GUIDEBOOK TO THE WINE REGIONS
Featured Regions
Mornington
Peninsula
YARRA
VALLEY
GEELONG
HENTY
The Rest of the Guidebook
New England
Stretching from the Queensland border in the north, all the way to the town of Tamworth in the south, the New England wine region is one of the largest in New South Wales. It surrounds the city of Armidale and a string of historic towns such as Glen Innes and Tenterfield, as it reaches north to Queensland.
Hilltops
Surrounding the township of Young in the Southern New South Wales wine zone, the Hilltops region is bordered by the Gundagai region to the south-west, and the Canberra District to the south-east, with the Cowra and Orange wine regions to the north. It’s about two hours’ drive from Canberra, and four hours from Sydney.
Great Southern
One of the largest wine regions in Australia, the Great Southern covers an area that spans 100kms north to south, and 150kms east to west. It is comprised of five sub-regions - Frankland River, Porongurup, Denmark, Mount Barker and Albany - with much of the region still unclassified, opening the door for the possibility of future sub-regions.
Tumbarumba
Situated in the western foothills of the Snowy Mountains, sandwiched between the Victorian border to the south, and the Gundagai region to the north, sits the Tumbarumba wine region. It's centred around the town of Tumbarumba, which lies about halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, approximately 120kms southwest of Canberra.
Pemberton
Among all of the world-class regions in Western Australia, Pemberton is somewhat of a hidden gem. Tucked away along the coast, south-east of Margaret River, it is one of Australia's youngest wine regions, but also one of the most exciting.
Canberra District
Despite its name, the Canberra District wine region lies mostly in New South Wales. It encircles the city of Canberra and encompasses the northern part of the ACT, before pushing north into NSW, taking in the towns of Yass, Murrumbateman and Lake George, and down past Queanbeyan in the south.
BURGUNDY - MACONNAIS
The Mâconnais, Burgundy’s southernmost region, offers ripe, round wines thanks to its warm climate. Known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Gamay, it’s gaining attention from top producers and delivers great value with diverse soils and rising star winemakers.
Burgundy - Côte Chalonnaise
The Côte Chalonnaise is a region on the rise with the prices of wines from the Côte D’Or going through the roof. This region still produces wines in more or less the same style as its northern counterpart.
Loire Valley
The Loire valley is easily the most diverse region in all of France. The region follows the Loire River which comes in from the west coast which is the area with higher rainfall and maritime influence known for textural Muscadet, then further inland to the appellations best known for Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
Chablis
The wines of Chablis are adored the world over - by the average punter to the cunning connoisseur. These wines are fresh, mineral and detailed and pair well with a variety of foods. The point of difference between Chablis and the Côte D’Or is generally the fact that Chablis rarely sees new oak or batonnage.
Burgundy - Côte d’or
The Côte D’or is home to some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in the world. This region has a rich history dating back to the Romans, but some of the most important developments came under the reign of Charlemagne with monks mapping out the different plots that we know today.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is home to some of the most iconic and expensive wines in the world. This is the home of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot - the foundations of the classic “Bordeaux Blend”. The left bank of Bordeaux is where Cabernet is more dominant and the right bank is where Merlot reigns.
PIEMONTE
Arguably Italy’s most important fine wine region, Piedmont is synonymous with Nebbiolo, Barolo, and Barbaresco. It’s also home to a wide array of other compelling reds and whites that range from the austere to the juicy and joyful.
MOLISE
Italy’s second smallest region, Molise is often overlooked entirely and there is a joke in Italy that “Molise non esiste”. But it quietly produces characterful wines from a mix of native and familiar varieties, particularly in the hilly inland areas.
MARCHE
Often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Tuscany or Abruzzo, Marche is a coastal region producing excellent white wines, particularly from Verdicchio, and increasingly interesting reds from indigenous and international varieties.
LOMBARDY
Lombardy is a large and diverse region best known for the sparkling wines of Franciacorta and the alpine reds of Valtellina. It flies under the radar for many wine lovers, but offers exceptional value and quality when explored in detail.
LIGURIA
Liguria is a sliver of land hugging the coast between Tuscany and the French border. Itssteep terraced vineyards, dramatic sea views and tiny production make it one of Italy’s most charming but least accessible wine regions.
LAZIO
While better known for Rome and ruins than for fine wine, Lazio has a long winemakingtradition and is starting to see a revival in quality. Long-dismissed for its neutral whiteblends