| Wine Regions, click on a region to show all products from the region |
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| Adelaide Hills | No Image Available | | | Argentina | No Image Available | | | Barossa Valley |  | The Barossa is comprised of the Barossa Valley and the Eden Valley, with the Barossa Ranges bridging the two. While the entire Barossa region is renowned for its luscious Shiraz, the Barossa and, in particular, Eden Valley's cooler climate produces what is regarded as some of the best Rieslings in Australia. But other varieties prosper here as well. Heavenly Grenache, beautifully structured Cabernet Sauvignon and Mataro all produce distinctive Barossa wines while, in whites, there is Semillon and Chardonnay.
The Barossa is also home to some of the oldest productive Shiraz vines in the world. Shiraz has pride of place because this is the birthplace of one of the world's great wines - Penfold's Grange.
The wealth of the English gentry sponsored the development of a commercial wine industry in the 1850's and 1860's but the real growth took place from the 1880's onwards. Entrepreneurial English and Lutheran settlers built wineries and commenced selling their wines to the vast market place of wine consumers in London through their imperial connections. The Barossa wine industry developed along a different route from the traditional European practice of grower-winemakers. Although some growers did make wine for their own use, the majority sold grapes to the established wineries. | | Bendigo, Victoria |  | Location, Climate and Soil
Bendigo Wine Growing Region 150 km. north west of Melbourne. Rainfall 17''(425mm). Whilst it is possible to grow wine grapes with this rainfall we believe that to do so places too much stress on the vines and we therefore irrigate. Vines are hedged trellised, exposing the grapes to the sun to achieve maximum ripeness. Red wine grapes are grown on heavy clay soil and white wine varieties are planted on lighter, better drained soil. | | Chile | No Image Available | | | Clare Valley |  | As Australian wine regions go, Clare Valley is small, accounting for around two point five per cent of the nation's crush. But its boutique wines are select and moreover, they're taking the world by storm.
You'll find Clare Valley on wine lists in the world's five-star restaurants, as well as in the First Class compartments on Qantas aircraft. In 2004, a few lucky guests were even served a local drop by Jamie Oliver at Brad Pitt's birthday party.
Clare Valley continues to be known as the home of Australian Riesling, having set the standard by which others measure their own excellence. But 2004 also saw a local Cabernet Sauvignon being voted the world's finest by a panel of London judges, while a string of Shiraz vintages garnered their usual crop of gold medals.
Local wine-makers are great innovators, and not only in the blending of their varieties. You'll notice the widespread use of the screw-cap closure: this cork replacement was bravely championed by the region, and has proved so successful in preventing 'wine taint' that it's rapidly being adopted by the industry in Australasia and overseas.
| | Coonawarra |  | Coonawarra has long been recognised as one of Australia's premium wine producing regions and takes its name from the Aboriginal word 'honeysuckle'.
* Wine grapes were first planted in Coonawarra in 1890 with the first vintage being 1895
* John Riddoch was the founder of the 'Penola Fruit Colony', later becoming known as the Coonawarra wine region
* Construction of the first winery in Coonawarra was commenced in 1896 and completed in 1987 and is known today as Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Terra rossa soils are traditionally associated with limestone. The terra rossa soil type occurs throughout the Limestone Coast in strips as well as in isolated pockets. Coonawarra soil is however believed to be unique due to its slightly higher clay composition than the other pockets of red soil.
In Halliday's 1983 publication, Coonawarra: The history, the Vignerons and the Wines, the author notes that the Coonawarra climate is very favourable for production of quality grapes being very similar to that of Bordeaux with long mild summers, cool autumns and cold winters that give a seven month growing season with vintage taking place in very cool conditions. | | Eden Valley, SA | | The Eden Valley is a region of rugged beauty, whilst part of the Barossa, it is a unique identified area in its own right. The cool climate provides ideal conditions for the production of high quality Riesling, Chardonnay and elegant red wine.
