Swirl the glass and tilt its contents away from you. Do they appear ruby red or a deep mauve? Straw yellow or light auburn? Now check for the aroma: does it remind you of pressed flowers, citrus, oak or something else? Wine tasting is a fascinating art and, of course a heady experience. Small wonder of all ‘specialty vacations’ wine tours are probably the most popular.
Swirl the glass and tilt its contents away from you. Do they appear ruby red or a deep mauve? Straw yellow or light auburn? Now check for the aroma: does it remind you of pressed flowers, citrus, oak or something else? Wine tasting is a fascinating art and, of course a heady experience. Small wonder of all ‘specialty vacations’ wine tours are probably the most popular.
Wine tasting tours to countries like France and Italy happen to be the most popular. Of late, though, Australia has emerged as a major attractor of Bacchus worshippers. A survey (2006) by Tourism Research Australia states that nothing less than three million tourists visit at least one winery in Australia.
Following is a list of some prominent wine areas state-wise in Australia:
New South Wales
Hunter Valley wineries are the most popular in New South Wales, indeed all of Australia. A verdant spot lush with vines, the best time to visit Hunter Valley is during autumn. The Pokolbin area in this luxuriant valley is the chief vine-growing area including Semillon, Shiraz, Cabernet Avignon and Chardonnay. Wine lovers, even ordinary vacationers, love to throng this valley and savor its natural bounties.
The Mudgee Valley, also in New South Wales, which is not as famous as Hunter Valley is, nonetheless, a great place for wine tasting. Savor organic and hand-crafted wines of this region while soaking up its eye-catching landscape.
Victoria
If you only have the time to explore Victoria we strongly recommend you start with the Yarra Valley, which launched the wine industry in the state way back in the 1800s. Do visit the Bianchet Winery and sample its rather rare white wine, Verduzzo. The Balgownie winery in the Bendigo region, on the other hand, is simply great for wines like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Several tourists will vouch for the exhilaration they undergo during the ‘Yarra Valley Cellar Door’ tours which allows them not only a wholesome wine tasting experience but also offers great historical insights.
Other places that will surely interest wine vacationers in Victoria are the Mornington Peninsula, Sunbury and Geelong.
Queensland
For a quite a while Queensland wines jostled for shelf space with the more popular wines of New South Wales and Victoria. That is no longer the case as Queensland vintners have finally won due recognition and are now exporting to 16 different countries. The tepid climate of the state and its stunning landscape render your wine vacation absolutely heavenly.
Start with the Heritage Winery, some three hours away from the state capital Brisbane. Home to several award-winning wines including the Premium Oak Chardonnay and Private Reserve Shiraz, the Heritage Winery is based in the fragrant laid-back town of Mt. Tambourine.
You may also sample some great wines from the state’s Granite Belt region, especially the Golden Grove Estate home to the first Shiraz grapes. The wine in this region tastes different – mellower somehow – because of the nature of the soil.
The list which, obviously, does not cover all the wineries is designed to give the reader a fair idea of what to expect. Make your forthcoming trip to Australia a heady one!
Author Bio:
Angelina Christy is a travel author who has written many articles that keeps on guiding the travelers throughout the world. Angelina herself is an avid traveler who has traveled more than 22 countries. She also talks about travel options like Flight to Lagos and Flight to Accra that explains how tourists can minimize the cost of their travel fares.