Overview
Australian wine regions, known as Geographical Indications, are defined and managed differently from the traditional appellation system of the Old World. Unfettered by strict regulations defining what can be grown and where, Australia’s grape growers and winemakers have the freedom to experiment and make their own choice with regard to variety, site selection and winemaking practice, and are still discovering what variety grows best where and developing wine styles unique to individual sites and regions.
The Big Picture – Zones, Regions and Sub-Regions
Vineyards are located in every state of Australia and Australia’s Geographic Indications (GI) comprise: 8 States or Territories (within the country); 28 Zones (within a State); 62 Regions (within a Zone); and, 12 Sub-regions (within a Region).
A zone is an area that may comprise one or more regions and may reasonably be regarded as a zone. Tasmania and Gippsland are zones but are commonly included with the 62 regions when referring to Australia’s main grape growing areas.
A region is a single tract of land that usually produces at least 500 tonnes of wine grapes in a year and comprises at least 5 independently owned vineyards of at least five hectares each. The area of land must be discrete and homogeneous in its grape-growing attributes to a degree that is measurable.
A sub-region must fulfil the same criteria as a region but its grape-growing attributes must be discrete and homogeneous to a degree that is substantial.
The broadest zone in Australia - South Eastern Australia - takes in the whole of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and those sections of Queensland and South Australia in which grapes are grown. Due to the size of Australia, and variation in climatic conditions from one region to the next, these larger zones and State boundaries enable wineries to harvest fruit from across multiple regions, to blend a consistent ‘house’ wine that does not see significant vintage variation.
Tasted, Tested, Trusted
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (AWBC) administers a Label Integrity Program, designed to protect the quality and reputation of Australian wine by ensuring truth in labelling. Any claim made regarding vintage, variety and geographical indication must be capable of being substantiated through the provision of an auditable trail of records. The benefit for wine drinkers is the knowledge that when they select an Australian wine they can be confident that what is on the label matches what is in the bottle. It is also important to note that an Australian GI can only be used to describe a wine if at least 85% of the fruit used to make the wine originates from within the boundary of that GI.
A Case In Point: Roly Egerton-Warburton, Sales Manager, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, Western Australia
Ancient soils and cooling sea breezes from the Southern and Indian Oceans provide the Margaret River wine region with ideal viticultural conditions to craft wines of exceptional concentration and intensity whilst retaining elegance and finesse.
Planted by Dr Tom Cullity in 1967, Vasse Felix was the first vineyard and winery to be established in the Margaret River region. Situated in the sub-region of Willyabrup, Vasse Felix is one of the most highly visited wine destinations in the country. A unique underground cellar, a spectacular restaurant overlooking the original 1967 plantings and an exquisite art gallery make Vasse Felix one of the great drawcards of the Margaret River region.
Our wines are handled by Chief Winemaker Virginia Willcock, whose understanding and contagious excitement for the region complement the Vasse Felix belief that wines should be unique, distinctive and expressive of their surroundings. In many ways they are tangible reflections of the ancient soils and unique climate in which the vineyards grow.
Virginia's 16 Margaret River vintages and vast international winemaking experience, coupled with a determination to craft wines of the highest calibre, set Vasse Felix in very good stead to release varietally distinct and internationally exciting wines for many years to come.
Margaret River, Western Australia
Summary
Australia’s GI system is still relatively new, and in the embryonic stages of development, however their use is protected under Australian and international law. The defining of Australia’s wine regions allows winemakers to accurately name the zone, region or sub-region from which the grapes were sourced. In conjunction with Australia’s label integrity program, this ensures that what is stated on the label matches what is in the bottle.
- The Australian geographical indication system is less restrictive than the traditional appellation system of Continental Europe.
- Australian winemakers have the freedom to innovate and make their own choice with regard to variety, site selection and winemaking practice.
- Australia’s Geographical Indications Committee defines the boundaries of Australia’s zones, regions and sub-regions.
- There are 62 wine regions in Australia, with vineyards in each state of Australia. Tasmania and Gippsland are zones but are commonly included with the 62 regions when referring to Australia’s main grape growing areas.
- The information on a bottle of Australian wine must be able to be verified as an accurate statement of variety, region and vintage.
- The difference between a region and a subregion is the degree of discreteness and homogeneity in their grape growing attributes.
- Australia’s GIs comprise: 8 States or Territories; 28 Zones (parts of States); 62 Regions (parts of Zones); and, 12 Sub-regions (parts of Regions).
- South Eastern Australia is the broadest zone in Australia, encompassing New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, and those sections of Queensland and South Australia in which grapes are grown.
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