Australia has been producing wine for approximately 200 years with a producing region of more than 3000 mostly located in the South of the large continent.

Getting Familiarized with Australian Wine

Australian wine has only recently crossed its borders to the delight of wine connoisseurs around the world. Harvested in over 30 wine growing regions, there are four main states, which will help you identify and choose Australian wine. They are:

New South Wales - Hunter Valley, Mudgee

South Australia – Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare, Coonawarra, Padthaway, Southern Valley (MsLaren Vale)

Victoria – Bendigo, Geelong, Great Western, Goulburn Valley, Milawa, Moonambel, Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen, Yarra Valley.

Western Australia – Frankland, Lower Great Southern, Margaret River

Australia grows a majority of red grapes and they are:

Shiraz – one of my favorite grapes as it has a robust yet mellow finish with a berries and red fruits after taste.

Cabernet Sauvignon – Full bodies and dry grape variety as we are used to from our Californian backyard and French counterparts with a rich earthy taste. This is a great wine that would complement any red meat dish.

Pinot Noir – this is a light red wine which can even be served with white meats if you are a red wine passionate.

The main Australian white grapes are:

Riesling – This is a fruity and light grape, which will compliment dishes such as salads and fish.

Semillion – This grape is usually blended with the Chardonnay grape in order to produce a medium dry white wine to accompany most white meats and seafood meals.

Chardonnay – the type of grape that is most common around the world, which has a full body and rich buttery taste can be paired with all white meats and grills and well as white gravy pasta dishes.

Wine is meant to complete your meal thus, learning how to pair them is an art, which is acquired with time as you discover and taste more wines. Australian wine is a pleasure to taste, appreciate and pair the meals accordingly.

Australian wine does not only compliment most meals in perfect harmony but also make an excellent after dinner drink with a cheese plate. So, next time, instead of ordering that full calorie desert, try a nice glass of red Australian wine with a few bites of cheese and crackers.

White wine drank moderately (a glass a day) is actually good for you and even the doctor recommends a glass of red wine to lower your cholesterol and increases your metabolism rate. Therefore, enjoy – but in moderation.