Australia's first vineyards were planted in 1788 in a small area near the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Today you will find vineyards throughout all 62 designated wine regions totalling 170,000 hectares.
Australia has about 60 wine regions located across the country with 103 “defined geographic indications” for wine growing districts covering zones, regions and sub-regions.
Western Australia
Swan District
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The Swan District is Western Australia’s oldest wine region, having been first planted by English settlers soon after their arrival in 1829. Because of the area’s great growing reliability, poor vintages are rare. Winemakers today produce medium to full-bodied red and white table wines of high quality and value, and some still make outstanding fortified styles, using stocks that in many cases are decades old. |
Margaret River
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The region is one of the most vibrant and popular wine destinations in Australia.
Margaret River produces some of the best value-for-money white wines in Australia, with blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, while some red blends, such as Cabernet Merlot, have proved outstanding. Many other varieties flourish in the area, producing appealing wines such as Verdelho, Riesling and Chenin Blanc. The moderating influences of the nearby oceans and the marked Mediterranean climate in terms of rainfall ensure slow, even ripening for beautifully balanced fruit. |
Pemberton
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With a range of boutique wineries, each winning medals and trophies in wine shows around Australia, Pemberton’s reputation as a premium wine region is secure. Modern cellar door facilities provide exciting wines for tasting, enough for even the most discerning palate. The region also offers the grandeur of nature and a diverse range of arts and crafts, which adds enormously to the wine platform.
Pemberton was first planted experimentally in 1977, with commercial vineyards following in 1982.
Situated in the lower south-west of Western Australia, west of the Great Southern and south-east of the Margaret River regions.
Chardonnay is the most successful style, producing generous, structured wines with an almost creamy texture.
Principal varieties are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Great Southern
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Skirting the south-west Australian coast and pushing northwards back into the hinterland almost 100 kilometres (60 miles), this is a very large region even by Australian standards. It ranges from the coastal, maritime subregions of Albany and Denmark to the unequivocally inland and continental subregions of Mount Barker, Porongurup and Frankland River; from fat country to lean, with large areas untouched by vineyards. In these circumstances it is indeed surprising that there is such a degree of coherence in the wine styles being produced. |
South Australia
Clare Valley
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The Clare Valley has a history of winemaking dating back to the 1840s. The region's best producing vineyards are located at the higher altitude sites or on west-facing slopes. The region faces a warm to hot summer, but has cool afternoon breezes which play a major role in slowing down the ripening process. Much of Australia's finest Riesling is grown in the Clare Valley, and the region also produces many other wine styles, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. |
Barossa Valley
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With a rich history dating back to 1842, the Barossa Valley has become one of Australia's most famous wine regions. The climate is ideal for full bodied red wines, fortified wines and robust white wines. The two soil types are relatively low in fertility. The Barossa region produces a great variety of wine, with the main styles being Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Grenache and Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. |
Eden Valley
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The Eden Valley is located alongside the Barossa Valley and both saw their first vines planted in 1842. The Eden Valley's growing season temperatures are significantly lower than those of the Barossa, with the final stages of ripening and harvesting take place in much cooler conditions. Water availability is a limiting factor in the expansion of vineyards. The main wine styles produced include Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. |
Adelaide Hills
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The Adelaide Hills region is rapidly growing in importance for the production of super-premium table and sparkling wine. Rainfall varies throughout the region, increasing at higher elevations, but is mainly dominant during winter and spring. The region produces a great variety of wine, with the main styles including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine. |
McLaren Vale
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McLaren Vale’s mixture of international wine brands, family-owned wineries and artisan winemakers delivers a complete offering of premium red and white wines. Varying exposure and changes in altitude and soil types throughout the region ensure an inspiring mix of food, wine and lifestyle.
Enthusiastic, energetic and passionate are often the words used to describe people who live and work in the region. The unique marriage of a wine region and beach lifestyle has created a melting pot for all things culinary, vinous and artistic.
