Top 4 Australian Wine Varieties: The Reds

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Hosting the fourth largest wine industry in the world, Australia produces some truly amazing drops and some of our wineries are world renowned. There are wineries in every Australian state and some of our most highly regarded wine regions include Coonawarra, Barossa Valley and NSW’s own Hunter Valley.

In this article series we will take a look at the different wine varieties on offer, their characteristics and what makes Australian wine so special. First, let’s talk about 'The Reds'.

Merlot

Made from dark coloured grapes, Merlot is known for being one of the softer reds and often has a more fruity flavour than its rivals. Its name comes from a French word for blackbird, which references the colour of the grapes it is made from.

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In many regions, harvest of the Merlot grape takes place relatively earlier and it takes less time to mature after being bottled as well. This means that Merlot often has a lower alcohol content and what might be described as a somewhat herbal flavour.

Merlot is popular during meal times as it goes particularly-well with red meat, and it is a good wine for beginners and people new to the pleasures of red wine-drinking. Merlot is grown all over Australia and notable wine regions including Margaret River and Barossa Valley.

Shiraz

Shiraz arrived in Australia (from France and Spain) in 1831 and was planted in the Hunter Region of NSW. Today it is one of the widely enjoyed reds in Australia and is our most popular red grape. Shiraz is grown on over 40,000 hectares in Australia alone.

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In terms of taste, this is a wine that can be very different depending on the region in which the grape is grown and the wine produced. Australian varieties are quite big, bold and aromatic, different from the lighter Merlot. It has become common for winemakers to add white grape know as Viognier to Shiraz, giving it an apricot-like flavour.

Shiraz is Australia’s most widely grown grape and can be found in just about every major wine region. The Cowra wine region in NSW is small by Australian standard but Shiraz’s and Cab Sau’s from this region have repeatedly won national awards in both organic and non-organic varieties.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The red with perhaps the greatest aging potential is the Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine that is categorised by its smooth texture and varied flavours. Aged in oak, it is full-bodied and quite acidic, and you may taste anything from cherry or plum to vanilla, chocolate or coffee in different varieties. In Australia, some even have a eucalyptus tang. The flavours differ from glass to glass and Cab Sav is often blended with other wine varieties.

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One of the main qualities of this grape that is worth mentioning is how easy it is to grow, as it has a thick skin and is more resilient to unfavourable weather conditions, rot, insects and the like. In fact, it has a reputation of taking over an area and pushing other grape varieties out when introduced.

Pinot Noir

In direct contrast, Pinot Noir is known for being one of the most difficult grape varieties to cultivate and tends to require cooler climates. This makes it a grape found in mostly in southern parts of Australia, most notably the Yarra Valley and parts of Tasmania. The grape does prosper in other areas however, including the Orange region in NSW, as this area is some 1000m above sea level. The grape has a thin skin and grows in clusters, making it quite susceptible to various problems.

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The wine it produces however, is not to be missed. Delicate and soft, wine made from young Pinot Noir grapes are often compared to a cherry/berry-like flavour while older varieties can cultivate a mixture of more complex earthy and flavours. This is a wine that is traditionally matched with lighter meals such as vegetables, chicken and fish dishes.

Stay tuned for our blog article next month, which will focus on most popular white wines in Australia. Wish you a successful year in 2016 from everyone at Taste Canowindra!

How a country escape can help recharge the soul

With so many people working longer hours as well as feeling the stresses of everyday life in the big cities, more people are choosing to take vacations and short getaways in the country to take in a little bit of fresh air. This part of the world has some breath taking scenery to look forward to, so why not take what many people call a staycation and enjoy some parts of the country that may surprise you with its natural beauty.

For those with a liking for the great outdoors, New South Wales has some of the most iconic locations to recharge your batteries with national parks, nature walks, rock climbing and a whole host of other activities for those who relax by keeping active. The NSW country side offers a whole host of surprises around each corner including music festivals and country fairs.

Idyllic townships and country life

For those looking to truly unwind in the country and get some much needed rest and relaxation, Canowindra has to be one of the top destinations for both a relaxing and entertaining vacation. This beautiful little township located in the central west of NSW offers a slice of small town life with its many traditional era buildings and roads.

Known internationally for its impressive hot air balloon festival, this remarkable event takes place every year to give the area its nickname as the “balloon capital of Australia”. With many different events to coincide with this famous festival, why not treat yourself and a loved one to a magical balloon ride, with a luxury dinner date later in the evening.

Get a taste for fine dining

Canowindra is well known for its links to local vineyards, wineries, gourmet restaurants and art exhibitions, making this idyllic town a hub for cultural and heritage fans. Featuring many boutique hotels and rooms to rent, Canowindra offers a chance to take the perfect getaway from any part of the country to enjoy the finer things in life.

Taste Canowindra is one of the more popular hubs of entertainment, fine dining and art featuring an accomplished and award-winning chef, a superb collection of locally produced wines and one of the best music scenes in the region. Why not take a trip to visit one of the local vineyards like Rosnay where you will find their latest seasons Reds and Whites that will leave your taste buds tickling for a bit to eat. You can taste Rosnay and all the other local labels at taste Canowindra.

