Australian Food Cooking International Guide
Australian Wine Tour
By Barry J Smallhorn
From that first sip, you know your Australian wine is a good
one. Finding that style or brand of wine that best suits you is
really a personal odyssey, a close examination of your palette
and a quest involving many different tastings.
Australian winemakers man nearly 2000 wineries, using 130 different
types of grapes, so you can imagine the sort of diversity from
one wine to the next. Today, Australia is the fourth largest exporter
of wine in the world, with a particular skill in Bourdeaux Blends,
which are Cabernet-Merlot mixes, plus Semillon, Riesling and Pinot
Noir. Perhaps a journey to an Aussie winery would provide the
perfect complement to your next trip!
You will likely never forget the first time you try an Australian
Riesling: as the white wine explodes with hints of apricot, peat
and a particularly sweet-and-sour green grape flavor.
Aussie Wines With Your Food
Compared to German Rieslings, the Aussie variety is drier, with
less sweetness and more aroma. Chardonnay is a relatively new
variety in Australia, but you can find smooth or crisp varieties,
depending on which vineyard you buy from. The Australians sometimes
pair Chardonnay with Semillon white wine.
Semillon itself is a drier white that goes well with fish. Unlike
Semillon, which is produced in humid regions of Australia, the
Pinot Grigios come from the cooler climate regions and are a crisper,
more tart wine, as opposed to aromatic and subtle.
Red Wine With Your Choice Of Meat
Red wines, like Shiraz, are very popular and include ripe fruit,
tannins and spices that complement beef, lamb and pork entrees.
Pinot Noirs are smooth reds with a long finish that is delicious
with ham, duck and cheese.
Drier in nature, Cabernet Sauvignon has a bold taste and deep
flavor, and is often popular as a "Bordeaux Blend,"
mixed with Merlot.
Wines From The Barossa Valley, Clare Valley And Coonawarra
With so many different Australian climates, the wine-producing
regions run far and wide. Just North of Adelaide, which is in
the southeast region of Australia, you’ll find Barossa Valley,
an area known for its hot and dry climate and for producing Shiraz
and Cabernets.
North of the Barossa Valley, you’ll find the hotter and drier
wines of the Clare Valley, which produces the strongly flavored
Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet. The most southerly vineyard in
the South Australian appellation is Coonawarra, which produces
excellent Cabernet Sauvignon, with its limestone subsoils and
low heat.
In eastern Australia, near Sydney, the Hunter Valley is known
for tasty Shiraz, but also its Rosemount Reserve Chardonnay and
Pinot Noir. South of Adelaide, the McLaren Vale produces full-bodied
Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet. In case you haven’t figured
it out, Adelaide is a good starting point if you want to add an
Australian wine experience to your next vacation!
Better Budget Wines From The Hunter Valley
Looking to experience Australian wines for less? Budget Travel
Magazine recommends one of several options. First, you can explore
Hunter Valley, a small country town north of Sydney and the oldest
wine-producing region. Here, you’ll enjoy free wine tastings from
among the 80-plus wineries.
You don’t have to buy a bottle to try Semillon, Shiraz, Chardonnay,
Cabernet or Pinot Noirs here. Rothbury Estate, Tamburlaine and
McGuigan Wines shouldn’t be missed. Twenty-eight miles north of
Adelaide, you can explore The Barossa wine region, a quiet valley
with over 50 wineries.
Sparkling Wines From The Yarra Valley
Be sure to check out Penfolds, Seppelt and Yaldara Wines, where
you’ll experience Shiraz, Grenache, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc
and Frontigac, as these are just some of the favored varieties.
Thirdly, the Yarra Valley, which is situated 38 miles east of
Melbourne, is one of Australia’s best cool-climate wine regions,
featuring sparkling wines, Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Cabernets.
Try Domaine Chandon, De Bortoli and Coldstream Hills while you’re
in town. Of course, there are extravagant wine-themed vacations
for the real die-hards, but if you’re just looking for a good
self-guided smattering of what’s offered, then you can certainly
do-it-yourself on a dime. Most tastings are free, while others
charge just $4.50 for two or three samples and a tour.
About the Author:
Barry J Smallhorn has written a number of articles on cocktails
and food recipes including Seafood
Recipes,
Jerky Beef Meat Recipe, Make
Jerky, Food
Recipes, Fresh
Seafood, Tuna
Fish, Caviar,
Potato
Recipes, Caviar,
Organic
Gift Baskets.
Keep a lookout for more articles on this website.
Did You Know This About Wines?
Are you a fan of great wines but do not know how to appraise
the wine for its value? Do not be dismayed. There are resources
out there in retail stores and on the internet that can teach
you how to appraise the value of wines and even show you how to
make your own wines.
There are even books that teach you how to grow your own grapes!
Think of how impressed your friends will be when you present them
with a present of wines from your own garden.
From the grapevine to the table you can learn how wines are valued,
made and even how the grapes are grown. Before long you will be
a connoisseur of wines and will be able to wow your friends with
your knowledge. All it takes is the right information and you
will be on your way.
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