Australia Overview

1. Australia Overview

2. Wine Regions • World's fourth largest exporter of wine with approximately 750 million liters a year • 40% of production consumed domestically • Australia has more than 60 designated wine regions across the country • Australia’s wine regions are mainly in the southern, cooler parts of the country • South Australia • New South Wales • Victoria • Western Australia • Tasmania • Queensland • Has developed a worldwide reputation for its award-winning wines • Major varietals: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Semillon, Pinot noir, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc

3. **South Australia considered “the wine capital”

4. South Australia • Known as “the wine capital of Australia” • Responsible for more than half the production of all Australian wine • Mediterranean climate with long summers, mild winters • Diversity in geography able to produce a range of grape varieties • Cool climate Riesling the Clare Valley • Big, full bodiedShiraz wines of the Barossa Valley • Includes famous regions such as: • Borossa* • Clare Valley* • McLaren Vale • The Adelaide Hills • Coonawarra

5. Barossa Valley • Home to some of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in the world • History of grape growing and winemaking dating back to 1842 • Incorporates both Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, making it one of the only areas with warm and cool climate growing conditions • Renowned for Shiraz – winning accolades around the globe • Other varieties such as Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mataro (Mourvedre), Riesling and Semillon • Riesling has gained an enviable reputation • Characteristic crisp citrus flavors • 2 types of soils: brown, loamy sandy to clay loam and sandy light-brownish grey to dark grey brown soils

6. Clare Valley • Settled in the 1840’s • One of the coolest mainland wine-growing regions in Australia • Most famous for crisp, complex Rieslings • Said to rival the great Rieslings of Mosel in Germany and Alsace • Principal red varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz • Wines are rapidly gaining an international reputation • Series of valleys and uplands with considerable variation in topography and microclimate • cool to cold nights and warm to hot summer days. • Soil structure varies throughout the valleys from red clays and sandy loams to the red loams over limestone • Producing only 3% of Australia's total grape crush • Wins 20% of the wine awards available to Australian vineyards every year

7. Victoria • East of Southern Australia • Smaller state that makes 15% of Australia’s wines • Established a reputation for its sweet, fortified wines made from late harvest grapes • Wine production ranges from rich, fortified dessert wines to delicate Pinot • 500+ wineries • Principal regions include: • Central Victoria* • North East Victoria • North West Victoria • Western Victoria • Port Phillip • Gippsland

8. Central Victoria • Most diverse region in the state • Known for its temperate climate and 500 million year old Cambrian soil • particularly well suited for producing deeply colored, rich Shiraz • Encompasses chilly mountain ranges, humid valley plains, fertile river flats, thick forests and dry, rolling hills • Produces wines that range from rich, ripe reds to full-flavored whites • Famous for: Rhone varietals, Shiraz, cool climate whites, and sparkling wines

9. Australia Overview