An extended stay is a must for this region and with so many different things to do such as enjoy the growing music scene in the area as well as shop in some of the townships boutique artisanal shops it may be hard to leave. Canowindra is one of those places that stays long in your memories and lives long in your heart well after you get back to everyday life.

Delve into the Rich History of One of Australia’s Finest Wine Regions

Australian wine production has grown into a booming industry from its early beginnings in the early 1820s to become the world’s fourth largest exporter. Being host to over 60 different wine regions, the few that have stood the test of time have gone on to become world famous for their range of high quality boutique vintages.

With recent findings suggesting that wine has long been a great source of vitality, and the sourcing of fine wines becoming simpler than ever, let us take a look at some of the finest wines Australia has to offer.

Hunter valley, NSW was one of the country’s first wine regions, as well as considered to be one of the finest. Starting in the early 19th century, the region is known for its Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. With over 180 years of wine producing vineyards, Hunter Valley offers modern, sophisticated wine producing techniques from some of the world’s most renowned grapes. Producing roughly 2% of the country’s wine exports, but that small percentage makes up in award winning, varieties, styles and vintages.

The Cowra wine region is another specialist wine region that offers perfect conditions to grow the finest of wines. Located in the beautiful Lachlan Valley of NSW, the region is home to over 40 vineyards which include large wine producers and boutique tasting experiences that can compete with anywhere in the world. Falls Vineyard is one particular wine producer that produces limited quantities of high quality, award-winning wines including Chardonnay, Shiraz, Semillon, Merlot and the finest Cabernet Sauvignon.

Some of the finer Falls Wine stock includes the famous Squatter’s Ghost Shiraz ’09 which is rich in colour, produces a dense red berry palate and blends an exquisitely complex bouquet of bramble fruit with tones of earth and eucalypt. The Sparkling Brut Reserve is a prestige win that is produced from a decadent blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to bring a fresh palate of delicate fruit flavours. Combining intensity and finesse, this Sparkling Brut Reserve makes for a fresh cleansing tone to accompany a special meal.

One of the many modern and sophisticated wine growing techniques employed in this wine region include Rosnay wine’s certified biodynamic farm and vineyard. This sustainable biodynamic farm offers a chance to enjoy the fruit of natural labour through its award winning Rosnay wines.

One of the most popular and celebrated Rosnay wines has to be the Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 which received the gold medal at the prestigious Cowra National Wine Show in 2012. With elegance and finesse in taste, this Cabernet Sauvignon is lightly filtered and contains no animal proteins to preserve complexity and aid flavour.

The finest wines of Australia, like all fine vintages not only have the benefits of great taste and luxury appeal, but gives us the added advantage of being good for you. In moderate amounts, studies have shown that a regular, yet small intake of wine can promote longevity of life, help reduce the risks associated with stroke as well as helping to slow brain decline.

The differences in types of wine also show different benefits, with red wine being good for the heart with its tannins which contain procyanidins, whilst white wines provide an excellent source of certain nutrients that are good for the pulmonary system.

With more and more studies coming forward that promote the moderate consumption of wine for their health benefits, why not opt for some of the finer wines that Australia has to offer. With a large range of traditional wines to choose from around the Cowra region as well as more diverse biodynamic vineyard wines, Canowindra offers even the finest wine connoisseurs something to look forward to toasting.  

Canowindra

Canowindra is a small country town which is fondly referred to as the balloon capital of Australia. It has a population of about 2,000 people. The town is located right in the middle of a natural basin, and has a stable weather pattern. The close network of road & lanes that surround Canowindra, make it easy for balloon crews to retrieve balloons & passengers on landing. There are numerous sites and attractions surrounding this small country town and within its precincts.

All amenities needed to make one’s living comfortable and pleasant are readily available here. There are many bed and breakfast cottages plus standard hotel accommodation and guest houses eager to welcome and pamper visitors. Also, lots of fun and leisure activities can be enjoyed in Canowindra from golf to wine tasting , great art galleries and great shopping opportunities. There are caravan parks, swimming pools, and well-kept gardens that are conducive for picnics and other outdoor events.

The fun does not begin and end outdoors in Canowindra as there is a quaint historic main street that houses different shopping outlets where you can purchase antiques , giftware, art and all the necessities of life. Back in the 1990’s an historic discovery of ancient fish fossils which have been preserved under a rock for about 360 million years, saw the founding of The Age of Fishes Museum. This museum (one of only 2 fish fossil museums in the entire world) houses fossils of over 3,000 species of Devonian fish. The town also hosts a wonderful Balloon festival The Canowindra Balloon Challenge which grew out of the Marti’s Fiesta a ballooning event, (one of the biggest balloon festivals in Australia). In 2013 The Balloon Challenge will be host to the National Ballooning Championships.

There are many interesting sites, typical of the tourist attractions in NSW, that attract people to this small country town; some of them include wineries and vineyards, the Pioneer Museum, Morris Park, Groote Cottage, and Escort Rock. Almost everything is available here, and there is so much one can do.