NoleaWorld of Wine

Oceania · Country chapter

Australia

Australia’s wine map is shaped by distance and cooling. Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet show South Australia’s warmer side, while Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania bring ocean air, altitude and a more restrained edge. The useful question is always how each site escapes the heat.

Place
Australia
Regions
7
Producers
60
Editorial basis
World of Wine country guide
Atlas locationAustralia

The regions of Australia

Choose a region to read its guide, then move closer through its named subregions.

  1. 01New South Wales6 producersNew South Wales runs from coastal vineyards to inland plains and alpine sites. Its wine history began with vines planted at Sydney Cove in 1788. Hunter Valley, Riverina, Central Ranges and Canberra District show the state through very different conditions.
  2. 02Other producers7 producersThese producers are listed here with no more specific region shown.
  3. 03QueenslandNo producers listed yetQueensland has two recognised wine GIs, Granite Belt and South Burnett. Granite Belt lies southwest of Brisbane, around Stanthorpe, and has vineyards above 1000 metres, where altitude above 800 metres helps growers work in a subtropical climate. Its principal varieties include Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
  4. 04South Australia33 producersSouth Australia stretches from warm Barossa to maritime McLaren Vale, cool Adelaide Hills and hot Riverland. The state name is broad, so look for the smaller regional name: Clare Valley points to dry, high-acid Riesling, while Coonawarra is closely associated with Cabernet Sauvignon.
  5. 05Tasmania3 producersAt about 41 degrees south, Tasmania is a cool maritime wine region. Vineyards sit mainly in the north and south, with an East Coast stretch from St Helens to Richmond, where shelter from wind and rain matters. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and sparkling wine are useful starting points.
  6. 06Victoria19 producersVictoria spans warm northern and western regions and cooler areas elsewhere, bringing sparkling wine, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Shiraz and fortified styles under one state name. Its regional names point to different climates and wine styles.
  7. 07Western Australia4 producersWestern Australia's wine regions lie mainly in the south-west and Great Southern land divisions. Margaret River is known for maritime conditions, Cabernet, Chardonnay and fresh Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc. Great Southern is broader and cooler, with five subregions, varied climates, and an important place for Riesling and Shiraz.

Keep following the thread

Where to go next

mapSee Australia in the AtlasOpen the country map and move between its wine regions.placeBegin with New South WalesNew South Wales is one of the region guides collected under Australia.learningHow place shapes wineSee how climate, landscape and local choices become part of a wine.