McLaren Vale is widely recognised as one of Australia’s greenest wine regions because of its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability. With a mixture of wine brands of international significance, the Vale has a complete offering of premium red and white wines. |
Coonanwarra
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Vines were first planted in the Coonawarra region in 1890, and since then grape production in the area has evolved through three distinct historical periods. The region is only 60 kilometres (37 miles) inland, and is predominantly exposed to a maritime climate, with dry and moderately cool summers. The climate in the region causes wine production to be quite unique, as cloud cover generally moderates the ripening period temperatures. The main wine styles produced in Coonawarra include Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. |
Victoria
Beechworth
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Vignerons in Beechworth devote hands-on attention to the winemaking, bringing out all the qualities and flavours that originate in their vineyards. With the combination of premium vineyards, careful winemaking and passion, the goal of the Beechworth vignerons is to make the very best wines which sit proudly beside those from the best regions of Australia and the World. Home of the famous Giaconda Chardonnay. |
King Valley
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King Valley has extremely varied terrain and is one of the highest wine grape growing areas in Australia. It is fertile country, capable of producing high yields of good quality grapes across the full spectrum from Chardonnay to Cabernet Sauvignon. The geographic layout ranges from basically flat in the north to mountainous in the extreme south, which significantly changes the climate and suitable grape varieties grown across the region. Most vineyards have been established on relatively gentle slopes, typically north and north-east facing. The higher altitude climate is particularly ideal for the production of fine sparkling wine. The main wine styles produced also include Chardonnay, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon. |
Heathcote
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Heathcote is recognised as a producer of extraordinary Shiraz wines, even rivalling those of the Rhone Valley from where the grape cuttings were originally sourced, and is home to winemakers who have achieved international fame for their representations of Australian Shiraz.
The Heathcote region, nestled between the Goulburn Valley and Bendigo regions, is widely recognised as a premium Shiraz producing area, with vines grown in the region since the 1860s. |
Pyrenees
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The name of the region suggests dramatic mountains whereas, in fact, there are modest slopes and gentle, discrete valleys and sub-valleys. It is a picturesque area, with many differing vistas.
The Pyrenees has become one of Australia's important producers of full-bodied red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. The region also has suitable climate and soil conditions for some white wine. In recent years it has become a significant producer of sparkling wine and its Sauvignon Blanc are becoming known for their distinctive varietal character. |
Mornington Peninsula
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Offering a unique combination of beaches, water sports and vineyards, and alive with tourist attractions, Mornington Peninsula is Victoria's answer to the Margaret River. Both regions have an extraordinary number of restaurants, many of them winery affiliated, and an abundance of accommodation in all styles. Although the wineries are relatively small, Mornington Peninsula's many different sites and mesoclimates produce an exotic array of wines.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the flagship varieties of the region. Aromatic Pinot Gris and spicy Shiraz are new highlights. |
Yarra Valley
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The Yarra Valley is Victoria's oldest wine region, has over 3,600 hectares under vine and crushes around 19,000 tonnes of grapes annually. It is also one of Victoria's most visited wine areas, located less than an hour's drive east of Melbourne's CBD or south-east of the airport.
The Yarra Valley is now recognised as one of Australia's foremost producers of Pinot Noir and is a leading maker of fine, long-lived Chardonnay and excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz. |
Tasmania
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The Tasmanian wine zone is climatically diverse from north to south.
In the north is from the Pipers River and Tamar Valley areas.
In the south, near Hobart is the Coal River and Derwent Valley districts.
The island state is developing a reputation, both nationally and internationally, for producing high-quality premium wine, food and other beverages from its pristine and natural environment. With a cool climate that has long, sunny and dry autumns, Tasmania has ideal growing conditions for developing intensely flavoured, aromatic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Despite demonstrable geographic and style variations between the different viticultural areas of the island, Tasmania remains the only state-wide zone in its own right. Considering the small size of the industry, the desirability of a united marketing approach and the wide recognition of "Tasmania" as a brand and place, it is unlikely that further subdivision into smaller GIs will be sought in the near future. |
New South Wales
Hunter Valley
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The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest and one of its most well-known wine regions.
There is no shortage of choice with over 60 restaurants, 120 wineries, 160 accommodation venues and a vast range of activities.
Less than two hours drive from Sydney and 45 minutes from Newcastle Airport, the destination is easily accessible from anywhere around the world.
The Hunter region comprises the Upper and Lower areas of the Hunter Valley, which are linked by the Hunter River. Both areas face high temperatures over summer, with the majority of the rainfall occurring between January and April. The main wine styles produced include Semillon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Verdelho. |
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