Wines in Australia

[Ems]

Since I'm living down here for a few months, thought I would post some of my experiences and recommendations.

First off, my favourite wines are full bodied reds with Shiraz and Amarone being my top two kinds.

Australia is the best place for Shiraz IMO and Barrossa Valley in South Australia (near Adelaide) is probably the best region for this varietal. My favourite wineries in Barossa Valley are Two Hands (they make really good Cab Sauvs as well) and Yalumba. I find people are generally a lot more passionate and informative at the wineries here than the ones back home in Niagara on the Lake.

I heard McLaren Vale is also a good region near Adelaide for full bodied wines but didn't get a chance to check it out. I drove from Barossa Valley to Coonawarra (Limestone Coast) and they have unique tasting cab sauvs that have absorbed the flavours of Eucalyptus leaves from the surrounding vegetations.

I live in Melbourne so Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are the closest wine regions to me. I find their reds are fruitier and not as full bodied as those made in South Australia, but I really like the Pinot Noirs here, much better than the ones I've tried back home.

I managed to take 16 bottles of wine back with me mostly focusing on shiraz and cab sauvs, and most are only available at the wineries themselves. I'm going to try bringing back some pinot noirs when I return home in March/ April!

[GnarlyRabbit]

I'm jealous that you're there for two months. Nice! How's the golfing??

I was in Australia about 10 years ago. And Sydney remains at the top of my list of favourite cities. The only wine region I visited was the Hunter Valley but I've been buying practically only Australian wine ever since that trip. It changed my life from a wine perspective. I had not yet discovered golf at that time so missed out on playing there :(

[nearace]

wine in a bottle? the only wine for me came in a box lol kidding i am a beer man you can tell from my belly. ;) but recent reports say red wine is good for your health.

[racmbs]

Since I'm living down here for a few months, thought I would post some of my experiences and recommendations.

First off, my favourite wines are full bodied reds with Shiraz and Amarone being my top two kinds.

Australia is the best place for Shiraz IMO and Barrossa Valley in South Australia (near Adelaide) is probably the best region for this varietal. My favourite wineries in Barossa Valley are Two Hands (they make really good Cab Sauvs as well) and Yalumba. I find people are generally a lot more passionate and informative at the wineries here than the ones back home in Niagara on the Lake.

I heard McLaren Vale is also a good region near Adelaide for full bodied wines but didn't get a chance to check it out. I drove from Barossa Valley to Coonawarra (Limestone Coast) and they have unique tasting cab sauvs that have absorbed the flavours of Eucalyptus leaves from the surrounding vegetations.

I live in Melbourne so Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are the closest wine regions to me. I find their reds are fruitier and not as full bodied as those made in South Australia, but I really like the Pinot Noirs here, much better than the ones I've tried back home.

I managed to take 16 bottles of wine back with me mostly focusing on shiraz and cab sauvs, and most are only available at the wineries themselves. I'm going to try bringing back some pinot noirs when I return home in March/ April!

Grapes are a lot sweeter down in that region, so the Pinots' will certainly taste far better than what we are used to getting here.

Peter Lehman is one of my favorite Australian wines, and I agree %100 that the Australian's do the Shiraz better than anyone else.

If you can sneak some Pinot or Shiraz back home, give me a shout Ems and I will pay for some. :D

[thekathrynorchard]

Grapes are a lot sweeter down in that region, so the Pinots' will certainly taste far better than what we are used to getting here.

Peter Lehman is one of my favorite Australian wines, and I agree %100 that the Australian's do the Shiraz better than anyone else.

If you can sneak some Pinot or Shiraz back home, give me a shout Ems and I will pay for some. :D

I agree with your Peter Lehman statement. The ones in general list don't cut it in the LCBO but there are occassionally some great essential vintages released. I grabbed an amazing bottle of 2000 barossa shiraz and got a great deal on it. It took 3 months to arrive but was a good deal. I am going to crack it soon.

[spackler]

Lehmann's winery is a must visit in the Barossa, a really tranquil setting tucked in a little valley off the main drag in Tanunda. They had a very knowledgeable staff to take you through the tasting and a really wide range of stuff to try and buy. My Dutch family would call it gezellig.

For a small winery, I really like Smith and Hooper, which is a tiny little place on the Limestone Coast IIRC, that makes some very big wines. The Cab/Merlot was a very quaffable blend and the "Shotfire" shiraz (at least the 02 vintage when I was there) will make your mouth explode!