Australia is fortunate with abundant sunshine which in turn helps our grapes to reach maturity to excellence. No matter the vagaries associated with a certain red grape variety, there will certainly always be a part associated with Australia which can supply it everything it would need. Even toughies such as old-fashioned Malbec or black-as-pitch Petit Verdot turn out a treat.
Normally, the drier the particular wine region, the more likely it will create rich, full flavoured variations which quite a few people come to associate together with Australian red wine. Nevertheless, Australia likewise has cool climatic conditions nicely best suited to red styles which generate lighter together with more soft red wine varieties.
The globe’s classic premium red grape styles are all found in great quantity within Australia.
Cabernet Sauvignon has several organic “homes” throughout Australia’s wine areas. The prominent Coonawarra terra rossa earth have created exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon for over a century, while not many locations can match Western Australia’s Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon for absolute stylishness.
In much cooler districts the troublesome grape Pinot Noir fits in well, whilst the versatile Shiraz, expresses itself wonderfully effectively in virtually all except the coolest areas. Some associated with the milder climate locations tend to be also home to that unusual and wonderful Australian speciality vino, sparkling red Shiraz.
Hardly any other grape has such a uniquely Aussie personality as Shiraz. Attempt to reproduce people may but the rest of the globe’s wine-makers will not duplicate that mulberry, spicy, somewhat ‘wild’ taste of which could only be Australia’s very own.
Among Australian red wine, Shiraz (precisely the same grapes as Syrah within France’s Rhone Valley) most likely was just one of the first vine styles to land within Australia in 1832. So suited was it on its brand new turf that plantings prospered and it was not very long before the local population started to take it for granted. Having said that, from the 1980s people had begun to realise just how versatile this could possibly be, the character varied based on the actual region in that it ended up being grown.
Every single type came about from exquisite, peppery cool local climate styles (Heathcote within Victoria) to far more intensely flavoured spicy variations of Coonawarra and Margaret River to powerful and minty (Clare Valley), sugary and chocolaty (McLaren Vale), muscular, and ripe-fruited (Barossa), plus leather and rich (Hunter Valley).
Shiraz, that has in the past been blended in both cool and warm climates with Cabernet Sauvignon is also blended with Grenache and Mourvedre in warm climates.
Recently, through the provision associated with increased plantings of Viognier in Australia, wine-makers have much more often blended Shiraz Viognier permutations. Generally, Shiraz Viognier blends have a perfumed nose and much softer tannins which make these types of vintages acceptable to enjoy while fairly at an early age.