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Introducing Australian Wine
Some regions of the world have been producing wine for thousands of years, but Australia isn't one of these. That doesn't mean it's not into wine, however - production started within fifty years of European contact with this continent. Before long, the country was full of vineyards, mostly concentrated in the south.
Over the past century, the expansion of the wine industry in Australia has been a dramatic one. As of the mid 1910s, Australia was producing about four and a half million gallons, or seventeen million liters of wine every year. Sixty years later, that figure rose to closer to ninety-five million gallons, or three hundred and sixty million liters - an impressive increase fueled by more worldwide demand for Australian wine.
Australia's large variety of climate types and soil conditions leads it to be favorable to cultivation of many different grape varieties and many types of wine. These climates run the range from cool and damp to very hot and arid, with some conditions coming very close to the climates in the best European wine regions. Some regions are irrigated to help them produce wine grapes.
Soil types mostly involve clay and limestone (if you dig deeply enough) but vary just as much as the temperatures and overall climate. This allows the winemakers to match different types of grapes with the soil that will grow them best, creating high quality fruit and getting a better yield.
For a long time, Australian wine was relatively unknown to the rest of the world, with nineteenth century judges insisting that fine Victoria wines must actually be French, since Australia couldn't possibly produce that kind of quality. However, in the late twentieth century, the first Australian boom occurred. High quality Australian wines first came to the attention of wine lovers around the world, and production soared.
Another boom on the lower end of the price scale occurred recently - Australian imports were seen just about everywhere, offering decent, low priced wine in major retailers. These wines have fallen out of fashion somewhat, making them a little less popular now, but they still have a lot to offer. Take the time to check out some of the high quality wines Australia has to offer - you might be surprised.
As the fourth biggest exporter of wine in the world, Australia can offer a lot, and it sells to some of the world's biggest wine producing countries. In fact, this country has been called the most powerful influence in wine, and is well known for GSM blends made from Mourvedre, Shiraz and Grenache, well balanced wines that stand up well against the competition. Australian wine shouldn't be overlooked.
So, if you're going to be visiting Australia on holiday, don't forget to take the time to check out some of its wine regions, or at least try a few local wines. If you're looking for a great wine for your table, don't pass over the Australian section. There are some really amazing wines there, just waiting for you to discover them!
About the Author Looking for Margaret River Wines? Since inception in 1986 the Howard Park family has included the noble varietals of Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot.
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