[FAQ] 3s. Australia?
 

What follows is an edited version of Salil's contribution on Australia.
All comments, additions, corrections welcomed.

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3s. Australia?
Australia is a large country with several distinct wine-producing
regions, including the Barossa, Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley and Margaret
River. Of these, we'll discuss two, the Hunter Valley and Victoria.

Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley in New South Wales is a large, sprawling area, but
many of the region's best wines are found in the Lower Hunter region,
particularly around the town of Pokolbin which is two hours' drive out
of Sydney. Day trips can be easily arranged from within the city, with a
number of tour groups providing transport to the Hunter and around the
wineries. The Hunter's best known grape is Semillon which is made in a
variety of styles around the region, but fine Shiraz, Verdelho,
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are fairly easy to come by as well. Most
cellar doors and wineries don't usually charge tasting fees; some will
have nominal fees during the peak tourist season in summer and
appointments are rarely needed to sample wines.

Wineries:

McWilliams' Mount Pleasant - Probably the best Hunter Semillon
Tyrrell's - Another classic producer of Semillon
De Bortoli - Good wines all around from their vineyards around the
country. The 'Noble One' dessert Semillon is a must.
Brokenwood - Good Semillon, Pinot Noir, and excellent Shiraz.
Audrey Wilkinson - Great view with good whites and dessert/fortified wines.
Tempus Two - Excellent Shiraz and Botrytis Semillon
Tower Estate
Peterson Champagne House - Good sparkling wines, excellent sparkling Shiraz.

Victoria
Yarra Valley lies an hour's drive outside Melbourne, and in addition
to some truly breathtaking scenery, boasts some excellent Chardonnay,
Pinot Noir and sparkling wines that flourish in the cool climate. The
Heathcote region is a couple of hours north of Melbourne, and is known
for its intense, spicy Shiraz. Tours can be taken from the city into the
Yarra, but the Heathcote is less of a tourist attraction and would
require one to drive.

Wineries:
Best's Wines - Great Western Shiraz stands out here.
De Bortoli - See comments in Hunter section.
Domaine Chandon & Green Point - Excellent sparkling wines, some good
still ones.
Heathcote Winery
Hanging Rock Winery - Quality Shiraz from around the region.
Yarra Yering - Eclectic and brilliant wines from Dr. Bailey Carrodus.
Yering Station

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Mark Lipton