| Why buy wine? In Australia, wine has become the | | | | wine. After initial fermentation, some winemakers |
| new beverage of choice for people in all walks of | | | | choose to ferment in oak, others not to. Using |
| life. Moreover, Australia has developed an enviable | | | | oak affects the reduction of tannins in the wine. |
| reputation amongst wine drinkers and appreciators | | | | Different types of oak-English, American, |
| the world over. au can help you make the right | | | | old-affect the flavour and character of the wine |
| selection of wine for any occasion and to suit any | | | | as it matures to its nominal alcohol level. It is in |
| taste. Listed on our website, you will find some of | | | | the barrel that a lot of transformations in flavours |
| the most celebrated labels and award winning | | | | and character occur, and a great deal of skill is |
| wines and you can make a selection based on | | | | required to know exactly when to bottle the wine. |
| reviews, price and supplier, regardless of why you | | | | Different winemakers have different techniques |
| want to purchase wine. There are essentially | | | | and, while a good wine can't be made from bad |
| three reasons that we can think of why you | | | | grapes, it is largely the winemaker's skill that |
| might want to buy wine: to drink in some social | | | | produces a good wine. Taste One of the ways |
| occasion, to give as a gift, or as an investment | | | | we can tell the quality of wine as judged by its |
| with a realisable future. Buying wine to drink | | | | taste, is whether it has had successes in any of a |
| Winemaker Greg Gallagher at the Charles Sturt | | | | number of wine shows held around the country. |
| University, South Australia, says judging a good | | | | Experts from the wine industry judge wines on |
| wine is simple. "It starts with asking, 'do you like | | | | their quality and medal winners enjoy the benefits |
| it?' " he says, "and finishes with 'did you like it?'" | | | | of being recognised and written about in the main |
| When you have a list of favourite wines, all you | | | | media. While not every medal winner is a wine |
| need to do is find them on au, and you will find | | | | that suits our taste, it is as a direct result of the |
| out where it's sold for the best price. But, | | | | shows and competitions that Australian wines |
| because it's not always easy remembering the | | | | have grown in popularity and quality. At au you |
| name, style and vintage of the wine you enjoy, | | | | can compare many award winning wines. What's |
| it's a good idea to keep a record of wines you | | | | your taste?Regions and style When you are |
| drink that you really like (and those that you'd | | | | shopping for wine, one of the first questions to |
| prefer to avoid), for future reference. When | | | | answer is whether you are choosing a red wine |
| you're buying wine to drink, there are a number | | | | or a white wine. Once you have decided this, you |
| of considerations you might like to bear in mind, | | | | can then start to narrow down the different |
| the first being: what is the occasion? It stands to | | | | styles. Begin with the question of whether you |
| reason that a wine for an intimate dinner with a | | | | are seeking a dry wine or a sweet wine. Styles of |
| partner might be a different choice than one for a | | | | wine are named after the region from which the |
| footy night with the boys. Sharing a wine with | | | | grape originated. In the popular dark reds you |
| someone is a lot more than simply sharing the | | | | have the Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Merlot |
| drink. It's also sharing your taste, your values and | | | | styles that tend to be drier wines. Lighter reds |
| your standards, so it pays to think carefully about | | | | feature Beaujolais, Pinot Noir and Rose styles and |
| the occasion and the company with whom you | | | | these tend toward sweeter wines. Popular white |
| are sharing the wine. A second consideration | | | | wines include the Chablis, Riesling, Semillon, Chenin, |
| might be, what is accompanying the wine? Wine is | | | | Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay styles in dry |
| often enjoyed with a meal, but you might like to | | | | wines, with Traminer Riesling, Moselle and late |
| consider also how the occasion (or meal) will | | | | picked Verdelho in the sweeter styles. Aperitifs |
| develop. Matching the perfect wine with the | | | | include sweet and dry sherry and Marsala. Dessert |
| perfect food and mood is an exhilarating | | | | wines include Sauternes, Muscats and Ports. Many |
| experience, and is often at the heart of great | | | | wines are now presented as blended wines, a |
| memories. You may also want to consider the | | | | way to offer wider variety in taste and a way to |
| ambience of the occasion. A wine for enjoying at | | | | use up less popular grapes and thereby minimise |
| an evening symphony concert will have a | | | | waste in the industry. Australia has more than a |
| different character to that enjoyed at a beach | | | | dozen identified wine growing regions that produce |
| picnic. Buying wine as a gift Wine makes an | | | | distinctive wines of the main styles. The Barossa |
| excellent gift for many reasons. It's an easy | | | | Valley in South Australia is possibly the most |
| purchase; you can buy a wine to suit practically | | | | famous region with the richest heritage, and |
| any budget. And it is a demonstration of your | | | | features many labels from subregions such as |
| taste and standards, subtly imparted to someone | | | | Claire Valley, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and |
| whom you may care for. However, as well as | | | | the Adelaide Hills. These regions produce some of |
| meeting your taste standards, you also need to | | | | the most spectacular Riesling wines, and Shiraz |
| choose a wine that will meet the tastes of the | | | | styles in the country. East of this region, near the |
