http://www.getaexporter.com/red-apple-exporters-in-usa/
After the boom years of the late 1990s, the Australian wine industry has spent recent years working to maintain its growth and improve its reputation in the international wine market. A recent drought, plus increased competition from other up-and-coming wine hotspots such as South America and California, has made things difficult for Australia’s smaller wineries. Meanwhile, some of the larger Australian wine companies continue to do well, which has contributed to an unfortunate perception in some circles that Australia exports nothing but cheap, mass-produced wine.
To fight back against this perception, several of Australia’s major winemaking families formed an alliance in the summer of 2009. Known as Australia’s First Families of Wine, the organization seeks to restore Australian wine’s reputation to the high status it had a decade ago.
In the spirit of these efforts, I’d like to present a few of the best (affordable) Australian wines by some of Australia’s smaller winemakers:
• D’Arenberg d’Arrys Original Shiraz / Grenache: Descended from a popular Burgundy that South Australia’s D’Arenberg has been making for nearly a century, this blend was crafted in honor of the wineries founder Frances d’Arenberg. This bright red mix has hints of coffee and caramel, with a bold palate and an aroma of cinnamon and plum. The MacLaren Vale, where the D’Arenberg family is headquartered, is well-known for its fearless yet tasteful red wines, and this one is sure to be remembered as groundbreaking contribution to the region’s long tradition.
• De Bortoli Noble One: From the New South Wales- and Victoria-based De Bortoli wine family, this classic dessert wine is a favorite among Australian wine-lovers and international consumers who are in the know about quality wines from Down Under. With a creamy, orange palate and a nectary aroma, this tastefully sweet wine goes well with fruity or nutty desserts, but it also works as a stand-alone treat after a meal.
• Tahbilk Marsanne: One of the oldest winemakers in Victoria, Tahbilk makes a wide variety of wines but is best known for its white wine varieties originating from the South of France. Among their several high-quality white wines, this Marsanne is one of their oldest and best. With a bouquet of apple and honey, plus a creamy, citrusy palate, newer vintages of this wine are predicted to age beautifully.
• Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Sémillon: Based in New South Wales’s Hunter Valley, the Tyrrell winery is one of the most exciting winemakers among Australia’s First Families of Wine. This French style Sémillon blends Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay to make a wine that is light and delicately sweet, with a warm and subtly spicy taste that carries hints of cinnamon. Like many of the best Australian wines, this Sémillon ages well into a complex, endlessly rewarding maturity.
• Yalumba The Signature Cabernet/Shiraz: From the beautiful Barossa Valley of South Australia, Yalumba brings us this classic red blend of Cabernet and Shiraz, two of grapes that grow better in Australia than anywhere else. With a dark but fruity aroma and a powerful, smoky finish, this wine is easy to love, but it grows more and more appealing with time.
Rodney Ian is an Australian writer and businessman who enjoys exploring Australian wine and writing wine reviews in his spare time. To read Rodney’s blog on Australian wine and receive tips for buying wine online, visit Rodney Ian’s wine blog at http://www.buyingwineonline.com.au/.