We square up to Australia in this issue, speaking to its champions and indulging in a fair bit of sipping and slurping too. Not only is Australia a tremendously exciting source of wines, it also manages to deliver a disproportionately high level of quality from entry level upwards. Consider, too, that Australia remains the most popular source of wine for UK drinkers, accounting for 23% of the volume drunk and almost 23% of sales by value. The reason for taking the wines from Down Under seriously – no matter what channel of the trade you may inhabit – is clear. The wine- drinking public likes the wines. What is also becoming clear, though, as exchange rates soften in favour of buying Australian, is that these past few years have seen a remarkable evolution – both with the classic varieties such as Chardonnay and Shiraz, along with a host of other exciting grapes and styles. Meanwhile, Australia’s diverse producers appear to have come together once more as a cohesive force, pushing a premium (and regionally-linked) message, but also stressing the quality ladder made available by its ever popular brands. We cover all of this and more, hopefully giving a taster of why I believe Australia is reasserting itself as one of the most exciting, diverse and enjoyable wine- producing countries – and why it should be playing a vibrant and profi table role in your portfolio.

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