Australia is a diverse country whose various wine regions and wine styles quite literally offer something for every palate, price range and occasion. Shiraz is what a lot of people think of first, and with good reason — they make a wide array of lovely ones in diverse styles. However, that’s the tip of the iceberg in Australia. Whether it’s white wine or red wine, hot or cool climate, made in gentle or bold and brawny styles, Australia has something to offer. There is also quite a bit of value to be had on our shelves coming from the shores of Australia. Here’s a look at three wildly divergent wines, each delicious in its own right, representing its region and variety well, and all reasonably priced.
Brokenwood 2013 Hunter Valley Semillon – This winery has been around for more than 40 years, and they have been featuring Semillon in their portfolio for more than 30 of those years. The fruit for this wine was picked by hand, and is entirely Semillon. Fermentation and aging was handled entirely in stainless steel. This wine has a suggested retail price of $20. Honeydew melon and Granny Smith apple aromas are prominent on the nose. Lemon zest, bits of nectarine and white pepper are all prominent on the palate, along with hints of grapefruit. The finish is crisp, clean and refreshing with continued citrus notes and a gentle hint of brioche. This wine works well as an aperitif or paired with a lighter foods. Semillon in this style is eminently age-worthy — don’t hesitate to lay this one down for a decade or more and watch its fascinating evolution.
Innocent Bystander 2012 Pinot Noir – Winemaker Phil Sexton has been producing wine in the Yarra Valley since the late 1990s. The area, and the fruit it produced, inspired and continue to inform the Innocent Bystander line. The fruit was picked by hand and destemmed. It’s entirely Pinot Noir. Fermentation took place with native yeasts; 60 percent was aged in stainless steel, the balance in oak. This wine was bottled unfiltered. It has a suggested retail price of $20. Ripe strawberry and mushroom aromas light up the gorgeous nose of this Pinot Noir. The palate here is studded with red fruit, tinged with bits of black fruit as well. Cherry is the dominant characteristic and it’s joined by hints of cinnamon. Sour cherry, rhubarb, earthy chicory and black pepper fill out the gentle finish. This is a pretty good example of Pinot Noir that tenderly envelops your senses and keeps you coming back for sip after sip. At less than $20, if you shop around, it’s a terrific Pinot for the price.
Imprimata 2012 McLaren Vale Grenache – The relatively new producer has been making wine in McLaren Vale, where owner Ben Hammerschlag started looked for the optimal property in 2006. This offering is 100 percent Grenache. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks, and barrel aging followed over a period of 5 months in 2 to 3-year-old barrels. This wine has a suggested retail price of $25. Raspberry, red plum and a subtle hint of charcoal are all part of the super-engaging nose of this Grenache. Purple and red fruit flavors fill the palate; all manner of berry and plum flavors are on display here. Savory herb, black pepper and hints of stewed red fruits emerge on the finish, which has terrific length. This wine has power, grace and the ability to pair up with an incredibly wide array of foods.
Certainly, we should all keep drinking Australian Shiraz; they do a bang-up job with it. However, if the only thing from Australia you’re drinking is Shiraz you’re missing most of the picture. There’s a whole world of wine out there to enjoy. Think of the trio above as a mini introduction into some of the other wines and styles that Australia offers to the wine lovers of the world. Don’t stop here — keep tasting and drinking your way through the deliciousness. Find a grape you love and explore it from a variety of Australian regions, or find a region and explore various wines from there. In either case you’ll learn a lot and have a tasty time.
Check out Gabe’s View for more wine reviews, and follow Gabe on Twitter!
I’ve been upgrading my dress shirts lately, so I was happy to have the opportunity to try out two new shirts from 
