wine magazine GaultMillau in 1979, three years after the historic Paris Wine Tasting of 1976. ... Wine Spectator is a comprehensive wine magazine. ... Hugh S. Johnson on the cover of Time Hugh Samuel Johnson (1882 - 1942) was an American soldier and public administrator. ... First Growth (French Premier Cru) status refers to the greatest wines of the Bordeaux region. ... Robert M. Parker, Jr. ...

Other red wines to garner international attention include Henschke Hill of Grace, Clarendon Hills Astralis, D'Arenberg Dead Arm, Torbreck Run Rig and other high-end Penfolds wines such as St Henri shiraz. DArenberg The Dead Arm is a famous, prestigious and expensive Australian wine, made from the shiraz grape by dArenberg. ... Torbreck Vinters is an Australian winery founded by David Powell in 1994. ...

Australia has almost 2000 wine producers, most of whom are small winery operations. However, the market is dominated by a small number of major wine companies. After several phases of consolidation, the largest Australian wine company by sales of branded wine was Foster's Group in 2001, 2002 and 2003 and then Hardy Wine Company in 2004 and 2005. Hardy Wine Company, part of the world's biggest wine company, Constellation Brands', had the largest vineyard hectareage and the largest winegrape intake in the years 2001 - 2005. ^[10] A list of the major wine companies in Australia and their associated wineries can be found below. Fosters Group is a beer group with interests in brewing, wine-making and soft drinks. ... Hardy Wine Company is part of the worlds largest wine making firm. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

• Foster's Wine Estates
  • Wolf Blass
  • Penfolds
  • Rosemount
  • Lindemans
• Constellation Brands
  • Hardy Wine Company
  • Houghton Wine Company
• Pernod Ricard Pacific
  • Orlando Wines
  • Richmond Grove Wines
  • Wyndham Estate
• Casella Wines
• McGuigan Simeon Wines
• De Bortoli Wines
• The Yalumba Wine Company
• Lion Nathan

Wolf Blass is an Australian winery based in the Barossa Valley. ... Penfolds is an Australian wine label. ... Rosemount is an Australian winery based in Hunter Valley and South Australia. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hardy Wine Company is part of the worlds largest wine making firm. ... Houghton Winery, Perth. ... Pernod Ricard Pacific, formerly the Orlando Wyndham Group, is a large Australian wine, spirits, and beverage company. ... Orlando Wines is a famous Australian winery located in the small township of Rowland Flat, between Lyndoch and Tanunda, in South Australias Barossa Valley wine-growing region. ... De Bortoli Wines is one of the largest privately owned companies in Australia. ... The Yalumba winery clocktower in 1999 Yalumba is a winery located near Angaston, South Australia in the Barossa Valley. ... Lion Nathan ASX: LNN NZX: LNN is an Australian based group of breweries, operating in Australia, New Zealand and China. ...

Major wine regions

Zones used for labeling the source of Australian wine

For a list of Australia's wine-producing regions, see here.

The information included on wine labels is strictly regulated. One aspect of this is that the label must not make any false or misleading statements about the source of the grapes. Many names (called geographic indications) are protected. These are divided into "South Eastern Australia", the state names, zones (shown in the map), regions, and subregions.^[11] The largest volume of wine is produced from grapes grown in the warm climate Murray-Darling Basin zones of Lower Murray, North Western Victoria and Big Rivers. In general, the higher-value premium wines are made from smaller and cooler-climate regions. Some well-known regions are listed below: Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x917, 168 KB) Australian wine zones, the area south east of the pink line is South Eastern Australia. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x917, 168 KB) Australian wine zones, the area south east of the pink line is South Eastern Australia. ... This list of wine-producing regions catalogues significant growing regions where vineyards are planted. ... The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ...

