Why to Drink Australian Wine

We talk a lot about HOW to Drink Australian, but you should also know WHY you should want to drink Australian wine. You may already be a convert, or you may be an equal opportunity wine drinker, but either way, read on, and find out why Australia is the most exciting place in the world to be drinking wine from. 

1. Confluence of Innovation & Tradition

We like to say, there’s never been a more exciting time to drink Australian wine. The reason is this: Australia has had over 200 years of continuous experience grape-growing and winemaking, a robust tradition that has yielded not only top-notch knowledge and skills, but many of the oldest vines in the world. Combined with a young generation who is hungry to use that tradition to innovate as dynamically as possible, Australia is making some of the greatest wines in the world.

Did you know? Australia has many of the world’s oldest vines, including the oldest syrah, cabernet sauvignon, mourvèdre, grenache, pinot meunier, semillon, and more. These old vines make for complex and balanced wines that can be farmed with less inputs. 

2. Unparalleled Value 

It’s a cultural thing: Australians are self-deprecating, hard on themselves, and rarely boastful. How does this translate to the wine industry? Australian wineries compete to make wines that represent value, rather than wines that represent ego and high prices. We’ve put Australian wines side by side with much more expensive counterparts from other places in the world (think Adelaide Hills chardonnay vs White Burgundy and Yarra Valley Cabernet vs Napa), and the Aussies have always come out on top.  

Did you know?  There’s a phenomenon in Australia called the ‘tall poppy syndrome’ which describes when people are ‘cut down’ because they’ve become too big on themselves

3. Ethical Farming & Labor Practices 

We all want to drink something that we can feel good about. Australia has some of the best labor practices in the world, paying its workers (even seasonal agricultural workers) a living wage, providing health-care, and even depositing into a robust retirement fund for them. Australia also has half of the world’s certified organic farmland, and its farming practices (especially among the wines we’re choosing!) are consistently top of class, prioritizing organic and sustainable practices. 

Did you know? Australia has something called superannuation, which is basically a 401k that employers are required to automatically pay into on top of an employee’s salary (and at about 10%!) It sets Australians (and visa workers, too) up well for retirement. 

4. Reliable Packaging 

Australians do not suffer cork-taint. Cork-taint is that pesky spoilage that can happen with natural cork, where the wine ends up smelling and tasting like wet cardboard. It happens in about 5% of bottles under cork closure, which is a huge failure rate! Australians have turned to stelvin (screwcap) closures and DIAM (composite cork) almost entirely, two closures that deliver the wine as it was intended. 

Did you know? It’s a common fallacy (even among wine professionals) that wines under screw caps don’t age well--that they’re stuck in time because the closure is too inert. This is not true! 

5. Stylistic Balance 

Australian wine has gotten a bad rap as being big, bold, and alcoholic. While some producers and regions have played into this, Australia is not fundamentally set up to produce these styles. In fact, the high sunlight hours help the wines find full ripeness at lower alcohol levels! If you plant the right grape in the right place and pick at the right time in Australia, the conditions allow for wines that have an immense depth of flavor combined with total freshness. The perfect combo! 

Did you know? Most Australian wine regions see more sunlight than their temperatures would indicate. Take Tasmania: about the same growing season temps as Champagne (read: super cold!), but with 1000 more annual sunlight hours. 😎

The Whys Are Aligned

This was a long one, and we appreciate you making it to the end! If you’re convinced that you could do with a little more Australian wine in your life, join the How to Drink Australian Wine Club today! Help further the reach of these delicious, ethically-made, and value-packed wines.