Australia's Wine Country

Australian wine-making has earned a reputation for excellence, mostly due to the efforts over many decades of the vineyards scattered across southern Australia, where the soil and climate are far more conducive to grape-growing than the northern climes. Apart from the high quality of many vintages, what makes wine tasting in Australia so enjoyable is the accessibility and scenic nature of the country's many wine regions. Visitors meander between cellar doors by car and bicycle, sampling numerous wines in bucolic settings and enjoying gourmet food in the restaurants of larger establishments. South Australia's Barossa Valley is arguably the ...

Australian wine-making has earned a reputation for excellence, mostly due to the efforts over many decades of the vineyards scattered across southern Australia, where the soil and climate are far more conducive to grape-growing than the northern climes. Apart from the high quality of many vintages, what makes wine tasting in Australia so enjoyable is the accessibility and scenic nature of the country's many wine regions. Visitors meander between cellar doors by car and bicycle, sampling numerous wines in bucolic settings and enjoying gourmet food in the restaurants of larger establishments. South Australia's Barossa Valley is arguably the heartland of Aussie viticulture and is famous for its reds, particularly Shiraz. In the southwest of Western Australia is Margaret River, where the premium drop is Chardonnay, while Semillon is favored over in New South Wales' Hunter Valley. Around Rutherglen in Victoria, producers concentrate on fortified wines, and fruity flavors abound in Tasmania's Pipers River region.

About the Expert

Paul Smitz has coauthored a dozen guidebooks for Lonely Planet on places such as Australia, New Zealand, Malaysian Borneo, Brunei, various Pacific Islands, Prague, and Brussels.