| receiver. It pays to find out what sort of wine | | | | border with Victoria lies the Coonawarra district |
| that person enjoys, and buy within that person's | | | | (also known as Riverland), famous for its |
| style or region preferences. A person who enjoys | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon. In Victoria lie the Yarra |
| sweet white wines will appreciate a gift that | | | | Valley and Mornington Peninsular districts. The |
| matches that personality. Buying wine as an | | | | Goulbourn Valley lies on the border with New |
| investment Some wines make a good investment | | | | South Wales. The Hunter Valley in New South |
| because they are rare and have an established | | | | Wales produces some of Australia's finest wines, |
| reputation causing them to appreciate in value. | | | | while in the West, Margaret River, t4he Swan |
| Possibly the most famous of these in Australia is | | | | Valley and the Plantagenet districts all produce fine |
| Penfolds' Grange Hermitage, a Shiraz style Claret | | | | wines. Trends Recent economic conditions and |
| that has been made since 1951 (a bottle of that | | | | consecutive years of oversupply have changed |
| vintage now might set you back $50,000 or more | | | | much of Australia's wine market. There are many |
| if you can find one). Although young in terms of | | | | small boutique wineries whose products can be |
| wine heritage, Australia has some notable wines | | | | bought direct from the cellar door. Many of these |
| that do and will appreciate in value. A good | | | | wines are featured on au by style and region. The |
| investment wine is not necessarily a guarantee of | | | | wine industry is encouraging the buying of wines |
| a high quality drinking wine. The investment values | | | | and cellaring them (storing them in a cool place) |
| are arrived at by reputation. A particular vintage | | | | for a period of time and enjoying them at a later |
| may have enjoyed popularity for any number of | | | | time. To cellar your wine, store it somewhere |
| reasons and become scarce because only a | | | | cool, dark, airy, and free from vibration and |
| limited number of bottles were produced. What | | | | dampness. Temperature stability is the most |
| results is a collectors market and wine changes | | | | important factor in preserving wine in the cellar. |
| hands through auctions, private sales, estate | | | | Storing wine in an environment where the |
| dissolutions and wine club memberships. What | | | | temperature varies gradually with the seasons is |
| makes a good investment wine however, is the | | | | better than in a room that varies with the day |
| fact that you are able to sell the wine at some | | | | and night. For long-term storage, the ideal cellar |
| future date for a sum greater than what you | | | | temperature is 18 degrees Celsius and a relative |
| paid. Therefore the condition of the wine-or more | | | | humidity of 60-75%. Warmer conditions |
| importantly, the bottle-is of paramount | | | | accelerate the development of wines, which could |
| consideration. The provenance of an investment | | | | mean a reduction in the pleasure of drinking them. |
| wine is important. Before buying, you need to | | | | The second phenomenon to occur through |
| establish its history of origin and previous | | | | oversupply is the introduction of cleanskins, a |
| ownership. Satisfied that the bottle is in good | | | | method of selling wine without a brand label. This |
| condition, once in your possession it needs to be | | | | is presented as being 'money saving' because of a |
| cellared correctly in the absence of heat, light and | | | | reduction in marketing expense, however the real |
| movement. You should document your ownership | | | | cost saving per bottle is around 3-5 cents (the |
| and the conditions of its cellaring before selling it | | | | cost of printing and applying a label). Cleanskins |
| to a new buyer. What makes good wine?The | | | | enable a wine producer to present a lower cost |
| winemaking process The quality of a wine is | | | | bottle, but this is mostly achieved by not having |
| affected by a wide variety of factors that occur | | | | to identify the origins of the grape, or the varietal |
| in and as a result of the winemaking, cellaring and | | | | blends that make up the wine. And while it is true |
| handling processes. One of the key factors is the | | | | that some cleanskins are eminently drinkable |
| terrain and climate, commonly referred to as a | | | | wines, evidence suggests that they are generally |
| 'region', where the grapes are grown. Different | | | | of a far poorer quality than branded label |
| conditions affect different varieties differently. A | | | | products. It is suggested that you taste the wine |
| Shiraz style from McLaren Vale in South Australia, | | | | before purchasing any cleanskins. Wine is a high |
| for example, is a heavier and darker wine than | | | | fashion product, and wine trends emerge on a |
| the same style from the Swan Valley in Western | | | | regular basis. The best way to follow these |
| Australia, which tends to be lighter and more | | | | trends is to shop using au -- comparing prices and |
| peppery. A Chardonnay from the Hunter Valley is | | | | suppliers, and following medal winning labels. See All |
| more full-bodied than one from Margaret River. | | | | WineAndrew Gates for Australian comparison |
| While knowing which vines are best suited to a | | | | online shopping service au. |
| soil type and climate is one aspect, another is | | | | au helps you compare the different value offers |
| knowing when to pick the fruit for particular | | | | from different brands in terms of specifications |
| effect. The fruit's flavour at the time of picking is | | | | and accessories. You can also compare prices |
| a major character of the residual flavours of the | | | | from hundreds of different brands and vendors. |