Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The Growth of Wine Industry in Australia

The wine industry in Australia has evolved over the past 200 years.  The country now consistently lands among the top 10 countries in wine making, and it is even considered as among the few countries that produce every one of the major styles of wine. In such growth, a major development in wine preservation has come forth: the use of affordable wine fridges. 


Wine production in Australia took a while to start because of the lack of native grape varieties that are suitable for making wines. The pioneering winemakers imported varieties of grapes from Europe.  The wine which was produced was shipped back to the United Kingdom.

In the 1800s, wine production in Australia finally began to spark. Between 1820 and 1840, vineyards were being established by settlers in the New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Australia areas. Then, the growth spread to Victoria and to South Australia. This was both an inspiration and motivation for the wine producers to attempt to produce more. So, in 1822, about 136 liters of wine were shipped by Gregory Blaxland to London, garnering him a silver medal from the forerunner of the Royal Society of Arts. Five years after continued production, they eventually earned gold Ceres medal.

The discovery of gold in eastern Australia in 1852 temporarily robbed vineyards of New South Wales and Victoria of human labor. But the demand for wines continually increased, thanks to the diggers. Hence, between 1860 and 1872, a rapid expansion of vineyards took place due to the enactment of the Land Selection Acts.

The next century proved to be another fruitful year of wine production in Australia. The wine market expanded when the trade barriers between states were abolished through the Federation in 1901. During this period, the famous names were McWilliams, Penfolds, and Seppelt.

Sadly, many of these established vineyards collapsed during the First World War. It was only in the 1950s that the wine industry started to recuperate, this time making South Australia the center of production. From then up to today, the wine industry in Australia has grown rapidly and is now a source of employment for many Australians.

There are three major wine regions in the country: New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia.

The most notable producers in South Australia are Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, and Coonawarra; Victoria has Swan Hill, Yarra Valley, Rutherglen; and New South Wales has Hunter Valley, Mudgee, and Riverina.

This rapid growth and increasing popularity of Australian produced wines has brought about the need for an affordable wine fridge for every wine collector or drinker. A wine refrigerator in Australia is a staple appliance for wine enthusiasts, as it helps them preserve wines by making them age and taste better in time.


For more information about wine, wine aging, storage and wine storage products, visit Relax at Home website. You can also Like Us on our Official Facebook Page or Follow us on Twitter.

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