The Eden Valley is a cool climate region nestled between 400 and 600 metres in the Barossa Range, part of the Mount Lofty Range. It is actually not a valley but takes its name from the township of Eden Valley. The region has one sub-region, High Eden in the south. The main towns are Moculta, Keyneton, Eden Valley and Springton. It is rough, rocky country that belies its ability to produce wines of great delicacy and finesse. The star performer is Riesling with great attention also given to the production of Chardonnay and Shiraz.
The history of the region parallels that of the Barossa Valley which shares its eastern boundary with Eden Valley. Yalumba has substantial vineyard holdings, and a winery at Angaston, the site of the first vines planted by founder Samuel Smith in 1849. Henschke, well known for red and white table wines was another pioneer estate established at Keyneton in the late 1860s by Johann Christian Henschke. Those in the region who were able to follow consumer trends have emerged as the significant producers today. The return to table wines in the 1950s fostered a steady expansion in the region through the 80s and 90s.
Amongst the modern day pioneers was David Wynn of Coonawarra. He first planted Chardonnay on his property Mountadam in the area that is now registered as the High Eden Sub-region. | | France | No Image Available | | | Geographe, South West WA |  | Situated in the southwest corner of Western Australia, the Geographe region is a producer of award winning wines. This region stems north of Harvey and south to Busselton including the towns of Capel and Ferguson Valley.
Climate and Soil
This Region enjoys a classic climate of warm sunny days and cool evenings due to its close proximity to the Indian Ocean. The mediterranean climate together with the gravelly loam soils and altitude from the darling ranges, provide a cool ripening season producing fruit of excellent quality | | Great Southern, WA |  | The sheer size of the Great Southern wine region, with its five sub regions of Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker, Porongurup and Albany, is its greatest strength. The influences of the varying soil types and weather conditions across the region produce distinct sub-regional characteristics in many of the classic grape varieties, allowing the Great Southern to be become a region for all tastes.
Over the last few years improvements in vineyard management and winemaking techniques combined with the aging of the vines has led to major improvements in the finished product. Shiraz and Riesling in particular have been standout varieties, and these are well worth watching out for. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon are also coming in for increasing critical acclaim. | | Hunter Valley |  | Hunter Valley Wine Country of NSW is renoun within Australia and worldwide for its award winning wines, range of accommodation, fabulous gardens and hunter valley wineries. Self drive or take a wine tour and explore the hunter valley vineyards, play a round of golf, explore the lush valleys & friendly villages and stay in great accommodation - all within easy driving distance from Sydney! | | Langhorne Creek |  | Langhorne Creek is quite unique, as it continues to enjoy winter flooding of the Bremer and Angas Rivers to irrigate some of its vineyards to this day. The floods emanate from the rainfall in the Mount Lofty Ranges, between Mount Barker and Callington, and also deposit rich alluvial soil and nutrients onto those vineyards within the flood plain. Langhorne Creek receives an average winter rainfall of just 380mm per year and flood events provide enough moisture in the rich deep soil profile of the flood plain to carry vines in these areas through the dry summer months. The majority of the vast vineyard plantings of the area use modern and efficient drip and sub-surface irrigation practices to maintain the water needs of the vines. Access to water, coupled with cooling breezes from Lake Alexandrina that reduce evening temperatures and provide mild even growing seasons, help make Langhorne Creek an ideal wine growing region. | | Limestone Coast |  | The Limestone Coast region stretches in the northwest from the intersection of the coastline of the south east of South Australia and a point in the northwest corner of the County of Caldwell (to the south of Lake Albert). The northern boundary extends directly due east, incorporating the Counties of Cardwell and Buckingham to the point on the South Australian/Victorian border, adjacent to Mt Shaugh. The eastern (north/south boundary) runs south along the Victorian border to the Southern Ocean with all country between the coastline and these points making up the Limestone Coast.
The Limestone Coast contributes 10% of the Australian winegrape production and 20% of its premium wine production. | | Margaret River |  | Margaret River
The region is going from strength to strength, the wines produced in the region cover all the classic varietals and many new wineries are emerging. The very pleasant thing about a visit to the region is the scenery, the beauty of the area and the culinary delights. As a tourism destination there is so much to see.
