What are the Wine Regions of Australia?
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Here's a quick reference for you to use anytime.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
My home state, so we will start here....
1. Barossa Valley
Famous for: Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, old-vine wines and fortified styles.
Typical styles: Rich, full-bodied Shiraz; powerful Cabernet; ripe Grenache; GSM blends; increasingly interesting Mediterranean varieties.
Plenty of Ancient Vine history here, and plenty of cellar doors to explore.
2. Eden Valley
Famous for: Riesling and cool climate Shiraz, however there are still some cabernet vines there so look for EV Cab Sav too.
Typical styles: Elegant, high-acid Riesling; mineral, long-lived whites; refined Shiraz; Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
A higher altitude and a bit more annual rainfall gives Eden Valley a remarkable elegance across many styles, without lacking in flavours.
3. Clare Valley
Famous for: Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Dry, lime-scented Riesling; concentrated but fresh Shiraz; structured Cabernet.
There's even a Riesling 'push bike' trail if you are keen.
4. Adelaide Hills
Famous for: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine styles too.
Typical styles: Lovely aromatic whites, elegant Chardonnays oaked and unoaked, cool-climate Pinot Noirs and Traditional Method sparkling wines but look for Pinot Gris and Gruner Veltliner.
5. Adelaide Plains
Famous for: Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: in amongst some of SA's richest market garden soils, there's pretty ripe easy drinking red styles and Mediterranean style wines with some growers doing the organic thing.
6. McLaren Vale
Famous for: Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Full-bodied Shiraz, Mediterranean-style Grenache, GSM blends and rich Cabernet.
Being fairly close to the coast, the diurnal temperatures favour Mediterranean styles, perhaps more than the inland vineyards.
7. Langhorne Creek
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Rich and fairly soft Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Cabernet blends and full-flavoured red styles.
Langhorne Creek is a big area, often overlooked yet their Cabernet is particularly noted for its lovely rich fruit and generally easy drinking soft tannins.
8. Currency Creek
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and a few alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Influenced by coastal temperature variations, they produce nice reds and fresh styles of aromatic whites.
9. Southern Fleurieu
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Mediterranean-influenced reds and fresh coastal whites.
10. Kangaroo Island
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Typical styles: Maritime-influenced reds, crisp whites and boutique small-production wines.
11. Coonawarra
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Medium-to-full-bodied Cabernet with cassis, blackberry and fine, firm tannins; also Shiraz and Merlot.
Terra Rossa (red earth) and limestone are the main influences in the vineyard that make their Cabernet styles so unique.
12. Wrattonbully
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Structured, cool-climate reds, particularly Cabernet, with good cellaring potential.
13. Padthaway
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Typical styles: Full-bodied reds and rich, fresh whites.
14. Robe
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
Typical styles: Maritime-influenced reds and fresh, elegant whites.
15. Mount Benson
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Coastal, medium-to-full-bodied reds and fresh whites.
16. Mount Gambier
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and cool-climate varieties.
Typical styles: Fresh, cool-climate wines with natural acidity.
17. Riverland
Famous for: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Mediterranean varieties.
Typical styles: Ripe, fruit-driven wines and approachable everyday styles.
The Murray River provides much of the water needed in this area, with some growers growing huge tonnage per acre, depending on the styles they are aiming for.
18. Southern Flinders Ranges
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.
Typical styles: Warm-climate reds and aromatic whites.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Western Australia's wine growing scene is in the south west and Great Southern parts of WA. Often referred to as Australia's Bordeaux, there are good Sem Sav Blancs and Cab Merlots coming out of Margaret River, meanwhile Great Southern, Pemberton and the other regions offer a diverse range of cool and coastal influence styles. Great for a road trip.
19. Margaret River
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Elegant, powerful Cabernet; complex Chardonnay goes alright; Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blends are lovely.
20. Great Southern
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Typical styles: Structured Cabernet, spicy Shiraz, long-lived Riesling and elegant Chardonnay.
Denmark and beautiful Albany seem to have that coastal influence assisting their styles and further inland you find Frankland River and Mount Barker.
21. Pemberton
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Cool-climate, elegant wines with fresh acidity.
22. Manjimup
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
Typical styles: Cool-climate whites and structured reds.
23. Geographe
Famous for: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Maritime-influenced whites and medium-to-full-bodied reds.
24. Blackwood Valley
Famous for: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Typical styles: Cool-climate reds and aromatic whites.
25. Peel
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Maritime-influenced wines ranging from fresh whites to richer reds.
26. Swan District
Famous for: Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Shiraz and fortified wines.
Typical styles: Ripe whites, full-flavoured reds and traditional fortified wines.
Possibly some of WA's oldest vines here, might have to ask the locals...
NEW SOUTH WALES
27. Hunter Valley
Famous for: Semillon and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Delicate young Semillon that can develop extraordinary bottle-aged complexity; medium-bodied Shiraz; Chardonnay and Verdelho.
Think Semillon, think Hunter Valley, and boy a lot of them age well and taste sensational, some folks don't know what they are missing out on.
28. Mudgee
Famous for: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Typical styles: Full-flavoured reds, fresh Chardonnay and increasingly diverse varieties.
29. Orange
Famous for: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Cool-climate aromatic whites, elegant Chardonnay and vibrant Shiraz.
The cool climate here is possibly because of the higher altitude.
30. Cowra
Famous for: Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Ripe but fresh whites and medium-bodied reds.
31. Riverina
Famous for: Semillon, Shiraz, Chardonnay and botrytis dessert wines.
Typical styles: High-volume commercial wines as well as excellent sweet wines made from botrytised Semillon.
