Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, intensely flavoured wine that's been used in some of Australia's most famous wines. Australia is home to what are believed to be the oldest productive Cabernet vines in the world, and today it's the third most planted variety, after Shiraz and Chardonnay.
Here in Australia, around 60% of wine drinkers prefer white.
A South Australian cabernet sauvignon that sells for $40 (£21) has been named the best in the world at the International Wine Challenge. The 2021 Riddoch Pastoralist beat wines from more than 20 other countries to win the International Cabernet Sauvignon trophy.
Almost all are household names: Grange, Hill of Grace, Leeuwin Estate, Mount Mary, Wendouree, Cullen, Torbreck, Grosset, Brokenwood, Wynns, Giaconda. They are rightly seen as not only the finest examples of Australian wine, but among the greatest wines in the world.
What is Australia's most popular wine? Shiraz is the most widely cultivated and most popular grape variety in Australia wine country. Besides from Shiraz some popular red wines are made off Cabernet Sauvignon grapes or the cool-climate loving Pinot Noir cultivated mostly in Victoria.
1 – Yarra Valley, VIC. Anointing just one Wine of the Year from the 9129 wines tasted for this edition was no trivial task. This year, the complexity of the challenge was compounded to an all new level by bringing the full tasting panel in on the final decision.
Australia wine has a slightly warmer climate and makes more graceful full-bodied wines with a high degree of acidity and alcohol. Wines made in the cooler southeastern part of Australia (Yarra Valley and Adelaide Hills) have more earthy tones and fruity flavours.
A $10 riesling has been named one of Australia's best wines. Tolley riesling from the Clare Valley in South Australia was crowned the best white wine under $20 at Dan Murphy's annual Decoded Wine Awards.
Cabernet Sauvignon The most planted and popular red wine grape in the world, Cabernet Sauvignon is responsible (on its own or in blends) for some of our most prestigious wines.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is most likely the most popular wine. Even though it is being produced in different regions all over the world, it originated from the famous Bordeaux region. The red color of the Cabernet Sauvignon is more on the darker side, slightly inclined toward plum hues.
Pinot Noir is the ultimate crowd-pleaser at dinner parties. Its light body and fruit-forward flavors make it a perfect pairing partner with many different dishes. Pinot Noir is also a wine style that will appeal to the palates of both entry-level dinner guests and wine enthusiasts.
In 2021, wine exports from Australia to the United States amounted to over 454 million Australian dollars, making it the leading export destination for Australian wine.
Wine is the most popular choice of alcoholic beverage, with 43.0% of adult Australians drinking wine in an average four weeks, followed by beer at 35.2% and spirits at 30.8%.
Australia makes soft fruity wines from well-known varieties that newcomers tend to enjoy, but also more refined styles that appeal to aficionados. It has a free trade deal with China. And a good reputation for food safety. It attracts waves of students and tourists from China who get a taste of the local wines.
Generally, the accepted characterization is that wines from the New World (such as Australia) tend to be more ripe, fruit-forward and round than wines from the Old World (such as France), which might show more structure and non-fruit notes of flint, spice and earth, but there are plenty of exceptions.
South Australia is home to some of the oldest continuously producing vineyards in the world, so it's no surprise that its regions are regarded as some of the country's best.
Known as the wine capital of Australia, Adelaide is surrounded by some of the best wine regions in the country, many of which are just a short drive from the city.
Famous for: bold red wines and a rich winemaking heritage. If you know about Australian wine, chances are you know about the Barossa Valley. Less than an hour's drive from Adelaide in South Australia, it's one of the world's great wine regions, famous for its full-flavoured Shiraz, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Shiraz is often thought of as the classic Australian red wine. The red wine grape varietal is simply Syrah – which originates from the Rhône Valley in France – under a different name. Its new moniker came after its arrival in Australia and the name gradually morphed into its New World variant.
Australian red wine is incredibly popular amongst wine aficionados for their depth and character. While the country is world-renowned for its refined Shiraz, it also produces other great reds like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, and some exquisite blends.
Some Australian wines, like the Shiraz from Penfolds Grange and Henschke Hill of Grace, have an aging potential of over 20 years. Some of the country's oaked Chardonnay wines can be aged for over five years. Their price appreciation in the secondary market also makes them a great investment choice.
Cabernet Sauvignon and shiraz are built for ageing and can be cellared for between 10 and 20 years (and beyond). Cellaring classics include: Cullen's Diana Madeline, Vasse Felix's Tom Cullity, Henschke's Hill of Grace and Penfolds' Grange. These 40 wines have a few things in common.