Wine
Iconic Australian Wine Regions
Australia offers a vinous landscape that is as diverse as it is wide with wine styles expressing the distinct combination of climate, soil, terrain, and tradition in each of our 85 regions.
But what are the key Australian wine regions? Which wine region is the best in Australia? and which state has the best wine in Australia? Read on as we shine a light on Australia’s very best region-variety combinations and why they are considered iconic.
From Hunter Valley Chardonnay and Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc and blends to Barossa Valley Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet, Australia offers a cornucopia of regional superheroes and celebrated favourites that are just waiting for you to explore.
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BAROSSA SHIRAZ… SOUTHERN STARS
When it comes to Shiraz there is always one leading question – which regions of Australia have the best Shiraz? Shiraz is planted in almost every region in the country, and is made in a range of different styles, however there’s no doubting that Barossa Valley Shiraz is Australia’s most celebrated region-variety combination. It is world-famous for its distinctive characters, consistent appeal, and quality, with its rich and generous flavours setting it apart.
Styles can vary, but generally these are robust, full-bodied wines that are ripe, with firm tannins. The warm, dry climate brings out those fruit flavours beautifully, with the best examples showing balanced acidity and a pure, focussed fruit character.
Our Barossa Shiraz Southern Stars Dozen has all of that, and more, in absolute abundance featuring outstanding expressions from Chaffey Bros., Irvine, Paisley, Schild Estate, Pioneer Road, and CW Wines. Savour the beauty and quality that is Barossa Shiraz, plus save up to $151.
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COONAWARRA CABERNET… CAPTIVATING CELEBRITIES
A Bordeaux variety, Cabernet arrived in Australia in 1824 in the James Busby collection and has turned out to be one of our great reds. It thrives in moderate climates such as Coonawarra, Margaret River, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Langhorne Creek, and cool climates including Eden Valley, Clare Valley, Pyrenees, and the Yarra Valley. So, which wine region in Australia is best for Cabernet Sauvignon? Coonawarra Cabernet is considered world-class.
With its warm, dry summer days and cool to cold nights, Coonawarra’s climate is similar to France’s Bordeaux region, so it’s perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon. Then there’s the famed terra rossa soil that creates truly unique expressions. Just 12 km long and 2km wide, the terra rossa strip is some of Australia’s best grape-growing land.
A flat, low-lying region, Coonawarra’s marriage of geology, climate and location has culminated in a well-earned reputation for the quality of its grapes. It’s almost though Mother Nature herself ordained the region’s diversity millennia ago.
Taste the influence of the terroir in our standout selection featuring the 5 x Gold medal-winning Allegiance Wines The Foreman Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Gold medal-winning Brand’s Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, and more. Add these class act Coonawarra Cabernets to your cellar, plus save up to $193.
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ADELAIDE HILLS PINOT NOIR… WINES WITH ALTITUDE
Which region is best for Pinot Noir in Australia? While Pinot Noir is known to be quite a finicky grape variety, viticulturists and winemakers in cool climate regions including the Yarra Valley, Tasmania, Mornington Peninsula, and Adelaide Hills, have successfully worked out the best soil types, and the ideal sites within each vineyard to successfully grow it.
When it comes to Australian Pinot Noir, there is no mistaking the exceptional quality of Adelaide Hills’ elegant and alluring expressions. Its cool climate and diverse soil types contribute to a range of styles from earthy and savoury with just a dash of spice, bright wines with silken texture and supple mouthfeel.
Adelaide Hills enjoys a number of diverse micro-climates across it two sub-regions of Lenswood and Piccadilly Valley. Its elevation makes it one of South Australia’s coolest regions, which assists in the final stages of ripening, boosting colour and flavour compounds in the grapes.
Partake in the pleasures of Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir with Gold medal-winning Tomich Hill Pinot Noir 2021, plus delicious drops from Chain of Ponds, Riposte, Wicks Estate, and more. Plus, enjoy savings of up to $99.
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MCLAREN VALE GRENACHE… MEDITERRANEAN INSPIRATION
Blessed with a Mediterranean-style climate and a vast number of subsoil types, McLaren Vale absolutely triumphs with Grenache. With many old vines dating back to the late 1800s, not only are McLaren Vale GSMs in high demand, the region’s single expressions are also receiving more and more attention.
Made in varying styles, older plantings produce wines of rich distinctive juiciness and structure, and the variety is right at home in McLaren Vale, and has become a regional speciality.
For Grenache that you’ll want to savour again and again, you can’t go past our delectable McLaren Vale collection featuring a gorgeous 2 x Gold medal-winner from Geddes, and massively appealing expressions from Nick Haselgrove, Wirra Wirra, and more. Plus, enjoy savings of up to $102.
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HUNTER VALLEY CHARDONNAY… HISTORICAL HEROES
One of the Hunter Valley’s claims to viticultural greatness rests in the fact that it’s home to some of the oldest and rarest vine stock in the world – including the world’s oldest Chardonnay vines dating back to the 1860s that are still being nurtured.
When the big, oaky style of Australian Chardonnay took the world by storm in the 1908s, it was largely thanks to the Hunter Valley. As tastes have evolved so too has Hunter Valley Chardonnay, with modern expressions maintaining full-flavoured characters of ripe peach and citrus, but with less obvious oak treatment.
Savour the taste of the Hunter Valley’s incredible history with standout regional Chardonnay from leading local producers including Bimbadgen, Mount Pleasant, Winmark, Jackson’s Hill, and more, plus save up to $141.
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MARGARET RIVER SAUV BLANC & BLENDS - OCEANS OF QUALITY
With its classic maritime-style climate, Margaret River is protected from extreme summer and winter temperatures, making it one of Australia’s most consistent wine regions. Its reputation for Sauvignon Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blends is unsurpassed.
Located around 270km south of Perth, Margaret River forms a large peninsula surrounded by the Indian Ocean on three side. The cooling sea breezes provide the perfect protection from the summer heat, and this combined with prehistoric deep red gravelly loam soils, is why the quality of the grapes is so dependably high.
Experience the regional magic of ‘Margs’ with a Trophy and Gold medal-winning Robert Oatley Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, a barrel fermented Sauvignon Blanc beauty by Domaine Naturaliste, and more, plus enjoy savings of up to $123.
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KING VALLEY PINOT GRIGIO… CROWNING GLORY
Despite being one of Australia’s smallest states, Victoria is blessed with an abundance of grape-growing regions capable of producing high quality wines, and the King Valley is one those regions. It excels at a multiplicity of Mediterranean varieties and styles, however, there’s no mistaking the Italian influence King Valley is so rightly famous for, with Pinot G wearing the crown.
As a region, the King Valley experiences a continental-style climate that ranges from the cold of its upper slopes, to the slightly warmer floors of the valley. While the winters get very cold indeed, summer see warms days and cool nights with katabatic afternoon breezes sweeping down from the high country.
Bask in the presence of King Valley nobility with excellent regional Pinot Gris and Grigio expressions from Chrismont, Gapsted, Symphonia, and more, plus enjoy savings of up to $99.
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CLARE VALLEY RIESLING… SOPHISTICATED STYLE
With a long history of producing brilliant, age-worthy and utterly distinctive wines, South Australia’s Clare Valley is, without a doubt, one of our finest Riesling regions.
The cool nights and the characteristic slate and limestone soils, result in Rieslings that are world-renowned for a trifecta of natural acidity, bright minerality and pure fruit weight. Accounting for one quarter of the region’s annual crush, its youthful and aged expressions are incredible value for money.
Savour their sophistication with stunning examples including a Trophy and Gold medal-winning Sevenhill Inigo Riesling 2022, Gold medal-winning Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling 2022, Corduroy Watervale Riesling 2019, and more, plus save up to $121.
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TASMANIAN SPARKLING… STATELY SUPERIORITY
Australia now stands tall among the greatest Sparkling producers on earth. Champagne and Sparkling expert Tyson Stelzer rates Tasmania as “arguably the greatest region for Sparkling wine anywhere in the world outside of Champagne itself,” and our Wine Selectors Tasting Panellists agree.
Tasmania’s secret to creating exceptional Sparkling wine is the icy chill that emanates from the body of Bass Strait, between it and mainland Australia. These moderating breezes create a long, cool ripening season, allowing intense yet delicate and elegant flavours to develop in the grapes and maintaining a fine natural acidity.
Treat yourself to our Tasmanian Chilled to Perfection Dozen and experience world-class excellence, elegance, and undeniable quality with superior cool-climate Sparkling including Trophy and Gold medal-winning Kreglinger Brut Sparkling NV, and more. Savour Tassie’s splendour today, plus save up to $85
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You’ll find all of these great collections and more in our latest autumn catalogue, Regional Aussie Wine Icons, where we shine the light on some of Australia’s most-celebrated region-variety combinations.