In recent years, the Tasmanian wine industry has emerged as a producer of high quality wines. In particular, the Tamar Valley has developed a reputation for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which are well suited to the cooler Tasmanian climate. Capital Adelaide Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Premier Mike Rann (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 11  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $59,819 (5th)  - Product per capita  $38,838/person (7th) Population (End of September 2006)  - Population  1,558,200 (5th)  - Density  1. ... The Waterfall Gully waterfall in the Adelaide Foothills The Adelaide Hills are part of the Mount Lofty Ranges, east of the city of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. ... Tanunda is surrounded by vineyards showing Autumn colour. ... The Clare township The Clare Valley is one of Australias oldest and most famous wine regions, and also one of the most scenic, presenting visitors with a series of small intimate valleys and magnificent views Settlers from England, Ireland and Poland first moved into the region during the 1840... The Coonawarra is a wine region in South Australias Limestone Coast, well-known for its red wines. ... McLaren Vale, approximately 35 km directly south of the Adelaide CBD (35°13′S 138°32′E), refers to the suburb of McLaren Vale (postcode 5171), the township of McLaren Vale (which has not been engulfed by urban sprawl due to the hilly terrain) and the wine region which lies... Padthaway (36°36′S 140°29′E, population 218) is a town on the Riddoch Highway in the south-east of South Australia, halfway from Keith to Naracoorte. ... The Riverland is a tourism and wine region in South Australia. ... Capital Melbourne Government Const. ... The Goulburn Valley is a region of Victoria, Australia. ... The Pinnacle offers stunning views of the surrounding park, this photograph just one example. ... A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula A beach on the Mornington Peninsula The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, surrounded by Port Phillip, Western Port Bay and Bass Strait. ... The Pyrenees are located in Victoria, Australia near the town of Avoca. ... Rutherglen is a small town in northeastern Victoria, Australia, near the Murray River border with New South Wales. ... The Yarra Valley of the Yarra River, originating in the Yarra Ranges approximately 60 kilometres east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ... The Hunter Valley is a region of New South Wales, approximately 160 kilometres north of Sydney, Australia with an approximate population of 700,000 people, most of which live in the Newcastle metropolitan area. ... Location of Mudgee in New South Wales (red) Mudgee is a town in central New South Wales, Australia. ... The Riverina is a prosperous agricultural region of south-western New South Wales (NSW), Australia. ... Capital Perth Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Ken Michael Premier Alan Carpenter (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 15  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $100,900 (4th)  - Product per capita  $50,355/person (3rd) Population (December 2006)  - Population  2,050,900 (4th)  - Density  0. ... Rivermouth, Margaret River Location of Margaret River // Geography Margaret River is a town and river in Western Australia. ... The Swan Valley is the area between Midland and Upper Swan through which the Swan River flows. ... The Great Southern region is one of the nine regions of Western Australia. ... Capital Hobart Government Const. ... Tamar Valley may refer to: Tamar Valley, England: located in Devon and Cornwall in the south of England, UK Tamar Valley, Tasmania: located on the Tamar River in the north of Tasmania, Australia This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ...

See also

• National Wine Centre of Australia
• Australian Wine Research Institute
• Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology
• Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Journal
• Globalization of wine

National Wine Centre, in the East Adelaide Parklands Centre interior A sensory experience Taste the exquisite wines of Australia and beyond The National Wine Centre of Australia (commonly the Wine Centre) is situated at the end of North Terrace, Adelaides cultural boulevard, in the East Adelaide Parklands and adjacent... The Australian Wine Research Institute, established in 1955, is owned by the country’s wine industry and is funded by grape growers and wineries with matching funds from the federal government. ... The Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) is a non-political organisation that was founded in 1980 to serve the interests of practising winemakers and viticulturists by encouraging the exchange of technical information. ... The Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Journal publishes a wide range of articles from technical and scientific papers to practical advice and the latest news on research and development. ... The globalization of wine is largely a post-1976 phenomenon. ...

References

Notes

September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 9 is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Australian Broadcasting Corporation or ABC (formerly the Australian Broadcasting Commission) is Australias national non-profit public broadcaster. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... June 5 is the 156th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (157th in leap years), with 209 days remaining. ... August 27 is the 239th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (240th in leap years), with 126 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, or AWBC, is an Australian Government authority that promotes and regulates the Australian wine and brandy industry. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Other sources

• The globe in a glass. The Economist (London), December 16, 1999 [1].
• Kramer, Matt. Making Sense of Wine. Philadelphia: Running Pres, 2003.
• McCarthy, Ed, and Ewing-Mulligan, Mary. Wine for Dummies: A Reference for the Rest of Us. Foster City, CA: IDG Books, 1995.
• Phillips, Rod. A Short History of Wine. NY: HarperCollins, 2000.
• Zraly, Kevin. Windows of the World Complete Wine Course. NY: Sterling, 2005.

External links

• Wine Australia
• Australian Wine Spot