Oceania
From a wine perspective, "Oceania" is just a polite way of saying
"Australia and New Zealand." Let's face it, New Guinea is unlikely to
produce much quality wine. Australian wines have a long history
while New Zealand's are really only beginning to make a splash.
From a wine perspective, "Oceania" is just a polite way of saying
"Australia and New Zealand." Let's face it, New Guinea is unlikely to
produce much quality wine. Australian wines have a long history
while New Zealand's are really only beginning to make a splash.
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Australia
Wine grape vines have been made in Australia since the First Fleet on first
landed on the continent's shores in 1788, when vine cuttings had been brought
from South Africa. Wine was being exported from Australia as early as 1822.
Gradually, more vineyards were planted, and as British and European settlers
continued to emigrate they brought more European grape varieties and
wine-making techniques with them. In the 1830s, a one James Bushby
traveled to Spain and France and returned with cutting from some of the best
vineyards in France and Spain. By the 1870s, Australian wines were beginning
to see international recognition -- sometimes grudgingly from French judges
who believed that the wines they were tasting just had to be French, they were
so good.
When the phylloxera epidemic hit worldwide wine grape production in the late
1800s, the Australian wine industry was nearly destroyed and took many
decades to recover. In the decades following phylloxera plague until the late
1970s, Australian wine production consisted largely of sweet and fortified
wines. Since then 1970, however, Australia has fully recovered, rapidly
becoming a world leader in both quantity and quality.
About the same size as the U.S. Australia has a number winemaking regions
and many sub-regions spread over three states. The state of South Australia
produces about 60 percent of the country's wines, while New South Wales and
Western Australia make up the rest.
Unlike the U.S., Australia has no indigenous grape varieties, so all have been
imported although Australian viticulturists have managed to breed a few of their
own, Cienna and Tarrango. Major varieties used include Shiraz (aka "Syrah"),
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Riesling
with alternatives like Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and
Viognier recently gaining popularity.
Beware, though. There are quite few highly mediocre Aussie brands out there
today glutting the market. You see them filling the shelves at your local grocery
store. They usually have cutsie labels with koala bears or kangaroos on them.
Major Regions
Australia designates is wine growing regions by "geographic indications,"
which are governed by Australian by law. The geographic indication must
indicate where the grapes are grown, regardless of where the wine is made. A
geographic indication may be a state name, zone, region or sub-region. The
major growing regions include:
Coonawarra
Coonawarra is located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia and has a
cool, damp climate. Most coveted land there is the Terra Roosa and area of red
clay about nine miles long and two miles wide that produces excellent Shiraz
and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Barossa & Eden Valleys
Lying just just east Adelaide, Barossa is Australia's foremost wine region,
where many producers, large and small, are based. The bulk of the wine
produced around Barossa is red, including (surprise!) Shiraz but also
Grenache. White is also represented, including considerable amounts of
Semillon along with Riesling and Chardonnay. Next to the Barossa Valley, but a
bit higher up is the Eden Valley, which produces much the same varietals as its
neighbor. But just to confuse things, wines from the Eden Valley can be
labelled Barossa or Barossa Valley. Go figure.
Clare Valley
Clare valley is best known for its distinctive but relatively inexpensive dray
Rieslings.
McLaren Vale
On the Indian Ocean, McLaren Vale enjoys a cool seaside climate which keeps
the vine from getting too hot, which they like. In the reds, Shiraz and Grenache
top the list, with some Cabernet Sauvignon planted as well. In the white world
you'll find Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Yarra Valley
Jus outside Melbourne, Yarra Valley enjoys a cool climate where varieties of
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz grow well.
Victoria
Lying along the coast Victoria has a cool climate that works appropriate for
grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Victoria also makes a considerable
amount of sparkling wine.
Margaret River
Margaret River is located in the southwest area of Western Australia and is the
country's largest state wine growing region. The climate is similar to that of
Bordeaux, suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well as whites like
Chardonnay and Riesling.
Hunter Valley
New South Wales' Hunter Valley tends to be hot, good for robust grapes like
and the Shiraz and Semillon. The heat causes the grapes here to ripen well,
which can make wines very rich.
New Zealand
While New Zealand viticulture goes back to colonial times, quality wine-making
is a relatively new industry. In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that wine makers in
the Marlborough areas began producing wines and labelling them by year of
production or vintage and grape variety.
Roughly the same area as California, New Zealand's two islands lie roughly
1000 miles off the coast of southeastern Australia. Its climate tends to be damp
and coo, makingit ideal fore many wines as well as Hobbits. The North Island
tends to be more wet and cool, while the South Island is warmer and dryer. The
most popular grapes of New Zealand are Sauvignon Blanc (for which is best
known), Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
In addition, New Zealand does a brisk business in Bordeaux-style blends
blends, typically blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, sometime with
Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir.
New Zealand Wine-growing Regions
Wine grape vines have been made in Australia since the First Fleet on first
landed on the continent's shores in 1788, when vine cuttings had been brought
from South Africa. Wine was being exported from Australia as early as 1822.
Gradually, more vineyards were planted, and as British and European settlers
continued to emigrate they brought more European grape varieties and
wine-making techniques with them. In the 1830s, a one James Bushby
traveled to Spain and France and returned with cutting from some of the best
vineyards in France and Spain. By the 1870s, Australian wines were beginning
to see international recognition -- sometimes grudgingly from French judges
who believed that the wines they were tasting just had to be French, they were
so good.
