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Exploring Australia

Now that summer is here, it's time to relax and have a bit of fun, and in honor of the start of grilling season, we?re going to get into some reds! This month we will take a trip "Down Under" and explore the regions and varietals of Australia. Australia is one of the world's top wine producing countries and is one of the biggest importers to the United States. While Australia is best known for making Shiraz, (also known as Syrah in the US and France) they are creating interesting wines full of depth and flavor, sometimes by blending two or more varietals, many of which we will get to know this month.

Wine Regions and their Grapes

Wineries are spread through every state and territory of Australia but vine growing here is concentrated in the southeastern corner of this vast country. (Keep in mind that Australia is about the size of the U.S. )

A large proportion of Australian wine comes from the four largest wineries, all headed by the vast Southcorp. One in every four bottles of Australian wines comes from one of these companies, including Penfolds and Lindemans. As a consumer, you have to be careful? in focusing on quantity over quality, many of these producers have sacrificed structural complexity to the altar of simple fruit flavor.

Australia is better able to grow and harvest grapes more economically than California, Europe, and South Africa. Minimal pruning and mechanical harvesting keeps costs down, which in turn keeps prices down. Many Australian wines also have a confident, user-friendly style. Bottle labels are frequently playful and eye-catching, with an emphasis on the export market. and Australia is now known for producing good, quaffable, inexpensive wines.

Not all Australian producers are focused on bulk production, however; many of their top-notch Shirazes are made in tiny quantities, with great attention to detail, and are truly spectacular. Blends of Shiraz, Mourvèdre (or Mataro, as the Aussies know it), and Grenache, known as ?GSMs? are becoming increasingly renowned and are sometimes compared favorably to reds from France?s Southern Rhône Valley. Dry Rieslings and Chardonnays shows nuances of Australia?s unique climate and terroir conditions, and Australian whites are beginning to threaten the supremacy of the ?big bad red? that Australian winemakers are so famous for.

Where in Australia are these grapes grown?

Western Australia: Margaret River?cooler, good for whites

South Australia: The best two vineyard locations for Australian Shiraz are the Barossa Valley and the McLaren Vale. Other good regions in South Australia are Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek, Padthaway, and Coonawarra.

Mclaren Vale: In this region, vineyards lie only a few miles from the western coastline and are not protected by mountains. Slightly cooler climates from oceanic exposure lead to a slightly more elegant, though still extremely potent, wines.Best vineyard sites are located on more hilly terrain, a characteristic that McLaren Vale exhibits much more than the Barossa.

Barossa Valley: About 50 miles northeast of McLaren Vale and sheltered from cooler weather by the Barossa ranges and the Mount Lofty mountain range. The majority of the region, except the ranges, is completely flat and rests on valley floor. Drought conditions for most of the year make drainage problems associated with flat land in other parts of the world a non-issue.

Victoria: Geelong and Yarra Valley are located here. Victoria is famous for its fantastic ?stickies?, or sweet dessert wines.

New South Wales: The Hunter Valley?s cooler climate produces crisp whites, especially from the white Bordeaux varietal Semillon.

Tasmania: The cool climate in this up-and-coming wine region makes it a perfect habitat for grapes that dislike the heat, like Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. In fact, Tasmania?s wine growing sites are located on the same latitude as Marlborough?s South Island, and wines from the two places share similar characteristics.

Recommended Wines

Best in Show: Torbreck "Cuvée Juveniles? 2008, Barossa Valley $24.99 (only $21.24 with GOGO discount)
Think Chateauneuf-du-Pape on steroids! Made by Dave Powell, one of Australia?s best winemakers, this ?GSM? blend is dense, juicy, and satisfying.

Friendliest: Yalumba ?Y Series? Unwooded Chardonnay 2008 $11.99 (only $10.19 with GOGO discount)
This fresh, clean, and intense Chardonnay is fermented and aged in stainless steel to perserve all the lively fruit and acidity. Look for notes of ripe tropical fruit and melon.

Best Bargain: Ironberry Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot 2008 $8.99 (only $7.64 with GOGO discount)
Everything you could hope for from an Australian red. Full-bodied, robust, flavorful, and bold; this wine offers dark berry fruit and terrific concentration for its bargain price!

Most Interesting: Frisk ?Prikly? Riesling/Muscat 2009 $10.99 (only $9.34 with GOGO discount)
Get ready for a mouth-revving, bold, unapologetically intense experience from this crisp Riesling. The nose sings with lilies and lemon sorbet notes, and the finish is big, with ?prickly? acidity.

Girls on Grapes Tasting Dates

If you would like to explore Australian wines in further depth, come to one of our tastings. We will feature a half-dozen wines at each of these tastings, which are exclusively for Girls on Grapes Members. If you would like to attend, please contact Bin 604 at 410-576-0444 to reserve your glass

Monday, May 17th 6-7pm
Tuesday, May 18th 7-8pm
Wednesday, May 19th 6-7pm

Monday, May 24th 7-8pm
Tuesday, May 25th 6-7pm
Wednesday, May 26th 7-8pm

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