A Guide to 5 of Australia's Great Wines

Did you know that Australia had no native grape vines with which to make wine? Grapes had to be imported from Europe. After years of settler's trials, Australian wine became available for sale in the 1820s. Australia is now the world's fourth largest wine exporter, and the country currently has over 2,000 producers!

Here is a guide to five of Australia's great wines.

Penfolds Grange

Penfolds is without a doubt one of Australia's most popular wine brands. Penfolds was established in 1844 in South Australia.

Penfolds Grange was first made in the 1950s. The winemaker behind Penfolds Grange is Max Schubert. This wine is from the Shiraz grape and a small bit of Cabernet Sauvignon. Penfolds Grange has won many awards and competitions over the years. Wikipedia states that it has over 50 gold medals to its name. In 2005, Penfolds Grange was turned over to the Fosters Group, a more well-known beer brewer.

Penfolds Grange has a rich and fruity aroma, with a deep taste that stays in your mouth. This wine goes great with seafood and red meats. It can be bought from $200 per bottle to over $600 for vintages.

Penfolds St Henri

Penfolds St Henri is a dark red colored Shiraz made by winemaker John Davoren. It has strange floral aromas and tastes smoothly of fruit and berries. There's an after taste of liquorice and oak. The St Henri goes perfect with red meat dinners. Bottles of Penfolds St Henri can be bought from $30 to $50. According to the Brisbane Times on September 5 2009, a bottle of St Henri Claret from 1957 sold for $8110 at a Penfolds Wine Auction. I wonder if the winners will drink the $8K wine or display it?

Rosemount Hill of Gold Chardonnay

Bob Oatley founded Rosemount Estate in 1969. The Hill of Gold is a vineyard in Mudgee. The Rosemount Hill of Gold Chardonnay is a light yellow color, with light floral and slight peachy aromas. A melon and oak flavor takes over the mouth. A bottle of Hill of Gold Chardonnay goes very well with seafood and white meats.

Rosemount GSM

GSM isa term used in Australia for describing a red wine with a blend of Grenache, Shiraz, and Mourvedre. The Rosemount Estate Epicurean Collection GSM contains approximately 50% of Grenache, 40% Shiraz, and 10% Mourvedre. This gives the wine a spicy, fruity flavor. The Rosemount GSM McLaren Vale wine is aged 18 months in American oak, which is reflected slightly in its taste and finish.

Bottles of Rosemount GSM can be bought for around $25-30. This wine would go great with BBQs.

Grosset Springvale Watervale Riesling

Jeffrey Grosset's "Grosset Springvale Vineyard" is located in the northeastern corner of the Clare Valley's Watervale region. The Grosset website states that the 2009 vintage will mark the 29th consecutive vintage of Grosset Watervale Riesling, referred to as 'Springvale.'

Grosset's Springvale Watervale Riesling is stained yellow in color with typical lime, fruit aroma and an even stronger tangy lime taste that makes your mouth pucker. It's refreshing, and I'd recommend it at social gatherings served with cheeses. Grosset Springvale Watervale Riesling can be bought for around $20 a bottle.

Sources:

"Australian Wine," Wikipedia.

"Australia's Wine Industry," Australian Government Culture Portal.

Grosset Wines.

Rosemount Estate.

Penfolds.

"In the red: Penfolds St Henri reaps $8000 at wine auction", The Brisbane Times, Kelsey Munro, September 5, 2009.