Most Popular Wine Regions of Australia

Broadly, wine regions of Australia are in 6 different states. These include South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. Australian wine comes from these regions, some of which have a long history of cultivating grapes for different types of wines. There are about 60 wine producing regions in Australia. South Australia contributes to about 50 percent of total production whereas the New South Wales and Victoria contribute about 30 and 15 percent respectively.

Barossa Valley: Situated north of Adelaide, it is home to Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Riesling varieties of grapes. Clare Valley: Located north of Barossa Valley, it is known for Riesling wine varieties. Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon also grown. McLaren Valley: It is located south of Adelaide. Grape varieties grown are Shiraz, Cabernet, Sauvigning Blanc and Chardonnay. Adelaide Hills: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz are grown here. Limestone Coast: This region further has two important sub-regions for growing red and white varieties of grapes. These include cool climes of Coonawarra which is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon red wine grape varieties and Padthaway which is known for white wine varieties of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling. Hunter Valley: North of Sydney, it is known for Semillon grapes. Mudgee: Close to the mountainous region of Adelaide, it is best known for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. Orange: The higher reaches of this region have cool climate which is suitable for producing a number of white wines in Australia. Murray River: Particularly famed for good wines of Australia, this includes Mildura region. Rutherglen: Located in north-eastern parts of Victoria, this region is famed for its Moscato and Tokays varieties of wines. Goulburn Valley: Situated right in the center of state of Victoria, this is a region famed for its red wine grapes, especially Shiraz. Heathcote: This is located north of Melbourne and is known for its Shirazes and Cabernets. Yarra Valley: Close to Melbourne, the capital city of Victoria, the region is noted for growing different varieties of grapes. These include Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Sauvignon Blanc. Mornington Peninsula- Geelong: Flanking the Port Phillip bay in southern Melbourne, this region is noted for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine. Margaret River: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and its blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are some of the top varieties grown in this region. Great Southern: Riesling is the prime variety of grape which is grown in this region. Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay are also famous. Tasmania: This island state is known for providing grapes ideal for sparkling wine varieties of Australia. Queensland: Grapes for wines are grown in the higher reaches of mountains in this state since lower reaches are warm and not suited for growing wine-grade grapes.

Additional Read: Australian Wine Regions: The Complete Guide