Geography:
The landscape in Margaret River changes markedly kilometre to kilometre. Whether it be characterised by small creeks and sweeping valleys, or by thick native bush.
For successful vineyard planting, there must be an element of protection from the sometimes harsh sea winds The soil extremely permeable when moist, but will readily shed this moisture from the sloping valleys. As overall water capacities are low, there is a general need for irrigation among the vines. | | Marlborough, New Zealand |  | Recognized internationally for its distinctive, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough is New Zealand's largest winemaking region, with about 65 wineries and 290 grape growers, and over 4,000 hectares planted in grapes, mainly Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Marlborough is also establishing a strong reputation for its methode traditionelle wines.
Marlborough vineyard against the Richmond RangesLocated on New Zealand's east coast with mountains to the west, Marlborough is one of the country's sunniest and driest regions. In these sunny, but comparatively cool climatic conditions, the grapes benefit from a long slow, flavour-intensifying ripening period. With an average daily temperature of nearly 24°C during the summer months, but clear cool nights, high acid levels in the grapes can be maintained.
The ability of Marlborough grapes to retain both fresh, vibrant fruit and crisp, herbaceous characters is due in part to a distinct variation in the region's day/night temperature. The marked contrast between the daytime temperatures and the cooler nights also helps to enhance the colour development in the skins of the Pinot Noir grapes. | | McLaren Vale |  | The perfect, frost-free Mediterranean climate and a sympathetic soil mix made it inevitable that a wine industry would flourish in the Southern Vales, within an hour's drive of Adelaide. And so it has - built by such families as Reynell and Hardy whose names like their wines have stood the test of time. Every year in October the district celebrates its heritage with the Wine Bushing Festival when the wineries release their new vintages and individual winemakers are honoured. The climate also lends itself to the production of avocados, olives, almonds, stone fruit and berries, but wine remains the essence of the vales. A number of historic homes have been converted into tearooms, galleries and, naturally, restaurants where fine food complements the nectar of the noble grape. Not that the pace-setting winemakers laboured exclusively in the vineyards. Opened in 1857, the region's first hotel, the McLaren Vale was subsequently bought by the patriarch of Hardy's Wines, Thomas, who insisted that his innkeeper always kept a room for him. | | Pemberton |  | Pemberton's mild weather is not only excellent for grape growing, but provides the perfect setting for a relaxing nature-based getaway.
Vines were first planted experimentally in 1977 by the Department of Agriculture. Gloucester Ridge was the first commercial vineyard in Pemberton, planted in 1985. Since then, Pemberton has continued to develop and grow and has become widely acclaimed for it's spectacular wines and beautiful scenery.
Pemberton is located approx 335kms south of Perth and has the third tallest hardwood trees in the world. The Pemberton region is predominantly a forested area with undulating countryside. Summers are moderate with occasional hot days with cool evenings. | | South Africa | No Image Available | | | South Eastern Australia | No Image Available | | | Spain | No Image Available | | | Swan Valley |  | The Swan Valley is Western Australia's oldest wine-growing region and many of its vineyards are still owned by descendants of the European emigrants who settled here in two waves, in the 1920's and after World War Two.
In recent years, a blending of traditional techniques and modern know-how has seen a honing down of varietal style and an added finesse to valley wines, which are building a reputation for quality both in Australia and overseas. Chain store discounting and the resultant drop in revenue for winemakers has seen many choose to sell direct to the public. As a result, over half of all the wines produced in the Swan Valley region are available only at cellar door. | | Western Australia | No Image Available | Australia's largest State spans the western third of the continent, although the winemaking regions are almost entirely concentrated in the south-western portion of the State. These regions include the Swan District near the State capital Perth and, further south, the regions of Peel, Geographe, Blackwood Valley, Pemberton, Manjimup, Great Southern and Margaret River.
Two decades ago, Margaret River was better known for the classic surf break lying not far from the junction of river and sea but entrepreneurs have driven the development of vineyards and wineries that have overcome the State's geographic isolation and carved their mark not just within Australia but around the world. This region has become known for zesty Sauvignon Blancs, superlative Cabernet Sauvignons and bold Zinfandel. |
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