popular/"important" australian red wine regions

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:53 am

If you were forced to paint with a broad brush, would you add or remove anything from the list below? I am basically interested in compiling a list of regions that have certain grapes associated with them, Coonawarra Cabernet is probably the strongest example.

I don't really drink pinot, so rather interested in guidance there...

Barossa - Cabernet, Shiraz
Coonawarra - Cabernet
Grampians - Shiraz
Hilltops - Shiraz
Hunter Valley - Shiraz
Margaret River - Cabernet
McLaren Vale - Cabernet, Shiraz
Mornington Peninsula - Pinot
Yarra Valley - Cabernet, Pinot

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:57 am

with a broad brush is McLaren Vale really known for Cabernet?

Clare Valley - Shiraz?

Loztralia · Post by **Loztralia** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:04 pm

Tassie pinot?

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:06 pm

Loztralia wrote:Tassie pinot?

Is there a specific region or regions you can suggest? Or are the stylistic differences negligible? I really know very little about the wines of Tasmania.

griff · Post by **griff** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:08 pm

Recently got a pamphlet from the National Wine marketing strategy I assume doing the same thing. I wish I could remember the pamphlet but you should get hold of it.

cheers

Carl

mf · Post by mf » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:14 pm

Don't know how far popular/"important" extend but possible others:

Heathcote (and Bendigo) - Shiraz
Macedon Ranges - Pinot (at least in the case of the best examples)
Geelong - Pinot (again probably in the case of best examples)
Adelaide Hills - Shiraz
Canberra - Shiraz
Great Southern - ?? (don't know answer but assume it is popular/"important")

If you split out Tasmania would you refer to Northern and Southern Tasmania and it would still be Pinot for both.

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:15 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:with a broad brush is McLaren Vale really known for Cabernet?

I think it is borderline.

Eden Valley Shiraz should probably stand alone come to think of it.

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:17 pm

mf wrote:Don't know how far popular/"important" extend but possible others:

Heathcote (and Bendigo) - Shiraz
Macedon Ranges - Pinot (at least in the case of the best examples)
Geelong - Pinot (again probably in the case of best examples)
Adelaide Hills - Shiraz
Canberra - Shiraz
Great Southern - ?? (don't know answer but assume it is popular/"important")

If you split out Tasmania would you refer to Northern and Southern Tasmania and it would still be Pinot for both.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think they are all good, although for the purposes of my evil plot, most will be walking the line between being in or out.

Partagas · Post by **Partagas** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:39 pm

Claire Valley Shiraz

Loztralia · Post by **Loztralia** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:17 pm

winetastic wrote:
Loztralia wrote:Tassie pinot?

Is there a specific region or regions you can suggest? Or are the stylistic differences negligible? I really know very little about the wines of Tasmania.

There's only "north" and "south", I thought? And pretty much pinot for both so far as I know.

Sharkey · Post by **Sharkey** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:43 pm

Clare Valley - Riesling

Edit - Oops - didn't notice the topic said 'red wine'

Rawshack · Post by **Rawshack** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:15 pm

mf wrote:Don't know how far popular/"important" extend but possible others:

Heathcote (and Bendigo) - Shiraz
Macedon Ranges - Pinot (at least in the case of the best examples)
Geelong - Pinot (again probably in the case of best examples)
Adelaide Hills - Shiraz
Canberra - Shiraz
Great Southern - ?? (don't know answer but assume it is popular/"important")

If you split out Tasmania would you refer to Northern and Southern Tasmania and it would still be Pinot for both.

I'd add Chardonnay to the Macedon Ranges - Bindi, Curly Flat are making (in mine and my mate Jancis's opinion) world class chardonnay

Great Southern - Riesling?

Whoops from me too. That'll teach me not to read something properly

Teddy · Post by **Teddy** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:59 pm

Rutherglen Durif

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:09 pm

I would associate the Adelaide Hills with Pinot more than Shiraz personally.

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:34 pm

Langhorne Creek - Shiraz, Malbec

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:13 pm

winetastic wrote:
Craig(NZ) wrote:with a broad brush is McLaren Vale really known for Cabernet?

