Wines are now regular features in special occasions and gatherings and in hosting dinners at home. Sometimes, they also form part of the ingredients when cooking and can be a great companion when unwinding. Among the most popular wines, the Australian red wines are some of the most sought after. It is widely believed that these wines started drawing attention only in the middle of the 1990s althoughits beginnings can be traced from as back as in the early 1800s.
From all of the Australian red wines, one of the most familiar is the Shiraz. This dark-skinned variety of grape is also known by the name Syrah. The dry variety it produces can either be varietal or blended.
Another famous Australian red wine is the Cabernet Sauvignon. This is created from a variety of grape that is raised in virtually all winemaking regions on the planet. The fruit is very small and is thick-skinned. Just like many other grapes, its origins are in the Bordeaux Regions in France.
Next in the list is the Pinot Noir. The fruit, whose French name means “black pine,” is regarded to produce some of the most exquisite wines in the world. And again, like other choice grape varieties, it originated in France, although it is now cultivated in many other parts of the world.
Merlot is another big name in the Australian red wine list. One of the most widely planted grapes, Merlot is estimated to be the third most grown grape variety covering an area of more than a quarter of a million hectares worldwide.
The fabulous list also includes the Tempranillo, a black grape variety with Spanish origins. Called the country’s “noble grape,” it ripens earlier than most red grapes. The fruit produces exceptional flavors and aromas.
Capping the outstanding list are the Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Sangiovese, Mourvedre, and the Zinfandel. All the elegance and complexity come to fruition with an excellent mixture of abundant sunlight, warm and cool temperatures, diverse soil types, and committed workers. And these can all be found aplenty in that great continent down under.
Australian red wines are surely some of the best on the planet. Have a sip and find out why.
