Australian Wine

Australian Wines from Great Wines Direct

Australia is the fourth biggest wine exporter in the world, exporting around 750 million litres every year into the international market. Nevertheless, 40% of the wine produced here is consumed domestically and the Australian wine industry contributes significantly to the nation’s economy through tourism, export, employment and production.

The Australian domestic market is worth over $2 billion per year, and Australians consume more than 530 million litres annually, with a preference for white wines over reds. All of the states produce wine, and there are over 60 wine regions in the country, covering around 160,000 hectares of the land surface. Most of the wine regions are in the south due to the cooler climate, and some of the best known vineyards are in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria. Each state produces a range of wine styles and varieties to reflect the local soil types, topography and climate.

The main varieties produced are cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, shiraz, pinot noir, merlot, Riesling, Semillon and sauvignon blanc, however the country’s best wines are made in the regions with cooler climates.

Most of the country’s wines are produced in South Australia however the Tasmanian region has become known as one of the world’s best producers of high quality wine. The Tamar Valley in particular is known for its pinot noirs and chardonnays which thrive in the cool Tasmanian climate. Some other noteworthy wines are made in the Granite Belt region to the extreme south of the state which has a very high altitude and therefore a cool growing environment. Production here centres on the towns of Ballandean and Stanthorpe.

Read our blog: Australia's Wine Wonderland: Exploring the Regions Down Under

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Red 14.8

Mount Langi Ghiran, Grampians, Cliff Edge Shiraz 2022 75cl £23.48

A Shiraz of great intensity, purity and finesse with aromas of black and red berried fruits, vanilla, tar and baking spice through to a silky palate with a touch of mocha

Red 14.5

Teusner Wines The G Grenache 2023 75cl £20.75

A wonderfully juicy and bright Grenache! The wine is only just medium bodied, which, when combined with the bright acidity and the complex but fresh aromatic makes it such a refreshing and enjoyable drink that can be enjoyed with almost any food!

White 13.5

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Chardonnay 2023 75cl £13.12

Elegant pear and nectarine fruit flavours are supported by a creamy cashew nut texture Natural cool climate acidity draws out the palate for a clean and flinty lingering finish with light spice and preserved lemon Wynns is the largest owner of vineyard land in Coonawarra, with its world-renowned terra rossa soil

Red 14.5

Lake Breeze, Bull Ant, Langhorne Creek, Shiraz 2022 75cl £17.50

A deeply coloured and cool climate style of Shiraz with vibrant flavours of blackberries enhanced by black pepper and a hint of fresh herbs on the finish

Red 14.5

Berton Vineyard, Metal Label, South Eastern Australia, The Black Shiraz 2022 75cl £14.77

A fruit bomb of a wine bursting with Morello cherry fruit and minty blueberry and mocha aromas

Red 14.5

Berton Vineyard, Reserve, Barossa, Shiraz 2021 75cl £19.62

Rich, full bodied wine with ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit and hints of dark chocolate and mint

Red 14

Jim Barry Wines, The Armagh, Clare Valley, Shiraz 2021 75cl £286.44

Complex and intense notes of rich, dark fruit, spice and dark chocolate are enveloped by a velvety palate A wine of great power, length and poise

Red 14

Mount Langi Ghiran, Grampians, Talus Shiraz 2021 75cl £35.96

A beautifully balanced and complex Shiraz, with mocha notes interlaced with black forest fruits, framed by aniseed and a hint of truffle

Red 14.5

D Arenberg The Stump Jump Shiraz 2021 75cl £13.02

It is rumoured that the inventor of the Stump Jump plough, which enabled a ploughshare to 'jump' over tree roots (or stumps), had poor eyesight and required regular tests to ensure he could still operate machinery The design of this label is inspired by an optometrist's eyechart and serves as a makeshift sobriety test If you can hold the bottle at arm's length and still read the front label, you can enjoy another glass The nose is chock-full of fresh blackberries, cherries and dark chocolate sprinkled with spices The palate is fresh and juicy, ripe red fruits mix with plums, blackcurrant, flowers and a twist of black pepper The tannins are fine with d'Arenberg's trademark earthiness helping keep this easy going wine in check

White 13

Brown Brothers, Estate Range, Victoria, Chardonnay 2021 75cl £18.35

A crisp and precise Chardonnay with inviting citrus and stone fruit aromas leading to a palate of fresh honeydew melon with a delicious nutty character

White 12

Jim Barry Wines, Single Vineyard McKays, Clare Valley, Riesling 2023 75cl £24.19

Floral aromas of pink grapefruit, lime and a lift of tropical guava lead to a generous yet precise palate with a light, creamy texture and a lively, mineral finish

White 12

Saddle Creek, Australia, Semillon Chardonnay 2023 75cl £11.66

An inviting and easy blend of creamy Chardonnay complemented by fresh Semillon, full of tropical pineapple flavours

Red 14.5

Teusner Wines Joshua GMS 2023 75cl £22.63

A youthful and juicy 'Nouveau' style red wine drawing inspiration from the Rhone A blend of Grenache, Mataro (Mourvedre) and Shiraz, this wine is completely unoaked A mix of light and dark fresh ripe berried fruits, cured meats and lifted spice on the nose sets you up for mouthful of savoury and gamey flavour in the mouth

Red 14.5

D Arenberg Old Bean Truck Cabernet Shiraz 2022 75cl £12.53

This is a great, honest, earthy Australian red made by the Osborn family from Langhorne Creek fruit The aromas evoke strawberries and dusty blackcurrants over red earth, baking under a blazing Aussie sun There are hints of eucalyptus, mint and Italian Amaro A cracking wine, and great value

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Grenache 2022 75cl £78.74

This smells very like fine red Burgundy, with rosehip and red cherry character on the nose In keeping with all 'even' vintages to date, 2022 was a warmer year, and this shows in the relative richness of texture - super-supple, refined, with subtle, integrated acidity and an extra layer of sophistication It has potentially a long life ahead of it, but it s pretty much irresistible already People told Matt Swinney that he was insane when he planted Grenache in the Frankland River region The 'Albany Doctor' wind blows along the river valley direct from the Southern Ocean, meaning that summertime afternoons and evenings can be distinctly chilly Combined with reliable sunshine, this promotes the long, slow ripening shared by many of the world's finest wine regions Was Matt right? Does the Grenache ripen? Absolutely, and reliably so: under cool but dry and sunny conditions, and helped by the impoverished ironstone gravel soils, well-drained hilltop sites and established bush vines Farvie Grenache is the result of a ridiculously painstaking selection effort, involving visiting each vine three times to pick out the fruit that has reached the 'sweet spot' of optimal ripeness - neither too exposed to the sun, nor too shaded

Red 13.5

Swinney Farvie Syrah 2022 75cl £78.50

The Swinney label wines represent the top 2% of the family's vineyard production, and Farvie is the utmost pinnacle - with only a few hundred cases made each year This is an awe-inspiring wine with cool-climate Syrah aromas and the ethereally sumptuous texture of Le Musigny The fruit of a very special vineyard site, painstaking viticulture ensures that the bunches are protected from direct exposure to the sun's rays, helping to ensure a wine of vibrancy and finesse Scents of wild blueberry, damson, clove, star anise, freesia,and white pepper greet the nose, while in the mouth, it is super-refined, intense and concentrated in flavour; with gorgeoust succulence of texture There is a sprinkling of powdery tannin - discernible but utterly delicate This harnonious wine is exceptional to drink already, and it should age effortlessly for 15 years or longer