I think it is borderline.

Some fantastic cabernets from McLaren Vale over the last few years, ripe, but good structure and varietal. McLarenVale cabernet won the JWT in 2007 (Scarpantoni) and the top table wine of the NWS in 2008 (Ch Reynella).

Tristram Shandy · Post by **Tristram Shandy** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:15 pm

Some very important additions to your existing list

Barossa Valley - Grenache, Mataro
McLaren Vale - Grenache

TS

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:31 pm

Great Southern should be an automatic inclusion in your list. Planagenet, Howard Park, Forest Hill all produce excellent cabernet sauvignon, shiraz and riesling, the latter two chardonnay as well (not sure about Plantagenet chard, never tried it).

cheers

daz

Shiraz Man · Post by **Shiraz Man** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:38 pm

Here is my list:

Barossa - Shiraz, Grenache
Eden Valley - Shiraz
McLaren Vale - Shiraz, Grenache
Clare Valley - Shiraz
Coonawarra - Cabernet Sauvignon
Adelaide Hills - Shiraz, Pinot Noir
Margaret River - Cabernet Sauvignon
Great Southern - Shiraz
Hunter Valley - Shiraz
Orange - Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
Canberra - Shiraz, Pinot Noir
Grampians - Shiraz
Pyrenees - Shiraz
Bendigo - Shiraz
Heathcote - Shiraz
Rutherglen - Durif
Yarra Valley - Pinot Noir
Mornington Peninsula - Pinot Noir
Macedon Ranges - Pinot Noir
Gippsland - Pinot Noir
Geelong - Pinot Noir
Tasmania - Pinot Noir

Apologies for those regions I have overlooked.

Naturally there are exceptions to the above. For exaple, in good vintages, the Borossa Valley can produce very good Cabernet Sauvignon. The same goes for Coonawarra, which can produce excellent Shiraz.

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:09 pm

Good list Shiraz Man.

To add:

Beechworth- Shiraz
Mudgee- Shiraz

Drum roll...

Griffith/Riverrina- Yellowtail :wink:

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 5:26 am

Some fantastic cabernets from McLaren Vale over the last few years, ripe, but good structure and varietal. McLarenVale cabernet won the JWT in 2007 (Scarpantoni) and the top table wine of the NWS in 2008 (Ch Reynella).

Yeah I think of Wirra Wirra and a couple of others but generally I think Shiraz for the McLaren. I probably just dont have the exposure to McLaren Cab vs Shiraz that Aussies do.

Think of the flagship, signature wines for McLaren vale wineries. To me they are mostly Shiraz - DArry, Coriolle, Kays, Fox Creek.... my memory is fading, its been years since i was there!

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:05 am

Red Bigot wrote:
winetastic wrote:
Craig(NZ) wrote:with a broad brush is McLaren Vale really known for Cabernet?

I think it is borderline.

Some fantastic cabernets from McLaren Vale over the last few years, ripe, but good structure and varietal. McLarenVale cabernet won the JWT in 2007 (Scarpantoni) and the top table wine of the NWS in 2008 (Ch Reynella).

I tend to agree with you Dr Bigot, on our trip to "the vale" a couple of years ago I was more impressed with the Cabernet dominant wines on the whole. The region is definitely more renowned for its Shiraz wines however...

winetastic · Post by **winetastic** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:07 am

Shiraz Man: Excellent list, might grab a few additions from there, cheers.

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:47 pm

deleted

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:26 pm

Polleters Cab Sauv 2005 (Moonambel/Pyrenees) is an excellent wine (only two bottles left). I still have fond memories of Coldstream Hills Reserve Cab 2000 - the Yarra Valley can produce excellent cabs. These days Tahbilk cabs seem to be more popular than the winery's shiraz' - I've only one bottle each of the ESP Reserve 2002 reds - have little experience of Mitchelton reds apart from some of the Preece range.

That's a pretty comprehensive list of Victorian wine regions BTW.

Cheers

daz