When the phylloxera epidemic hit worldwide wine grape production in the late
1800s, the Australian wine industry was nearly destroyed and took many
decades to recover. In the decades following phylloxera plague until the late
1970s, Australian wine production consisted largely of sweet and fortified
wines. Since then 1970, however, Australia has fully recovered, rapidly
becoming a world leader in both quantity and quality.
About the same size as the U.S. Australia has a number winemaking regions
and many sub-regions spread over three states. The state of South Australia
produces about 60 percent of the country's wines, while New South Wales and
Western Australia make up the rest.
Unlike the U.S., Australia has no indigenous grape varieties, so all have been
imported although Australian viticulturists have managed to breed a few of their
own, Cienna and Tarrango. Major varieties used include Shiraz (aka "Syrah"),
Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Riesling
with alternatives like Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and
Viognier recently gaining popularity.
Beware, though. There are quite few highly mediocre Aussie brands out there
today glutting the market. You see them filling the shelves at your local grocery
store. They usually have cutsie labels with koala bears or kangaroos on them.
Major Regions
Australia designates is wine growing regions by "geographic indications,"
which are governed by Australian by law. The geographic indication must
indicate where the grapes are grown, regardless of where the wine is made. A
geographic indication may be a state name, zone, region or sub-region. The
major growing regions include:
Coonawarra
Coonawarra is located on the Limestone Coast of South Australia and has a
cool, damp climate. Most coveted land there is the Terra Roosa and area of red
clay about nine miles long and two miles wide that produces excellent Shiraz
and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Barossa & Eden Valleys
Lying just just east Adelaide, Barossa is Australia's foremost wine region,
where many producers, large and small, are based. The bulk of the wine
produced around Barossa is red, including (surprise!) Shiraz but also
Grenache. White is also represented, including considerable amounts of
Semillon along with Riesling and Chardonnay. Next to the Barossa Valley, but a
bit higher up is the Eden Valley, which produces much the same varietals as its
neighbor. But just to confuse things, wines from the Eden Valley can be
labelled Barossa or Barossa Valley. Go figure.
Clare Valley
Clare valley is best known for its distinctive but relatively inexpensive dray
Rieslings.
McLaren Vale
On the Indian Ocean, McLaren Vale enjoys a cool seaside climate which keeps
the vine from getting too hot, which they like. In the reds, Shiraz and Grenache
top the list, with some Cabernet Sauvignon planted as well. In the white world
you'll find Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
Yarra Valley
Jus outside Melbourne, Yarra Valley enjoys a cool climate where varieties of
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz grow well.
Victoria
Lying along the coast Victoria has a cool climate that works appropriate for
grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Victoria also makes a considerable
amount of sparkling wine.
Margaret River
Margaret River is located in the southwest area of Western Australia and is the
country's largest state wine growing region. The climate is similar to that of
Bordeaux, suitable for Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot as well as whites like
Chardonnay and Riesling.
Hunter Valley
New South Wales' Hunter Valley tends to be hot, good for robust grapes like
and the Shiraz and Semillon. The heat causes the grapes here to ripen well,
which can make wines very rich.
New Zealand
While New Zealand viticulture goes back to colonial times, quality wine-making
is a relatively new industry. In fact, it wasn't until the 1970s that wine makers in
the Marlborough areas began producing wines and labelling them by year of
production or vintage and grape variety.
Roughly the same area as California, New Zealand's two islands lie roughly
1000 miles off the coast of southeastern Australia. Its climate tends to be damp
and coo, makingit ideal fore many wines as well as Hobbits. The North Island
tends to be more wet and cool, while the South Island is warmer and dryer. The
most popular grapes of New Zealand are Sauvignon Blanc (for which is best
known), Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
In addition, New Zealand does a brisk business in Bordeaux-style blends
blends, typically blending Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, sometime with
Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir.
New Zealand Wine-growing Regions
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Northland
Henderson
Waiheke Island
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Wairarapa
Martinborough
Wairau Valley, Marlborough
Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Nelson
Henderson
Waiheke Island
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Gisborne
Hawkes Bay
Wairarapa
Martinborough
Wairau Valley, Marlborough
Awatere Valley, Marlborough
Nelson
Moutere Valley
Omihi Hills, Waipara
South of Waipara, Amberley & North
of Christchurch
West Melton, Banks Peninsula and
Rolleston
Waitaki River Basin
Wanaka and North Otago
Cromwell and Bannockburn
Alexandra Basin
Kawarau Gorge
Omihi Hills, Waipara
South of Waipara, Amberley & North
of Christchurch
West Melton, Banks Peninsula and
Rolleston
Waitaki River Basin
Wanaka and North Otago
Cromwell and Bannockburn
Alexandra Basin
Kawarau Gorge
Fast Facts
- Wine grapes have been down under since the
First Fleet in 1788 - Shiraz rules Australia, while New Zealand has
become famed for its Sauvignon Blanc - Wine-growing regions in Australia are legally
defined by the government under the rubric,
"geographic indications" - In the 1970s New Zealand winemakers first
began labelling their bottles by vintage and
varietal
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