Searching for a Hero?
Discover Australia’s “Regional Heroes” at your nearby Vino 100

When thinking of Australia, what first comes to mind?  Kangaroos, koalas, sun, sailing, shrimp on “the barbie,” perhaps Crocodile Dundee, the Opera House and the Outback.  How about Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet?

Australia is a huge country – a complete continent.  It is 25 times larger than Italy, 14 times larger than France and just about the same size as the continental USA.  It has mountains to climb, surf to ride and deserts to roam, movie stars to entertain and star chefs to tantalize your taste buds.  Australia also has wine from 64 different regions, featuring dozens of grape varieties.

Over 20 million cases of Australian wine are exported to the USA each year, served in first-rate restaurants, at casual picnics and at parties of all kinds.  Why are Aussie wines so popular?   Because Australian wines are like Australians — friendly, generous and stylish; there is a wine for every occasion, every budget and every taste preference.

America is just beginning to learn about Australia’s regional wine specialties. As in California or France, each region has a distinctive climate, soil and character.  When certain grape varieties are planted in just the right region, they produce characteristics and flavors that are unique, and stand out in quality above the rest. Australia has developed many grape-to-region matches since wine making began there in 1788.  Known as Australia’s “Regional Heroes,”  six of which will be showcased at participating Vino 100 stores from September 1st through October 15th:

Clare Valley Riesling:  Refreshing with aromas of lemon zest, Riesling from Clare Valley is very dry and high in acid with a mineral finish, ideal with seafood or salads.
Hunter Semillon:  It’s a little-known varietal but fresh and crisp with citrus overtones and no oak influence.  Hunter, located just north of Sydney, is also great for tourism!
Yarra Valley Chardonnay:  In this cool climate on rolling hills near Melbourne, the Chardonnay tastes of white peaches and nectarines; oak is used with a light touch. 
McLaren Vale Grenache:  Concentrated ripe cherry and red currant flavors are derived from the very old vines.  Ocean breezes off the local beaches keep temperatures down.
Barossa Valley Shiraz:  The most famous grape from Australia’s best known region – you can’t go wrong here if you want a generous, rich and ripe red wine for your steak dinner!
Margaret River Cabernet:  Way out west where the Indian and Southern Oceans meet is this cool, classic region, the Cabernet is elegant with great red fruit and soft tannins.

Here are a few other FAQs about Australian wine:

How do I match Australian wine to the foods I like?
Australia makes a wine for every meal and every occasion. Here are varietal-by-varietal ideas for matching Australian wine with any cuisine your choice, whether French, Italian, Japanese or American:

• Chardonnay:  It is lean and elegant or rich and full, depending upon the region or the winemaker.  Fish makes a great match, grilled or broiled with fresh herbs, particularly tarragon from your summer garden.
• Discover Semillon, one of Australia’s favorite white wines, and impress your friends!  There’s never any oak on Hunter Semillon, so it’s ideal for shellfish, chicken and other white meat that is seasoned with ginger or lemon. 
• Australian Riesling is crisp, dry and citrusy. Traditional matches pair it with Chinese or Thai food because of their spiciness and some sweetness.  It works well, too, with most main dish salads dressed with lemony vinaigrette.
• Another little known grape that’s big in Australia and big on flavor is Grenache.  Full of cherry-fruit flavors, it can sometimes use some chilling, especially in the summer-time when Grenache is the perfect accompaniment to a barbecue feast.  In cooler months, try it with red meat with earthy tomato-based sauces.
• Shiraz is Australia’s most popular red wine.  It’s a full bodied, deep red wine that has a peppery aroma and spicy flavor.  Enjoy Shiraz with grilled red meats, roast lamb or specialties seasoned with spices, garlic and lots of herbs.
• Australian Cabernet Sauvignon isn’t usually as tannic as its California counterpart, or as earthy as those of France.  Generally, it has more of a berry-fruit component, a smoother finish.  This is the wine for beef, traditional stews and smoked meats.

Do Australians really have any wine traditions, or is everything there based on technology?
The first settlers in Australia planted vines in 1788, and vines have flourished in five of Australia’s seven states for over 200 years.  In fact, Australia boasts some of the oldest vines in the world.  It is not uncommon to find Shiraz vines over 100 years old. Many are on original rootstock because few Australian vineyards were crippled by the phylloxera bug, which destroyed those in California and Europe.  Also, Australia didn’t go through Prohibition. 

Australia is known for wine technology, which is a source of great pride.  The challenges of the Australian soil and climate led to innovations and technical solutions that have changed the world of wine. 

While technology does play its part, many Australian wineries still hand pick and hand prune their vines, and the use of old-fashioned basket presses that produce concentrated, intense wines are quite common in many regions.

What are the trends in Australian wine?
Other than a trend for gathering more awards, more notoriety and more fans, there are no new trends!   Australians don’t try to imitate other wine producing countries — or each other.  They do what they want without being bound by legislation or marketing.  Far away from the rest of the winemaking world and determined to stand out on their own merits, Australians never try to make wine just like the wines of France or America.  Instead, they are making unique wines characterized by distinctive climate and soil, wines that are fruit-driven, wines that the winemakers themselves like to drink.  Homogenization and generalization are out; flavor and style are in.

I want to know more about Australian wine.  How do I learn?
Because of their growing popularity, a good selection of Australian wines - over 300 brands - can be found across the US.  Your local Vino 100 shop will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Wine tasting is always the best way to learn, but if you wish to read a bit, most current books on the world of wine will include a chapter on Australia.  More and more food and wine magazines are featuring Australian wines, and an internet search reveals several dozen first-rate sites to explore under Australian wine.  You can start with www.wineaustralia.com/usa and click on the education button.

Cheers Mate!

Be sure to check with your local Vino 100 for more in-depth education, great tasting events, terrific recipes and more, as Vino 100 celebrates Australian Regional Heroes.