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 8

Brown Brothers, Victoria, Cienna 2023 75cl £12.94

A light bodied red wine with vibrant aromas of summer berries and a hint of spice With fruit sweetness on the palate, it is rich and juicy with a refreshing finish

White 13

Tooma River Reserve Chardonnay 2023 75cl | Great Wines Direct

Tooma River Reserve Chardonnay 2023 75cl £8.41

Chardonnay thrives in the warm and sun kissed Australian vineyard - delivering an unmistakably vibrant and fruit driven style This wine is no exception and is packed with grapefruit, lime and melon flavours, all bound up with a zesty, crisp citrus balance which cuts through to the finish

White 12

Pinot Grigio 23 Pete's Pure 75cl £11.03

Red 13.5

Rob Dolan Pinot Noir 2021 75cl £15.84

Aromas of fresh cherry, strawberry and a touch of nutmeg The tannins are silky and supported by the fresh raspberry, cranberry and vanilla flavours

Red 14.5

Berton Vineyard 'Winemakers Reserve', Padthaway, The Black Shiraz 2022 75cl £15.01

Densely hued, this is a rich and fleshy Shiraz with generous minty blackberry, chocolate and mint flavours over hints of fresh herbs

White 14

D Arenberg The Money Spider Roussanne 2023 75cl £14.75

d'Arenberg planted Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne in the mid 1990's, and the first crop of Roussanne from the 2000 vintage was covered in a sea of tiny "Money Spiders" (Erigoninae) Popular belief is that kindness to these little creatures will bring good luck, hopefully in the form of money Being a nature-lover and slightly superstitious, Chester refrained from sending the spiders to their death Hence the first release of Roussanne was from the 2001 vintage, by which time the Money Spiders had learned their lesson and moved from the vineyard to the surrounding bushland The nose exhibits a whole array of characters from stone fruits and tropical notes through to nuttiness and an ever so delicate hint of Indian spice The palate is robust! A luscious mix of pulpy fruit, green mango and papaya These full flavours gently give way to honey blossom nuances and savoury pistachio notes which linger to a very long finish, adding refinement to the palate

Red 13.5

D Arenberg The Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Chambourcin 75cl NV £18.18

Red 13.5

Boundary Line, Australia, Shiraz 2023 75cl £11.50

Aromas of gentle vanilla spice and white pepper, medium bodied with fresh and minty plum fruit flavours

Red 13.5

Opal Ridge, South East Australia, Shiraz Cabernet 2021 75cl £10.79

An easy drinking red with juicy raspberry and red plum fruit and a hint of vanilla

Red 14

Berton Vineyard 'Foundstone', South Eastern Australia, Merlot 2022 75cl £12.43

A softly textured, fresh and easy drinking wine with notes of plums and chocolate enhanced by a hint of vanilla

Red 14

Tooma River Shiraz 2022 75cl £8.90

Shiraz has found its natural home in the sun kissed Australian vineyard, where it produces a ripe, fruit forward style loved for its immediate accessibility The Tooma River Shiraz is no exception, with a rich nose redolent with red and black berry aromas and a smooth, textured palate dripping with juicy dark fruits, hints of chocolate and lively spices

Red 14

Jim Barry Wines 'The Barry Bros', Clare Valley, Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 75cl £16.28

A fruit driven and intensely flavoured blend brimming with red and black fruits combined with a touch of chocolate and spicy eucalyptus on the finish

Red 13.8

Pizzini Wines Pietra Rossa Sangiovese 2021 75cl £17.75

Brick red in colour with a cherry hue Initial notes of raspberry and red cherry on the nose which lead to spicy and earthy characters as the wine opens The palate is rich and seductive with plums, cherries, hints of leather and soft earthy notes The balance of fresh fruit and soft acidity, blended with savoury and chalky tannins, give this wine both drink now and aging capacity

Red 0.5

Brown Brothers, 'Zero', Victoria, Cienna 2023 75cl £9.48

A refreshingly light red with aromas of fresh red berried fruit and a hint of spice With lovely fruit sweetness on the palate, it is rich and juicy on the finish

Red 14

Mount Langi Ghiran, Victoria, 'Billi Billi' Shiraz 2021 75cl £16.62

An elegant Shiraz, with rich aromas of red and black fruits underpinned by spicy tones through to a luscious palate, with fine tannins and signature black pepper

Red 14.5

D Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 75cl £14.59

"This is a wine of great presence, loaded with classic Cabernet Sauvignon characters of cassis, plums, cedar, red pepper and violets Despite the depth and complexity of the fruit, the palate remains true to Cabernet form, providing a sleek mouthfeel framed by a long line of fine, chalky tannins Powerful, aromatic, persistent and charming all at once While this wine offers enough fruit to be enjoyed in youth, expect five to eight further years of careful cellaring to enhance its overall quality and enjoyment "