Sydney’s emergence as a popular wine destination down under over the last decade has been quite phenomenal. With local brews capturing the attention of some of the finest wine connoisseurs in the world, some of Australia’s finest wines are now competing with those of Italy and France.
While Aussies earlier preferred to drink beer at any time of day or night, their tastes have changed with the regular inclusion of the fine reds and white at luncheons and dinner tables. New South Wales and Hunter Valley Regions are the top wine-producing regions.
Here are some of the finest wines you can find at a premium distillery in Sydney.
Chardonnay:
About 70% of the wine-growing regions around Sydney grow Chardonnay grapes. It is a premium white wine, but it gets a unique twist when blended with Semillon in Hunter Valley.
It has a rich oaky flavour and goes best with chicken and fish items on the menu. A regal lunch would be incomplete without a bottle or two of this beauty, and almost every distillery in Sydney has its version of Chardonnay.
Shiraz:
Also known as Syrah in many parts of the world, the Shiraz is a premium red wine. It is a smoky flavour, and Hunter Valley around Sydney has some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines. Some of the Shiraz vineyards around Sydney are over 120 years old. The longer it takes to mull, the silkier it becomes and becomes infused with earthy overtones.
Cabernet:
The Cabernet is also a premium red wine, and is quite similar to the Shiraz with its smoky undertones. However, what makes this wine very distinctive from the other cabernets of the world is that the cabernet grapes are often blended with various other grapes from outside the Hunter Valley region. Hence, the blends have different undertones, and every sub-variety is unique.
Semillon:
The Semillon has been a prevalent variety in and around Sydney for close to a century. It is a dry and sweet white wine. The grapes were first planted in the region around 1830, and the distinct Australian climate adds a twist to the grapes as they grow.
The grapes exude a lemon and grassy flavour when they are young. The wine produced from these grapes is light and great for informal meetings. The mature grapes contain a more intense flavour, with biscuit notes.
Pinot Noir:
A premium red, the Pinot Noir is known for its heady mix of spicy undertones, mixed with a hint of floral scents. It is one of the most elegant and glamorous wines, and the Australian variety is considered one of the best because of its versatility. This is because it has more tannins, has made for a richer mouthful with every sip.
It is quite a complex and powerful wine and fit enough to serve royalty. The grapes are grown around the cooler regions of Sydney. Europeans’ post-war migration to Australia has been a key reason why so many popular European wine varieties are produced in the country today.
The climate down under and the soil type lends a very distinct flavour to the grapes, making them quite independent from their European counterparts. A premium distillery in Sydney makes them stand out with their fermentation process, and you are sure to fall in love with them once you have had a sip.
