Friday, May 29, 2009

What Makes Australian Wines Worth Drinking

Take a close look at a map of Australia and you notice right away it’s about the same size of the United States. It’s also the only continent to be occupied by one country.

The 30 to 50 degree latitude location makes it potentially a sweet-spot growing area. You might call it the southern hemisphere version of the fine wine regions of Europe and the U.S. The cooler valleys of the southern coastal regions do best. Look for appellations like the Clare Valley, Barossa Valley and McLaren Valley in and around Adelaide.

Near Sydney, the best come from the Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley and Coonawara. The southernmost island of Tasmania is surprising wine lovers, especially with their Pinot Noir.

The varietal that Australia is known for is Shiraz. Its’ really the Syrah grape, but Aussies like to be different, so there it’s Shiraz. The best comes out of the Barossa and Mclaren Valleys. Seductive aromas and fine texture signal excellence in Shiraz. Try high-end, high quality D’arenberg or Penfolds.

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