Red Wine and Its Varieties

Australia is the fourth largest wine producinga place as an old world classic wine. Found
country in the world and boasts of great qualitygenerally in medium to cool regions, the wine is
wines from major producers like Foster Group,powerfully flavored and blackcurranty. In regions
Constellation wines and so on. The red grapes ofMargaret River and Coonawarra, it is at its minty
Australia are their greatest asset and the mostbest. Victoria's Yarra Valley is also home to some
cherished wine is Shiraz. With the abundance ofgood wine producers with a pure fruited elegance.
sunshine in Australia, the grapes ripen perfectly toSouth Australia's McLaren Vale and Mudgee of
give that special taste to the Australian wine. It isNew South Wales are popular for their berry
believed, the warmer the wine region, the bettercharacters with a tinge of chocolate. These wines,
the red wine. But, the cooler areas are also wellif stored in the cellar for one or two years can
suited for the lighter and delicate red wine. Thereget immensely rich and well matured.
are several mild climate regions that are home toGrenache: This red grape variety of Rhone is as
Australian specialty of sparkling red wine popularlypopular as Shiraz for juicy rose and the fiery
known as "Shiraz".fortified wines. With some old vines as old as first
Shiraz: Shiraz produced from the same grapes asplanted 150 year ago, the growers have come to
Syrah in France's Rhone Valley were imported inrealize its potential, as the most delicious cherry
Australia in 1832. It prospered in the Australianand raspberry filled wines. They are famous for
turf and became a great source of high qualitythe sweet ripeness and with a high alcohol level
wines. The versatility it displays to transformand low tannin would warm you to the toes.
depended on the region and its growth isPinot Noir: Pinot Noir wine is known to throw a
something special. There are several elegantchallenge to growers in any part of the world and
styles that have emerged because of the climate,have been highly successful in the coolest regions
like the elegant peppery cool climate style inlike Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, Yarra Valley and the
Heathcote, Victoria to cull out intense flavors withGreat Southern Australia. The best wines are
a spicy style of Coonawarra and Margaret River,known to be the ones produced from vines that
the powerful minty one from Clare Valley, sweethave not been heavily harvested and from those
and chocolaty one of McLaren Vale and musculargiven a gentle maturation in oak barrels.
ripe fruited of Barossa. There is no other variety,Pink or Rose Wines: These rose style wines are
which can match the mulberry, spicy, slightly wildpopular, as they are best consumed, when chilled
flavor of Australia's Shiraz wine.on a warm Aussie day. These wines are made
Barbera: Barbera and Sangiovese are the mostred grapes which are pressed and some juice is
welcoming choice of Australia's Italian variety.left in contact with the skins for some time to
Barbera is best suited for the country and itsgive it a pink blush. They taste best, when fresh
desirable fruitiness and can give a great taste,and vibrant.
when grown in areas with hot climate.There are several red wine varieties like
Cabernet Franc: It is a bit lighter in style thanMourvedre, Merlot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and
Shiraz but with a cherry and wild strawberryZinfandel that have a cult following of their own.
fruitiness and makes for a great drink for theThe wine scene changes constantly and you will
warmer weather.find several varieties emerging and produced by
Cabernet Sauvignon: It is considered the bestAustralian wineries.
wine from the noblest red grapes and has found