Australia, located in the southern hemisphere, is the world’s sixth largest country by area, second only to Russia, Canada, China, the United States, and Brazil. It is the only country in the world that occupies a single continent. Despite being surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in the east and the Indian Ocean in the west, deserts and semi-deserts make up 35% of the country’s area. The terrain of Australia consists of plateaus in the west, plains in the middle, and mountains in the east.
History of Wine Production in Australia
Wine production in Australia dates back to 1788, when the British First Fleet arrived with vines, marking the first appearance of vines in Australia. The first commercial wine region in Australia was established in the Hunter Valley with the founding of the Wyndham Winery in 1828.
In the 1840s, new immigrants from various nationalities established their own vineyards in different regions. Italians developed grape growing along the coast; Swiss in Victoria; Dalmatian immigrants in Western Australia; and Germans in South Australia, especially in the Barossa and Clare Valleys. By 1850, relatively large-scale commercial grape planting had been established in most parts of Australia.
The first recorded export of wine from Australia to England was in 1854, amounting to 1,384 gallons (6,291 liters). Despite the grape phylloxera epidemic in the late 1870s, many regions in Australia were spared, allowing for the preservation of some very old and ungifted vines.
Modern Wine Industry in Australia
For most of the 19th and 20th centuries, Australia’s wine industry primarily catered to a steadily growing domestic demand, with occasional forays into export markets. In 1980, the per capita consumption of wine in Australia reached 17.3 liters. Innovations in packaging, such as screw caps, bags in boxes, and roll-up aluminum cans, were introduced to meet the changing needs of the consumer market.
Since the mid-1980s, the taste of the domestic market has been constantly changing, resulting in the emergence of many high-quality red and white wines. This situation has prompted the Australian wine industry to start looking at external markets.
Today, Australia’s wine production accounts for 4% of the world’s total production. Australia is the world’s sixth largest wine producer and fifth largest exporter, with a total of 65 production areas. The total area of vineyards in Australia is about 135,133 hectares, 30% of which are planted with Syrah, while Chardonnay is the most common white grape variety, accounting for 16% of the total planted area.
In 2017, Australian wine exports were worth a record A$2.6 billion. The total national grape crush is 1.98 million metric tons, and the wine production is 1.37 billion liters, 51% of which are brewed in South Australia.
Australia estimates that there are 2,468 wineries and 6,251 grape plantations in 65 production areas across the country, employing a total of 172,736 full-time and part-time employees and contributing more than 40 billion Australian dollars to the national economy every year.
Australia’s Wine Culture and Regulations
Australia today has an enviable restaurant culture where internationally renowned wines can be enjoyed alongside delicious dishes. There are more than 60 specialized wine-producing regions in Australia, with a wide variety of grapes, showing a full range of wines to the world, and at the same time gaining a world reputation for being able to produce high-quality wines at various prices.
Australia’s Geographical Indications (GI) system was established at the end of 1993 and primarily regulates the naming of wine producing regions and areas. The Australian appellation system is similar to the European appellation system, but it is less strict and does not stipulate specific grape varieties, planting and winemaking methods, minimum yields, or wine styles. Importantly, the appellation of origin regulations ensure that the information on all wine bottle labels is valid and legal. If a region, variety, or year is indicated, then at least 85% of the wine grapes must come from that region, variety, or year.
Main Grape Varieties and Producing Areas
The main grape varieties grown in Australia include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. The main wine producing areas are South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland.
Climate and Soil
Australia is not at a cool latitude, but due to the influence of altitude and the surrounding oceanic climate, Australia also has cool climate producing areas. Large areas in the north of Australia are tropical, while the center is too hot and dry. Therefore, Southeast Australia and Southwest Australia are the most suitable regions for producing high-quality wines. These regions have a cool-to-warm Mediterranean climate. The annual average temperature is 27°C in the north and 14°C in the south. The inland area is dry and rainless, and the annual precipitation is less than 200 mm, while the eastern mountainous area is 500–1200 mm.
Australia, a continent that has existed for more than 100 million years, is the oldest and most eroded continent, with ancient and complex soil types. Australia has three cratons: two in Western Australia (the Yilgarn and Pilbara cratons) and one in South Australia (the Gawler craton). Grape vines are suitable for growing on the edge of the Yilgran craton rocks. There are also some young soil types consisting of sandstone and limestone, as well as many volcanic soils. Due to Australia’s vast territory, the soil quality in each production area varies greatly, and even the soil quality in each production area is also varied.
Conclusion
Australia’s advanced research and education facilities are equipping the country’s new generation of winemakers and viticulturists with the skills to maximize their creativity in international markets. Since Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, you can drink “new wine” around May, which can be said to be the earliest new wine on the market in the world.