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<p>Steeped in winemaking history, the Barossa Valley is home to some of Australia’s most renowned wineries and vineyards. Located northeast of Adelaide in South Australia, the storied region was planted by English and German settlers and boasts remarkable old vines dating back to the 1840s.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>“Community is very much at the heart of this region, and it is the combination of community spirit, old-world vines and generational family grape growers that really makes it special for me,” says Con Simos, Research and Development Manager at Casella Family Brands, Australia’s largest family-owned wine company.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Winemaker’s paradise</h3>



<p>He says: “It’s blessed with diverse terroir, including eight major types of soil, a range of altitudes and some of Australia’s oldest vines.” Embracing both warm-climate and cool-climate growing conditions and a diverse range of soils “makes it ideal for producing a wide variety of wines, from powerful, full-bodied reds to elegant white wines. The Barossa Valley is a winemaker’s paradise!”</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="684" src="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-1024x684.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-83289" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-419x280.jpg 419w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-768x513.jpg 768w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-200x134.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Peter-Lehmann-Wines_Tourism-Packages_CD_Wine-Shelving-4-800x534.jpg 800w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure></div>


<p>Those rich, full-bodied wines are Shiraz, for which the region has garnered a prodigious reputation around the globe. “The age of its Shiraz vines adds a layer of heritage and depth, contributing to their distinctive character and longevity,” says Simos. He also notes that the Eden Valley sub-region produces phenomenal Riesling. Cooler temperatures in this elevated locale contribute to the crafting of vibrant, aromatic Rieslings with a unique expression of the terroir. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sensational Shiraz</h3>



<p>But it’s the world-class Shiraz that continue to grab the headlines. Peter Lehmann’s Stonewell, for instance, stands alongside Penfolds and Henschke as pillars of excellence in the Barossa Valley. “Red wines like the revered Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace highlight the depth, complexity and age-worthiness that have made Barossa wines legendary on the global stage,” says Simos. &nbsp;</p>



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<p>First up of Simos’ favourite Barossa pours is one of the names under the Casella Family Brands umbrella, the 2017 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz. “The secret to Stonewell Shiraz is the outstanding quality of what our founder, Peter Lehmann, refers to as ‘little black jewels’ – grapes drawn exclusively from low-yielding vineyards that produce sparse bunches with tiny, but intensely flavoured fruit,” he notes.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Cool class</h3>



<p>Simos suggests the 2017 vintage will be remembered for its exceptional elegance and purity of fruit. “The palate is rich with fine, pure tannins – an abundance of blueberry, violet, earth and clove. Long and blue-fruited, it demonstrates a cool vintage in the Barossa while retaining stereotypical fruit ripeness and intensity.” He adds: “The oak is seamlessly integrated, almost imperceptible.”&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Stonewell Shiraz is an ideal pairing for rich meat dishes like roast beef, he proffers, and is equally enjoyable alongside cheeses such as Parmigiano Reggiano, aged Cheddar and Grana Padano. &nbsp;</p>


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<p>Another recommendation is 2018 Penfolds St Henri, which has seductive dark fruit and sweet plum aromas with dark chocolate and graphite. He hails its “inky and sinuous palate with plentiful ripe blackberry and mulberry, fine chalky tannins, superb mid-palate viscosity and underlying chinotto and roasted walnut notes”.&nbsp;</p>



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<p>Rounding off his top three most-desired tipples is Henschke 2021 Tappa Pass. A resplendent dark crimson with violet hues in the glass, its fragrant nose opens to ripe plum, black cherry, blueberry, rose petal, anise and mace, with hints of black pepper, cedar, sage and charcuterie. “The palate is rich, plush and complex with blue fruit, mulberry, violets and plum, balanced by layers of fine velvety tannins delivering great depth and length,” he praises.</p>


Barossa Ambrosia: While the whites entice, red is the valley in Australia’s most revered wine region

<p>Traditionally, the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy have been the go-to tipples for Asian oenophiles. Of late, however, the palates of many mainlanders and Hongkongers have broadened enough to acknowledge the hitherto overlooked qualities of the fine wines from Down Under&#8230;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38602" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10.jpg" alt="Australian Wine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-1-10-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
Indeed, it would be pure folly to eschew the diverse offerings of the country’s preeminent wine-producing regions like Barossa Valley, Goonawarra, Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Orange and Yarra Valley. Boasting both award-winning vineyards and bespoke boutique wineries, Australia has steadily carved out a niche in the ever-burgeoning wine industry.</p>
<p>Back in May this year, Australia reached another milestone, when its wines were selected to headline the 2018 Vinexpo Hong Kong, one of the most influential wine and spirits trade fairs in the Asia-Pacific region. Perhaps sensing their moment had come, representatives of 225 Australian wine brands exhibited at the event.</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38603" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7.jpg" alt="Australian Wine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-2-7-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
With the success of the sector obviously of national importance, Australia’s winemakers were accompanied on their journey by none other than Anne Ruston, Australian Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources. Clearly delighted at the welcome accorded in Hong Kong, she said: “The prominence Australia has enjoyed as Country of Honour at Vinexpo Hong Kong has been outstanding. This is the biggest single event Wine Australia has ever participated in overseas and I trust our wine exhibitors and regions will do great business off the back of it.”</p>
<p>As wishes go, Ruston’s seems to have a pretty good chance of being fulfilled. At present, the mainland market is awash with Australian wines, with the figures for March showing a remarkable 51% YoY rise. While it would be nice to credit this solely to the growing international reputation of the Wollongong Riesling, the December 2015 signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement may, admittedly, have also played a part&#8230;</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38604" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26.jpg" alt="Australian Wine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-26-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
Facts and figures aside, why is Australian wine suddenly so favoured by boozers from Beijing to Bazhong and back again? One possible explanation comes courtesy of renowned British wine writer Jancis Robinson, who says: “The Australian Wine Research Institute is one of the most admired centres of wine academia in the world and the graduates who use the results of its intensely industry-linked work are taught to have a healthy respect for science, technology and for what man can achieve when given a free hand.</p>
<p>“Australians revel in their lack of the sort of restrictions that dictate what a traditional European vine grower must grow and how he or she must do so. They can establish a vineyard anywhere they like, and indeed the current distribution of vineyards old and new suggests there are undiscovered pockets of suitable vineyard land all over the southern quarter of their vast country.”</p>
<p><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-38606" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3.jpg" alt="Australian Wine" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Untitled-design-5-3-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><br />
It’s certainly true that Australian winemakers pride themselves on their innovation, having already embraced Virtual Reality as a means of boosting wine tourism, while also producing a range of low-alcohol-containing wines for midday consumption. Given that their French counterparts had a 12,000 year head-start on them (grapes didn’t reach Australia until 1788), the Australian wine industry&#8217;s can-do attitude is seeing them inch closer to the pole position than ever before.</p>
<p><em>Text: Suchetana Mukhopadhyay</em></p>


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Barossa Ambrosia: While the whites entice, red is the valley in Australia’s most revered wine region

Australian Wine: Wines from Down Under that won’t make yer chunder…