| Forward thinking winemakers and grape growers | | | | and the Russian Saperavi. In addition there |
| are changing the face of the winemaking | | | | are also grapes of Australian origin and |
| industry in Australia by bringing in new | | | | mutations of others that are being |
| varieties of grapes and experimenting with | | | | experimented with.The traditionalist |
| them in new regions. The Australian wine | | | | vineyards and winemakers are aghast over the |
| industry has actually exploded onto the | | | | developments of some of these more aggressive |
| international scene in recent years with the | | | | winemakers and their use of such a wide |
| success of making quality wines and offering | | | | assortment of varietals to develop new wines |
| them at very good prices, a feat that has led | | | | but the fact of the matter is that these new |
| many to brand the wines down under as being | | | | pioneers are introducing new wines that could |
| lackluster.Just as with the original pioneers | | | | very well birth the next premium Australian |
| of Australia, the innovative free spirit of | | | | Wine.These forward thinking winemakers are |
| the winemakers is causing a revolution in the | | | | taking cast off and lesser thought of grapes |
| country with a large assortment of grape | | | | and blending them into much desired wines. |
| varieties being experimented with.Although | | | | The Viognier variety underwent a similar |
| there are well over a hundred varieties of | | | | process in Europe in the 1960s when it was |
| wine grapes grown in Australia, the wine | | | | nearly gone with just a few acres in the |
| industry leans heavily on the classic | | | | Rhone Valley and now it is all over France |
| varieties which are all of French origin. The | | | | and California as well as being used by over |
| whites are Chardonnay, Semillon, Riesling, | | | | a hundred winemakers in Australia alone.If |
| and Sauvignon Blanc with the reds being | | | | you want to take a vacation to Australia and |
| Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, | | | | are a wine connoisseur you should consider a |
| Shiraz, and Grenache. Another thirty | | | | vacation in November when the Australian |
| varieties consisting of thirteen whites and | | | | Alternative Wine Varieties Show is held on |
| seventeen reds also contribute and are | | | | the banks of the Murray River in Midura. |
| considered second tier varietals according to | | | | During this event you will find grape growers |
| the leading wine journalist-author James | | | | and winemakers from all over Australia and |
| Halliday. The other seventy or so varieties | | | | New Zealand showing and introducing new |
| are only used by about ten wine producers, | | | | products with the goal of introducing a |
| but these are also the producers who are | | | | growing variety of new wines to the wine |
| pushing the Australian Wine Industry into a | | | | loving community.Gregg Hall is a consultant |
| new era.Some of these are exotic grape | | | | for online and offline businesses and lives |
| varieties such as the Graciano from Spain, | | | | in Navarre Florida. |
| the Petit Manseng of France, Italy's Lagrein, | | | | |