About Australian Winemaking

Australia is quickly becoming a leading region in the wine making industry. Alongside widely regarded regions like Italy, Argentina and Northern California, Australia enjoys a Mediterranean climate and the right quality of soil to allow for top notch and highly respected wines. 

Beginnings of Australian Winemaking

Grape vines for winemaking first arrived in Australia when settlers came from Europe in 1788. The first area to wine production was the coastal region around Sydney which, at the time, was only a young, fledgling settlement. The first commercial Australian vineyard was established near this time by John Macarthur.

Growth Through the Nineteenth Century

It was not long before Australian wines soon began getting recognized internationally and winning awards. Australian winemaker Gregory Blaxland shipped over 100 liters of wine to London in 1822 where it won the silver medal by a major arts society. Just five years later, Blaxland went on to win the gold Ceres medal.

As European settlement of Australia grew more widespread, so did the planting and growth of vines throughout the Australian countryside. By the early 1900s, nearly 4.5 million liters of wine, mostly dry and red varietals, were being shipped from Australia to the UK. After World War II ended, Australia saw a major influx of European immigrants arriving, which then brought an added growth of wine culture to the country. This essentially resulted in the development of the modern Australian wine industry.

Current Australian Wine Industry

The years between 1996 and 2007 saw tremendous growth in Australian wine exports as wines produced from Australian wineries saw increasing acclaim and demand internationally. More overseas investors began showing interest in Australian wineries while Australian companies began taking financial control in overseas wineries - Chile and France, for example.

Historical Significance

Overshadowed for many years by Italy and Napa wine country, few know that Australian grapevines are actually some of the oldest. In fact, Australia played a major role in saving the European wine culture. As disease spread through Europe in the nineteenth century, a great number of the continent's major vineyards were destroyed. As a saving measure, some vines were brought to Australia and replanted. These transplanted vines were preserved through new techniques developed by Australian viticulturalists and went on to thrive.

Australian wine producers are responsible for developing wine making methods that use fewer chemicals. Australia is also responsible for developing the wine cask.

Top Australian Wineries

• Wolf Blass


• Penfolds


• Orlando


• Seppelt


• Peter Lehmann


• Yalumba


• Krondorf


• Hardys


• Wynns


• Rosemount Estate