| Wines
An Introduction
A Brief History of Australian Wines
Wine Links
Wine Events In Other Places
An
Introduction
 When
many wine neophytes think of Australia they don't think of
wine. But as any Australian or true wine expert will tell
you, Australia is now one of the great wine growing countries
of the globe. In the past 40 years, Australians have gone
from consuming on average only one glass per person per year
to two cases of wine per person per year. The number of vineyards
has skyrocketed from six companies to 109 local wineries.
Currently, the wine industry employs 16 000 people with
a further 5000 in wholesaling and 8000 in retailing. The industry
generated retail sales of more than 354 million litres in
the twelve months prior to August 1999. And in 1999, Australia
exported 250 million litres of wine worth over $1.2 billion.
In fact, from 1997 to 1999 wine exports grew 22% in value
and 12% in volume.
This sheer increase in volume, value and the exceedingly
high quality of Australian wine has led many experts to conclude
that in the 21st century Australia will be one of the two
great wine producers of the world.
Of course, this raise a big question. Why don't you have
a glass of Australian wine in your hand right now? You can.
Just check out our list of distributors
and retailors of Australian & New Zealand wines.
But before you run out and grab a bottle, how about a little
bit of something to wet your appetite.
A
Brief History of Australian Wine
Most people think Australia is a newcomer to wine making.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The first settlers
planted vines in 1788. For over 200 years there have been
vineyards and vintages from Australia. And because of Australia's
wonderful climate and good sense not to impose a silly experiment
called "Prohibition" on an unwilling populace, Australia
boasts some of the oldest vines in the world. Some wineries
have Shiraz vines over 100 years old.
Australia even began exporting its wines to the world early
on. In 1822 the first shipments of Australian wine were shipped
by Gregory Blaxland from near Sydney to London. The incredible
quality of the wine was already evident then. In 1823, that
wine won a silver medal from what would become the Royal Society
of Arts.
But the industry began to truly take off during the reign
of Queen Victoria. It began in the south near Melbourne in
the 1840s. Production expanded in 1851 with the discovery
of gold.
Western Australia, Tasmania & Queensland have their own
traditions of excellence that date to this period as well.
Fast forwarding a bit, there are now wineries in every state
but the Northern Territories.
Wine
Links
Wine
Events In Other Places
Click
here: WineToday - Events - G'Day in a Glass - San Francisco,
CA
Australia America Association - Washington, DC
PO Box 75195
Washington, DC 20013
Phone 202-588-0221 |
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