More to the Barossa Valley than Shiraz

Of course we all know that the Barossa Valley is world famous for its Shiraz. After all it was here that Johann Gramp established a vineyard in 1847 and named it Jacobs Creek. Joseph Seppelt arrived from Germany a couple of years later and started another Australian brand name. Through thick and thin the Barossa has grown and prospered since then, building its reputation on red wines based on Shiraz. The cooler areas and the nearby Eden Valley proved to be ideal for producing wonderful Riesling.

Over the past few years there has been a gradual shift in thinking: maybe there is more to life than Shiraz. There always has been, of course. Many of the wines we used to call "claret" and we now call dry red included a couple of silent partners along with the Shiraz. We had Grenache and Mourvedre in the blend, but not on the label. But not any more. The wines now proudly proclaim that they now contain these once Cinderella varieties.

The Barossa resembles the Rhone Valley, at least in its varietal composition. So it really is no surprise that we have some wonderful Grenache based roses emerging, and we have a company making a wine as a blend of three red varieties, and three Rhone white varieties, namely Marsanne, Roussanne and Ugni Blanc. Meanwhile another pioneer is growing the Russian Saperavi as well as the unusual Italian varieties Sagrantino and Gargenega.

Check out an alternative varietal view of the Barossa Valley

Granite Belt Spring Wine Festival

The Granite Belt Wine region is holding its Spring Wine Festival over the two weekends of 8-10 October and 15-17 October.
There are the usual wine, food, music and art related events but there is also some different ways to have fun, including a 'Kilts in the Vineyard' Celtic gathering and 'The Great Granite Belt Wine Quest' which ssounds like an old fashioned car rally hybridized with a winery crawl. In fact there is such a lot happening, so check it out at the Granite Belt Spring Wine Festival website.

Wines of the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley Region has undegone a marvelous revival over the past couple of decades. There are world class wines being produced here, mainly from the classic varieties, but, if you know where to look, there are some wonderful wines being made from less common varieties.
Find out more

Wines of the Yarra Valley

Langhorne Creek - an Alternative Varietals Guide

New on Vinodiversity is an alternative guide to alternatie varieites grown in the Langhorne Creek region of South Australia. Check it out.Langhorne Creek - an Alternative Varietals Guide

There also regional pages on the King Valley, Margaret River and teh Granite Belt. Coming soon are pages on the Yarra Valley, Rutherglen, ad the Hunter. Sign up for the Vinodiversity newsletter to keep informed.

You can see it all at wine regions