Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Rare Varietals Cure Wine Boredom


The future of the Australian wine industry will be shaped by a group of innovative grapegrowers and winemakers who are busily experimenting with new varieties in new regions.

The phenomenal success of the industry in producing quality wine at competitive prices does not need recounting here. But this success has led some critics to brand Australian wine as boring. Nothing could be further from the truth.

A pioneering spirit has been sweeping the industry and this has resulted in a much wider range of winegrape varieties being used.

There are over a hundred winegrape varieties grown in Australia. In a recent book Varietal Wines, leading Australian wine writer James Halliday uses a classification of varieties into classic, second tier and Lesser varietals for both red and white. He identifies four classic whites (chardonnay, semillon, riesling and sauvignon blanc) and five classic reds (cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, merlot, shiraz and grenache).

The Australian wine industry is heavily dependent on these classic varieties. They are all French by the way; although there is merit in the argument that grenache can be regarded as a Spanish variety.

A supporting role is played by a cast thirteen white varieties and seventeen red varieties, second tier varietals in Halliday's language.

For the rest there are about seventy varieties that are used by ten or less producers. Let's call them the under-tens. They look like the also rans.

But this is the exciting part of the industry. These varieties are being used by people are the pioneers who are intent on leading the industry into new territory.

Some of the under-tens are survivors of an earlier age. Chasselas for example is now much less common than it was previously. Others have been introduced into Australia more recently from diverse European sources. Australians will soon be able to sample wine from such exotic varieties as Graciano (Spain), petit manseng France, lagrein (Italy) and Saperavi (Russia).

Yet another group of under-tens are of Australian origin. The Australian research body CSIRO has bred a few varieties to suit particular Australian viticultural niches. Cienna and tyrian are two such varieties

Two varieties, malian and shalistin have also emerged from a vignerons identifying and breeding from sports (mutations) of existing varieties.

Purists recoil in horror at this kaleidoscope of varietal diversity. But a closer analysis reveals that this diversity is a sign of a healthy dynamic industry. It is quite possible that the next success story in Australian wine will emerge from this group of under-tens.

If this seems a bit far-fetched, then look at what has happened to Viognier. In the late sixties the variety was virtually extinct, with just a few hectares in the Northern Rhone Valley. It is now seemingly ubiquitous, with plantings in other regions of France, California as well as in Australia. There are more a hundred winemakers using it Australia.

In November each year the diversity lovers have their day in the sun, both literally and figuratively. While Melbourne is preoccupied with horseracing the Australian Alternative Wine Varieties Show is held in Mildura, on the banks of the Murray River.

Growers and winemakers from throughout Australia and New Zealand will be showing of their products, sharing knowledge and experience as they plan to stretch the boundaries of Australian wine even further.

The end result will be an ever-widening choice for discerning winelovers.

About The Author

Darby Higgs is the founder of Vinodiversity an information resource about wines made from alternative grape varieites in Australia.

darby@vinodiversity.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Outcome Magazine (blog)

French wine, spirits exports enjoy 'spectacular' year
China Post
PARIS--France set a record for its wine and spirits exports with more than 10 billion euros in 2011, a 10.5-percent annual increase, the Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters said on Tuesday. “The sector has weathered the return of the crisis fairly ...
Record year for French wine, spirits exportsOutcome Magazine (blog)

all 15 news articles »


Record set for wine, spirits exports
Vancouver Sun
France set a record for its wine and spirits exports with more than $13 billion in 2011, a 10.5 per cent annual increase, the Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters said this week. "The sector has weathered the return of the crisis fairly well," said ...

and more »


Monvera Glass Decor launches 'Beautiful Colors' with new color combinations ...
Virtual-Strategy Magazine
Monvera Glass Décor, a provider of screen printed labels to the wine, spirits, beverage and food industry, has launched a color awareness campaign called 'Beautiful Colors' to bring new color ideas and combinations to its customers.



Financial Times

LVMH Profit Up On Growth In Wine, Spirits, Fashion, Leather
Wall Street Journal
By Christina Passariello Of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL PARIS (Dow Jones)--LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (MC.FR) has set the bar high for luxury once again. The world's largest luxury-goods group, whose performance is a benchmark for the industry, ...
LVMH annual profit rises 1% on wine, spiritsMarketWatch

all 75 news articles »


Yahoo!7 News

Record year for French wine, spirits exports
Yahoo!7 News
PARIS (AFP) - France set a record for its wine and spirits exports with more than 10 billion euros in 2011, a 10.5 percent annual increase, the Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters said on Tuesday. "The sector has weathered the return of the crisis ...

and more »


Spec's announces new Plano, Fort Worth stores
Dallas Business Journal
Spec's Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods has signed two leases in Fort Worth and announced it is has leased space for a store in Plano. The Houston-based company has leased 30000 square feed of space at Interstate 30 and Eastchase in Fort Worth.

and more »


Dickson Street Liquor store expansion
The City Wire
1 concern was with keeping the historical integrity of the original structure," Waite said. " The additional space will allow us to bring a greater variety of wine, spirits and beer to our patrons. Our wine selection will more than double.”

and more »


Avocados from Mexico Announces "Pantry Pointers and Prep with Cheryl and Suvir ...
Sacramento Bee
Tour at the Georgia Marathon in Atlanta on March 16 and 17 and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Show in Chicago on May 5 to share some of their favorite avocado recipes from Forberg's newest cookbook, Flavor First and Saran's Masala Farm.

and more »


Coles bolsters liquor team
The Shout
Leon announced the promotion of general manager liquor strategy, George Wright, to the role of general manager of merchandise, with responsibility for Beer, Wine, Spirits and Liquor Supply Chain. Meanwhile, Thinus Keeve has moved across from the ...



Avocados from Mexico Announces "Pantry Pointers and Prep with Cheryl and Suvir ...
DigitalJournal.com (press release)
Tour at the Georgia Marathon in Atlanta on March 16 and 17 and the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Show in Chicago on May 5 to share some of their favorite avocado recipes from Forberg's newest cookbook, Flavor First and Saran's Masala Farm.


Google News

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

WineFest Domain Is For Sale - $3,500 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.WineFest.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker