History of winemaking in Australia

Australia is currently one of the foremost wine making nations, with a quality reputation throughout the world, but this has not always been the case.  Australia has had a series of peaks and troughs in both production and quality over its history but it is currently experiencing a period of sustained growth and reputation that started in the early 1980’s and continues today.  Australia currently holds 4-5% of the worlds wine market and this is rising steadily.

The origins of wine making began back in 1788 when vine cuttings where brought to shore by Captain Arthur Phillip at Sydney Cove.  These initial vines proved unsuccessful but success stories where not far around the corner when the settlers ventured further a field and found good quality soil that combined  with the strong sun and favorable overall climate led to the beginnings of the Australian wine industry in land around Parramatta and close to the current Hunter Valley region near Cessnock.

The major growth in the Australian wine industry  began with the introduction of European immigrants from Germany and Switzerland, bringing with them the knowledge and experience needed to start cultivating the excellent growing conditions, particularly in the cooler southern regions of the country, specifically regions such as the Barossa in South Australia.  By the turn of the 19th century there were vineyards many of today’s major viticulture areas.

The original wines where heavily influenced by the European settlers who grew them,  this changed over time as tastes and economic circumstances changed.  Australia, due to it’s British background has until recently had more of a taste for beer (Four X anyone?) which has led to a difficult market for Australian wineries to sell into.  For years the fortified wine was the main stay of the market and still holds a large proportion of it today.  At many wineries you can pick up excellent port and desert wines at very good prices.

Tastes changed around the 1960’s as Australia matured as a nation, bringing with it greater disposable income and an increased desire for quality wines. Add to this an increasing demand from overseas and the beginnings of a revolution were seeded.  New wineries began to spring up around the nation in new and traditional areas, leading to a greater variety and increase in quality. 

Australia continues to grow and is currently a favourite in the American, European and Asian Markets. The increase in world awareness has led to many smaller wineries able to turn a profit selling to the local markets as well as abroad.  It is amongst these that some great varieties and quality of wine can be found, wineries that don’t have the reach of the larger multinational owned big boys.