New South Wales wine
New South Wales wine is
New South Wales is the second-largest wine-producing state in Australia, accounting for 30 percent of the A$5 billion Australian wine industry[2] In 1994 the various wine regions within New South Wales agreed there was a need to form a peak lobby group to act as the conduit between industry and the New South Wales Government, and to represent New South Wales at the Federal level through the Winemakers Federation of Australia Inc.[3] This body is the New South Wales Wine Industry Association.
Climate and geography
The 800,642 km2 (309,130 sq mi) of the New South Wales land mass covers a vast expanse of varying
The soils of New South Wales are similar varied with
History
According to the writings of
In 1824, James Busby was awarded a land grant for 800 hectares (1,980 acres) along the Hunter River which he planted with grapevines, studying the techniques that he would include in his 1830 book A Manual of Plain Directions for Planting and Cultivating Vineyards and for Making Wine in New South Wales. In 1831, Busby toured Europe and collected over 600 vine samples from across the continent and shipped them back to Sydney. Many of these vines survived the trip and were cultivated in New South Wales and from there spread across Australia, introducing new varieties to the land.[7] By the mid 19th century, the wine industry of New South Wales was thriving. In 1855, a sparkling wine from the region was featured at the Paris Exposition Universelle, the same exposition that introduced the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. The wine was well received and won the honour of being served during the event's closing ceremonies at the state banquet of Napoleon III.[8]
Wine regions
Any grape grown in New South Wales can be included in wine produced under the "Southeastern Australia" appellation which also includes grapes grown in Victoria, Tasmania and parts of Queensland and South Australia. The state has eight larger Australian Geographical Indication (GI) zones which are divided into smaller regions and occasionally, sub-regions as follows:[9]
- Big Rivers – includes the regions of Perricoota, Riverina plus Murray Darling and Swan Hill which are shared with the state of Victoria
- Central Ranges – includes the regions of Cowra, Mudgee and Orange.
- Hunter wine region.
- Northern Rivers – includes the region of Hastings River
- New England Australia
- South Coast – includes the regions of Shoalhaven Coast and Southern Highlands
- Southern New South Wales – includes the regions of Canberra District, Gundagai, Hilltops and Tumbarumba
- Western Plains, no defined regions[10]
Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley has benefited from its close location to Sydney with the
Much of the success of the Hunter Valley region as a wine-producing region can be attributed to the legendary winemaker Maurice O'Shea,[11] who helped pioneer the region as a suitable place for premium wine growing and also helped transform the greater Australian wine industry. From his Mount Pleasant Estate in Pokolbin, he began producing some of the nation's most recognised and acclaimed table wines, helping shift the Australian fascination with spirits and fortified wines to table wines. Mount Pleasant was purchased by the McWilliam family in 1931 and remains at O'Shea's original site, utilising the same vines and vineyards as he did.[12][11]
Hunter Valley Sémillon is typically produced
Cabernet Sauvignon was first planted in the Hunter in 1963 by
Central Ranges
The Central Ranges GI includes the sub-regions of Cowra, Mudgee and Orange. Cowra is the warmest wine region in the Central ranges, located at a lower altitude and on flatter terrain than the other two sub-regions. The area has the potential for high yields, especially when irrigation is employed, which creates varying ranges of quality throughout the region. Chardonnay is the most popular Cowra planting followed by Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot. Most of the vineyards in the Orange region are located on the hillsides near the extinct volcano Mount Canobolas. With elevations between 600–1050 meters (1,969–2,953 ft), Orange is one of the coolest regions in New South Wales. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main plantings here followed by Merlot and Shiraz.[1]
The Mudgee region is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia and has the longest, unbroken history of viticulture in New South Wales. It was first planted in 1858 and was never affected by the
South Coast
The South Coast region includes the
Southern New South Wales
The Southern New South Wales GI includes the regions of Canberra District (including part of the Australian Capital Territory), Gundagai, Hilltops and Tumbarumba. The Tumbarumba region is located in the foothills of the Australian Alps and is the coolest region in New South Wales, performing well with white wine and cool climate varietals. The Hilltops region shares a similar climate with the Orange region of the Central Ranges-warm daytime temperatures and cool nights during the growing season followed by cool autumn days during the harvest season. The Shiraz from the Hilltops region are noted for their black pepper flavours, which are more Old World Syrah like than typical spicy and rich Australian Shiraz.[13] The Canberra District wine region is located in and around the Australian Capital Territory and the city of Canberra. The wine industry of the region is heavily dominated by local consumption and tourism trade. The area shares a similar continental climate with Hilltops and Orange. A wide variety of grapes are grown here including Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Riesling, Shiraz and Viognier.[1] The Canberra winery Clonakilla helped to popularise the resurgence of the Côte-Rôtie AOC style of blending Viognier with Shiraz.[13]
Big Rivers zone
The Big Rivers zone GI is the largest-producing wine area in New South Wales and is similar to the Riverland area of South Australia. The major wine-producing centre is located around the Riverina area, which is also known as the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, and the city of Griffith where the major crush facilities are located. After Riverland, this is Australia's second most prolific wine-producing region and is responsible for many of Australia's box and mass-produced wine brands. Along the Murrumbidgee River, Sémillon and Shiraz are the most popular plantings.[13]
Wine industry
New South Wales presents a sizable market for the consumption of local wines and
References
Citations
- ^ ISBN 0-19-860990-6
- ^ "About the NSWWIA". NSW Wine Industry Association. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ "Membership". NSW Wine Industry Association. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
- ISBN 0-19-860990-6
- ISBN 0-7566-1324-8
- ISBN 0-19-860990-6
- ^ ISBN 0-671-68702-6
- ^ Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Register of Protected Names Section Australian GI Archived 31 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: 13 February 2008
- ^ Wine Australia (1996). "Western Plains Geographical Indication". Wine Australia. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
- ^ a b Maurice O'Shea (winemaker)
- ^ "Our History". 11 April 2022.
- ^ ISBN 0-7892-0883-0
- ISBN 0-15-100714-4
- ^ Tyrell's Wines Murray Tyrell-Biography Archived 23 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Accessed: 12 January 2007
Sources
- ISBN 0207151377.
- ISBN 9781740666855.
External links
- Wine region map
- Julie Watt (2012). "German vinedressers in Camden [1838]". Dictionary of Sydney. Retrieved 4 October 2015. [CC-By-SA]