Australia's wine-growing history is one of the youngest in the New World, beginning only towards the end of the 18th century. Until the 1970s, viticulture "Down Under" grew steadily but rather modestly, but then literally exploded in the 1980s. While there were about 500 active wineries until 1985, today, there are about 2,500, most of which were founded between 1985 and 2000. At the same time, Australia developed into perhaps the most modern wine-growing country of all and can even boast legends of the international wine world, such as "Penfold's Grange" or Henschke's "Hill of Grace". Approximately 146,000 hectares are under vine today, spread over the southeastern regions of South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales and the extreme southwest with such well-known regions as Margaret River. The island of Tasmania, off the south coast of Australia, can also boast noteworthy viticulture. Australia probably has the oldest terroir in the world. Australian wine became renowned in the 1980s with Shiraz, especially those from the famous Barossa Valley near Adelaide. To this day, they are considered the country's hallmark. But the excellent Chardonnay wines also found many admirers as high-quality alternatives to much more expensive Burgundies. But to reduce Australia to these two varieties would be a mistake. With the "Hunter Valley Semillon", one can boast an incomparable and inimitable wine style. The search for cooler regions, so-called "cool climates", is in full swing and is already showing outstanding results with excellent Pinot Noirs. About 900 wineries are involved in the sustainability-oriented "Sustainable Wine Australia" programme.
