THE BIRTHPLACE OF AUSSIE WINE
New South Wales (NSW) is Australia’s oldest wine region – The first grape vines were brought over on the first fleet and planted at Sydney cove in 1788. New South Wales is also the 2nd largest producer of wine in the country, responsible for 30% of Australia’s wine production.
NSW has a total of 14 sub-regions, over 485 wineries and 330 cellar doors. The regions vine plantings have grown significantly from 15,000 hectares in 1995 to over 40,000 in 2018.
WINE VARIETIES FROM NSW
The diverse and vast range of climates throughout the region provide challenges and produce a variety of styles, each with their unique trademarks.
Over half of the wine produced in New South Wales is white wine varieties. The most famous variety is the Semillion, Particularly from the Hunter Valley. But the region also produces exceptional Riesling and Chardonnay (NSW was the first region in Australia to plant Chardonnay) and cooler climate styles can be found in sub-regions such as Tumbarumba.
Red Wine varieties from New South Wales that are most common are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo and Barbera.
THE HUNTER VALLEY
The Hunter Valley – The oldest continuous wine region in NSW is famously known for its Semillon (An Australian icon variety) and is home to more than 150 premium wine producers. Located just 3 hours north of Sydney, the proximity and accessibility to Australia’s largest city, ensures that the Hunter Valley is one of the largest wine tourism destinations in Australia. Originally known as ‘Hunter River Riesling’, Hunter Valley Semillon is one of the wonders of the wine world. The regions warm and humid climate surprisingly produces Semillon that is initially youthful, crisp with a chalky minerality. The characteristic that really sets the Hunter Valley Semillon apart is this wine’s ability to age and evolve into something truly remarkable thats oily, textural and hugely complex. We have to thank the dedicated and determined winemakers of the Hunter, who take on the challenge year on year which is no small feat. May they continue to produce some of the best wines in the world.
TUMBARUMBA
Tumbarumba is the coolest sub-region in New South Wales and is best known for its Chardonnay. It lies in the foothills of the Snowy Mountains – meaning temperatures can drop below 2º for a quarter of the year The cool climate is ideal for producing wines that are traditionally grown in cold climate wine regions around the world.
