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 14.5

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

White 13.5

Paringa Estate, The Paringa Single Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, Chardonnay 2019 75cl £58.81

A beautifully styled, elegant Chardonnay Complex and rich with notes of layered, toasty oak

Red 13.5

Mount Pleasant 1921 Vines, Old Paddock, Hunter Valley, Shiraz 2018 75cl £55.37

Aromas of ripe black and red berried fruits, supported by savoury and spicy elements complemented by intense fruit flavours and black olive hints Balanced and distinguished

Red 13.5

Jim Barry Wines, The Armagh, Clare Valley, Shiraz 2017 75cl £264.66

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

White 12.5

Jim Barry Wines, The Florita, Clare Valley, Riesling 2019 75cl £41.65

A textured wine of immense purity that is bursting with intense aromas of lime and hints of juniper berries This shows all the expressive hallmarks of a Florita Riesling

Red 14.5

Berton Vineyard, Gundagai, Shiraz 2017 75cl £17.64

Rich, intense aromas of blackberry, black cherry and vanilla oak are echoed on the velvety smooth palate Opulent and stylish

Red 14.5

Berton Vineyard, Metal Label, South Eastern Australia, The Black Shiraz 2021 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, The Bonsai, High Eden, Shiraz Cabernet 2018 75cl £30.29

An intense, opulent and full flavoured Shiraz blend with cassis, vanilla and mint chocolate notes culminating in a rich finish

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Syrah 2021 75cl £78.74

An awe-inspiring wine with the aroma of Hermitage and the texture of Richebourg, Farvie Syrah is a selection of fruit picked exclusively from the 'morning' side of the vine rows, which ripens more slowly and gently than fruit exposed to the afternoon sun Whortleberry, aronia and purple grape lead into nuances of clove, star anise, stargazer lily, musk, leather and iron as it opens in the glass In the mouth, it is super-refined, intense and concentrated in flavour; with gorgeous soft succulence of texture There is a sprinkling of powdery tannin - discernible but utterly delicate Undoubtedly a great wine, it would be intriguing to watch this evolve for 15 years or longer - but oh, it's so irresistible already Utterly harmonious

White 13

Rob Dolan White Label Chardonnay 2020 75cl £23.68

Mineral with waxy white flower, grapefruit and clove spice aromas Fine lined and textured on the palate with nectarine, raw cashew and toasted granola flavours A wine that will develop in bottle over the next 10 years

White 13.5

Rob Dolan Chardonnay 2021 75cl £18.07

Aromas and flavours of quince jelly, guava, lemon, grapefruit, nectarine and a touch of oak spice Textural with fresh acidity

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Syrah 2020 75cl £78.74

An awe-inspiring wine with the aroma of Hermitage and the texture of Richebourg, Farvie Syrah is a selection of fruit picked exclusively from the 'morning' side of the vine rows, which ripens more slowly and gently than fruit exposed to the afternoon sun With an exuberant, fruit-forward nose, this smells of plump, juicy, utterly yummy blackberries at perfect ripeness Take a sip, and it is succulent and scrumptious, with almost-hidden tannins that just peek through on the finish This is so delicious that it doesn t need time, but it should evolve beautifully if given the chance Drink 2023-2034+

Red 14

Swinney Farvie Grenache 2020 75cl £78.74

This smells very like fine red Burgundy, with rosehip and red cherry character on the nose 2020 was a warmer year (like 2018), and this shows in the relative richness of texture - super-supple and refined, with more subtle, integrated acidity than either of the previous vintages While I love the 2018 for its vibrancy, the 2020 has an extra layer of sophistication It has potentially a long life ahead of it, but it s so irresistible already that I can t see all that many bottles surviving to find out Drink 2023-2033 and beyond 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 15

Teusner Wines Righteous FG Shiraz 2018 75cl £73.75

Intense black fruits, plum and blueberry aromatics give way to layers of dark chocolate, licorice and warm spices while hints of charcuterie add extra complexity The fine oak tannins focus in on the palate, driving a line of dark, rich fruit before relaxing in confident fashion to unveil savoury complexity and a long finish

Red 14.5

D Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz Magnum 2018 150cl £84.85

The heady aroma is both powerful and pretty with notes of fennel, purple flowers and blossom mingling with ripe, varietal purple fruits and black pepper The oak is hardly evident which allows fruit and soil complexities to emerge with edges of rhubarb and red mulberry and savoury characters of dried herbs, game and spice The palate opens with anise, black pepper, graphite and restrained dark cherries before it gives way to seductive mulberry, plum, liquorice and spice It has great power, depth and length with very vibrant, gritty fruit tannins providing immense structure Notes of anise and spice linger for a long time after the last sip The Dead Arm 2008 strikes a rare balance of power, complexity and finesse with impressive structure that will reward those with patience to cellar it