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, Mast Shiraz 2020 75cl £50.65

Supple and concentrated, with forest fruits underpinned by mocha, cigar box and a delicious earthiness Mouth coating tannins lead to an extraordinarily long finish

Red 14.5

Chaffey Bros Wine Co Synonymous Shiraz 2021 75cl £17.39

Deep crimson/purple in colour with a nose of cedar, spice and plum hinting at the mix of dark fruits and chocolate lurking on the rich structured palate The wine shows powerful depth of flavour with plush lingering mouthfeel A careful selection of established low yielding vineyards stretching from the North Barossa townships of Ebenezer and Light Pass through to Lyndoch in Southern Barossa Matured in new and seasoned French and American oak allowing the vibrant mid-palate of dark and light fruit to come to the fore

13.5

Ocean Eight Verve, Mornington Peninsula, Chardonnay 2021 75cl £38.99

The name Verve encapsulates its style, with a vibrant perfume of Granny Smith apple, honeysuckle blossom and lime zest enhanced by stone fruit flavours, long and elegant

White 11

Tahbilk, 1927 Vines, Nagambie Lakes, Marsanne 2016 75cl £28.19

Notes of lemon, grapefruit, toast and classic honeysuckle weave through the rich and textured palate culminating in a zesty, citrussy finish

White 11.5

D Arenberg Old Bean Truck White 2022 75cl £11.11

Bright, fresh and light in alcohol, the Old Bean Truck white has guava, passionfruit and pineapple aromas and a slight waxy note It has sherbet-like tingly acidity, with toffee apple and melon flavours A straightforward, pleasurable wine, this is a McLaren Vale field blend mainly of Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling, made by the Osborn family

Red 19

D Arenberg Vintage Fortified Shiraz 50cl 2019 50cl £17.04

Beautiful perfume with blackberry, blueberry and middle eastern saffron spice on the nose Dusty, earthy aromas give way to layers of aniseed and black olive The palate beautifully follows the nose; mouth filling, generous, and not overtly sweet One to cellar for many moons From the first declared vintage in 1928, d'Arenberg fortified wines have been Shiraz based, and the vines that produced the original vintage still provide the grapes for this wine These old vines are stumpy, gnarled and deep rooted, distinguished by their small bunches of highly coloured and intensely flavoured grapes

White 12.5

Chaffey Bros Wine Co Tripelpunkt Riesling 2023 75cl £17.93

"A lively, pure Riesling with slatey, gunmetal-like characteristics combined with flavours of lemon sorbet and an assortment of floral notes Exotic aromas of Jasmine, Honeysuckle and Mandarin float alluringly from the glass and lead to a texture laden yet delicate palate evoking new season pink lady apples, mandarin with a finely textured finish of mineral bath salts with a subtle edge of refreshing quinine"

White 11

Tahbilk, Cane Cut, Nagambie Lakes, Marsanne 2018 50cl £15.86

Notes of dried apricot and pineapple combine with honeysuckle, butter and hazelnut, rich and opulent balanced by a refreshing finish

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Mourvedre 2021 75cl £78.55

Owner Matt Swinney and winemaker Rob Mann's ambition here is to produce a Bandol-inspired wine that displays the splendid qualities of the Mourvedre grape This has fabulous, complex, savoury meat-stock richness lent grace by a lovely, lilting floral lift There is masses going on in the mouth: weighty, chewy and terrifically textured There are layers of tannins upon tannins and yet they are never obtrusive, but instead comforting and velvety You can enjoy this immediately (decanting recommended), or it will keep for many years

Rose 13

D Arenberg The House of Pink Sangiovese Rose 2023 75cl £16.91

Delightful Summer sip, Sangiovese based that brings a pristine salmon-pink rose colour Fresh red berries on the nose are followed by sunny red-fruit flavours like strawberries, raspberries, cherries and watermelon The fresh fruit is lifted by a hint of sea spray bringing a vibrant freshness The finish is light and easy to enjoy

Red 14

Paringa Estate, Estate Series, Mornington Peninsula, Shiraz 2018 75cl £46.98

A serious cool-climate Shiraz with incredibly focused aromas of pepper, ink and spice set against fleshy damson fruit and a silky texture

White 13

Tahbilk, Nagambie Lakes, Marsanne 2022 75cl £16.63

Grapefruit zest and citrus floral aromas are carried through to a decidedly lively, mineral palate with pear, Granny Smith apple and citrus fruits

White 12

Pikes Valley's End Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2022 75cl £14.45

A vibrant showing of tropical fruits, including ripe passionfruit and lychee Even though the palate is bursting with sweet flavours, the tight line of acidity keeps everything in check, and it finishes deliciously dry with hints of minerality The Valley s End shows its sense of place in a truly delicious manner The Pikes Clare Valley site is unique, with tough acidic soils overlaying ancient dark grey siltstone of the Kadlunga Slate formation, which has rested beneath Polish Hill River for 650 million years

Red 13.6

Jim Barry Wines, The Armagh, Clare Valley, Shiraz 2018 75cl £278.88

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 14.5

Pizzini Wines L'Aquila Nebbiolo 2018 75cl £29.96

Classic Nebbiolo colour, garnet with deep brick red hue On the nose the wine displays typical Nebbiolo characters of rose petal and violets with subtle star anise notes keeping your attention The palate is deep, structured and powerful, all elements we pride ourselves on when working with this special variety Rich red fruits, spiced plums and red liquorice lead us to solid earthy tannins and a remarkably bright and generous finish

Red 14

Paringa Estate, The Paringa Single Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, Shiraz 2018 75cl £70.13

A stunning wine with an impressive combination of power and elegance Complex with great longevity and majesty