Having A Sip Of Australian Wine

When going to Australia, travel visa holders would surely want to have a taste of good wine. And the country is noted for the quality of wine produced in its wineries. In fact, the wine industry is so popular that it has also become a major tourist attraction.

As a bit of history, the Australian wine industry began in much the same time as the country itself. The first grape vines were planted in New South Wales in 1788. however, wine production from this initial plants turned out unsuccessful. It took more than thirty years before wine made in local plantations would be available for widespread distribution.

In the 1830's the wine industry has began its fast development that it was soon able to export its product to other countries. In the mid-1850's, Prussian immigrant began settling in what is known today as Barossa Valley, one of Australia's top wine producing regions. Today, Australia is one of the top suppliers of wine to the US market, delivering more than 20 million cases annually. The country is also at the forefront of developing modern wine making procedures.

At present, the Australian industry uses around 130 varieties of grapes for wine production. The most popular of these varieties are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, with Shiraz being the top choice among planters. Many of the top plantations in the country has pioneered a lot of grape planting and growing techniques that are now being used in wineries elsewhere around the world. Australian production has also become the benchmark for quality testing many different varieties of grapes.

As mentioned, one of Australia's top wine producing centers is the Barossa Valley. It is located about 80 kilometers northeast of the city of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. The valley is a major agricultural region, with grapes for wines being one of its main crops. And with that, it is not surprising that you will be able to find some of the biggest wine making companies in the country here.

One such company is Penfolds Wines which operates three plantations in the valley. They are most well for being the makers of Penfolds Grange (though the brand is now owned by the Foster's Group), considered as Australia's most famous wine. It is also considered as one of the most expensive in the country, with a bottle of the 1952 vintage selling for more than AU$ 50,000 to collectors. What makes the Penfolds Grange unique is that it is made from fruits harvested from a wide area rather than coming from a specific place, as is most expensive wines.

But for those, such as most of us, who can't afford such expensive wines, Australia's wine centers is still pretty much a tourist destination. Here, you will be able to tour the wine making facilities, as well as see first hand how it is processed. You might also be lucky enough to get a free taste of some of the best wine samples, which is certainly more than enough to quench your thirst.

Source:
Australian Wine, Wikipedia article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_wine
Image Source:
http://www.clickforaustralia.com/Graphics/WineMap.gif