Surprisingly there is a stack of Semillon planted here, possibly for assisting with premium cask production...
32. Canberra District
Famous for: Shiraz and Riesling.
Typical styles: Spicy, medium-bodied Shiraz; crisp, age-worthy Riesling; Cabernet Sauvignon.
Possibly the only 'district' in Australia that wanders across the two states of ACT and NSW.
33. Hilltops
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Structured cool-to-moderate-climate reds.
34. Gundagai
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Ripe, structured reds and fresh whites.
35. Southern Highlands
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and cool-climate varieties.
Typical styles: Elegant, fresh, high-acid wines.
36. Tumbarumba
Famous for: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Typical styles: Cool-climate table wines and premium sparkling wine base.
37. Shoalhaven Coast
Famous for: Chambourcin, Verdelho, Shiraz and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Coastal wines and alternative varieties.
38. Perricoota
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Ripe, approachable inland reds and whites.
39. New England Australia
Famous for: Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: High-altitude, cool-climate wines.
40. Hastings River
Famous for: Chambourcin, Verdelho, Chardonnay and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Warm-climate coastal wines.
VICTORIA
Victoria is extraordinarily diverse, ranging from the warmer inland Murray areas to some of Australia's coolest premium wine districts.
41. Yarra Valley
Famous for: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Elegant Pinot Noir, refined Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and increasingly sophisticated Syrah.
This is medium bodied style territory, but complexity is all there too.
42. Mornington Peninsula
Famous for: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Typical styles: Elegant, maritime Pinot Noir; refined Chardonnay and sparkling wines.
43. Geelong
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Cool-climate Pinot and Chardonnay with structured reds.
44. Macedon Ranges
Famous for: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wine.
Typical styles: Very cool-climate, high-acid wines.
45. Sunbury
Famous for: Shiraz.
Typical styles: Medium-bodied, savoury Shiraz with distinctive regional character.
46. Gippsland
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wine.
Typical styles: Cool-climate wines with fresh acidity and elegance.
47. Goulburn Valley
Famous for: Shiraz, Marsanne and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Rich reds and distinctive Rhône-influenced whites.
48. Heathcote
Famous for: Shiraz.
Typical styles: Deeply coloured, powerful yet refined Shiraz with dark fruit and mineral character.
Cambrian soils and technically a cool climate, makes Heathcote shiraz very approachable.
49. Bendigo
Famous for: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Rich, full-bodied reds with ripe fruit.
50. Pyrenees
Famous for: Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Structured, spicy reds with good ageing ability.
51. Grampians
Famous for: Shiraz.
Typical styles: Peppery, savoury, medium-to-full-bodied Shiraz.
The subregion Great Western is particularly famous for traditional-method sparkling wine as well as Shiraz.
52. Henty
Famous for: Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir.
Typical styles: Cool-climate, fresh and elegant wines.
53. Rutherglen
Famous for: Muscat.
Typical styles: Australia's legendary fortified Muscat styles—from young and fresh through to intensely concentrated, mature wines.
A lot of fortified history here to be proud of, I have seen some liquid gold from here.
54. King Valley
Famous for: Prosecco, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Italian varieties, sparkling wine and cool-climate whites.
55. Beechworth
Famous for: Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Typical styles: Premium, small-production Chardonnay and powerful yet elegant Shiraz.
56. Glenrowan
Famous for: Shiraz, fortified wines and other Rhône varieties.
Typical styles: Rich reds and fortified styles.
57. Alpine Valleys
Famous for: Italian varieties, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Typical styles: Diverse cool-climate and alternative-variety wines.
58. Strathbogie Ranges
Famous for: Chardonnay, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling.
Typical styles: High-altitude wines with freshness and acidity.
59. Upper Goulburn
Famous for: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: Cool-climate, high-altitude wines.
60. North West Victoria
Famous for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and fortified wine.
This broad zone contains the Murray Darling and Swan Hill GIs.
61. Murray Darling
Famous for: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and other high-volume varieties.
Typical styles: Fruit-driven, approachable wines.
62. Swan Hill
Famous for: Shiraz, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Typical styles: Ripe, fruit-driven wines.
63. Central Victoria
This zone contains several important regions, particularly Bendigo, Goulburn Valley, Heathcote and Strathbogie Ranges, each with its own regional identity.
QUEENSLAND
Queensland has a comparatively small wine industry, but its two recognised regions are increasingly interesting for adventurous wine drinkers.
Side Note: Castleglen Liqueurs is quite quirky and worth a visit.
64. Granite Belt
Famous for: Shiraz, Verdelho, Viognier and alternative varieties.
Typical styles: High-altitude wines with increasingly experimental plantings.
65. South Burnett
Famous for: Shiraz, Verdelho, Chardonnay and Chambourcin.
Typical styles: Warm-climate reds, aromatic whites and alternative varieties.
TASMANIA
Tasmania
Tasmania itself is a protected GI rather than being divided into a collection of separate current regional GIs in the national register.
Famous for: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wine.
Typical styles: Elegant Pinot Noir; refined Chardonnay; premium Traditional Method sparkling wine; Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
Their Sparkling Wines are brilliant, and I hope they never plant any more vines down there, just keep rare treasures rare please.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Canberra District
The Canberra District GI extends across the ACT and into New South Wales, so it is best thought of as a cross-border wine region rather than an ACT-only region.
Famous for: Shiraz and Riesling.
Typical styles: Cool climate loveliness and Rieslings should age gracefully under the bed, or in the cellar preferably.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory is listed as 'state GI'. Not really a recognised wine region or zone as such. Given the climate, could they do two vintages in one year, yes maybe, but would you want to? It is beautiful beer drinking there for much of the year...