Stock Images  Australian Wine & Vineyards

The Australian wine industry is one of the worlds largest exporters of wine with approximately 750 million litres  being sent to the international export market. The Australian wine industry is a major contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export and tourism.

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There is a $2.8 billion domestic market for Australian wines, with Australian's consuming over 530 million litres annually themselves, with a per capita consumption of around  30 litres. Wine is produced in every state of Australia, with more than 60 designated wine regions totaling approximately 160,000 hectares, however Australia's wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country, with vineyards located in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland. 

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The wine growing regions in each of these states produce different wine varieties and styles that take advantage of the particular soil types and climatic differences and topography. The major varieties being predominantly Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon blanc. Wines are often labelled with the name of their grape variety, which must constitute at least 85 percent of the wine.

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Early Australian winemakers faced terrible difficulties, particularly due to the unfamiliar Australian climate. However they eventually achieved considerable success. Until the late 1970s, Australian wine production consisted largely, but not exclusively, of sweet and fortified wines. Since then, Australia has rapidly become a world leader in both the quantity and quality of wines it produces. 

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In recent years organic and biodynamic wines have increased in popularity, following a worldwide trend. 

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Australia has no native grapes as such, and Vitis vinifera varieties were introduced from Europe and South Africa in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Some varieties have now been bred by Australian viticulturists.

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About 130 different grape varieties are used by commercial winemakers in Australia. Over recent years many winemakers have begun exploring so called "alternative varieties" other than those listed above. Many varieties from France, Italy and Spain for example Petit Verdot, Pinot grigio, Pinot noir, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier are becoming more common. Wines from many other varieties are being produced.

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Australia has almost 2000 wine producers, most of whom are small winery operations. The market is dominated by a small number of major wine companies. After several phases of consolidation, the largest Australian wine company by sales of branded wine was Treasury Wine Estates in 2001–2003 and then in 2004 and 2005, Hardy Wine Company. Hardys, as part of the world's biggest wine company Constellation Brands, had the largest vineyard area and the largest winegrape intake in the years 2001 – 2005.

 

Some of the better known wine producing regions include:

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South Australian Wine growing Areas include the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale, Padthaway, Riverland, Southern Fleurieu, Wrattonbully, 

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Victorian wine regions, 

Alpine Valleys, Beechworth, Goulburn Valley, Grampians, Heathcote wine region, Henty, Mornington Peninsula, Pyrenees, Rutherglen, Strathbogie Wine Region, Yarra Valley, King Valley, Yarra Valley 

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New South Wales wine regions

Hunter Valley, Mudgee, Orange, Riverina, New England, Southern Highlands, Shoalhaven Coast, 

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Western Australia wine regions

Perth Hills, Peel, Swan Valley, Margaret River

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South Western Australia

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Blackwood Valley, Geographe, Manjimup, Margaret River, Pemberton, Great Southern, Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker, Porongu

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