The
Wine Experience
Both
the South and North
Australian Wine countries offer
terrific lodging alternatives
from cozy B&B's to charming
country inns and villas. Here
are
some to check out:
In the South:
The
Boomerangs
Great
Ocean Road,
Johanna,
Victoria 3238
Phone:
03 52374213
bookings@theboomerangs.com
Abbotsford
Country House
Located
in the Barossa Valley
Yaldara
Drive, Lyndoch, South Australia 5351
Telephone
618 8524 4662
Fascimile
618 8524 4186
relax@abbotsfordhouse.com
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
123 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Tel: +61 3 9657 1234
Fax: +61 3 9650 3491
melbourne@hyatt.com.au
Hill
House Bed & Breakfast
12
Lindsay St, Angaston
Contact
Info:
Tel:
+61 8 8564 2023
Fax: +61 8 8564 2390
hill_house@chariot.net.au
In the North:
Bluebush
Estate
Wilderness Road Lovedale NSW 2320
Australia
Ph: 02 4930 7177
sleep@bluebush.com.au
Wandin
Valley Estate
Wilderness Road
Lovedale
Hunter Valley NSW 2320
Australia
Ph:
02 49307317
Map
of Barossa
Map
of Australia
|
Destination
of the Week
A
visit to Australia . . .
Yarra Valley, Barossa Valley, Hunter
Valley, Clare Valley . . .great Rieslings, Shiraz and Cabernets
. . . Pinot Noir, Semillon and Chardonnay, too. It's all in
Australia. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and tended to
by some of the friendliest people in the world, Australian wines
have thrived.
It was 1788 when the first cuttings
came from the Cape of Good Hope, carried by Captain Arthur Phillip.
A mere three years later, the vines which were planted further
inland were yielding wonderful new growths. From there, you
have to fast forward to today, with terrific Australian wine
being exported to over 77 countries - 150 million gallons worth
over a billion dollars.What
a great place to visit! Really, we should use the plural because
there are differences between the areas, not only in the wine
but in the climate and landscape.
It's a fourteen hour flight from
the West Coast but worth the ride. Sometimes lush, sometimes
desert-like, Australia's wine region is a great destination
or, if you're on business, a welcome side trip. And, if you're
interested in a great stay, you'll find that any of the regions
below have fun accommodations and wonderful food to accompany
their wines.
Of course, Aussies speak English,
but there may be a few terms you want to learn before you go.
If so, give a look
here - for a little knowledge and a lot of fun.
The
Barossa Valley Northeast of Adelaide, South Australia
the Barossa Valley is known for its Reislings and for its Cabernets
and Shiraz. The climate is hot. The Barossa Valley is known
as the best wine region in Australia, unless you're talking
to someone from . . .
The
Hunter Valley Another great area is The Hunter Valley.
It's the home of Shiraz and Semillon. There are plenty of boutique
vineyards to visit and great places to stay. If you're in Sydney
for business, you can do The Hunter Valley in a day.
Back in the South, The Clare
Valley is located north of Adelaide. Actually, there are
seven valleys but the four best known are the Clare, Polish
River, Skillogallee, and Watervale. Although The Clare Valley
is north of Adelaide, it's really in the south. But, remember,
down there, going south means the vineyards are in a growing
area that's cooler. Great whites like Riesling, Chardonnay and
Semillon make their way around the world from The Clare Valley.
Coonawarra Another area
with a cooler climate, Coonawarra is located to the southeast
of Adelaide. The soil is reddish colored (known as terra
rossa). Speaking of red, Coonawarra is more known for its
red wine, including Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Yarra Valley The Yarra Valley
is northeast of Melbourne, in Victoria. There're some great
Pinot Noirs that can be found here. Try not to drink them all
while you're there . . . it's fun to bring a couple back (you're
allowed 2 person as of this writing and the original Australian
labels are fun to serve.)
Regardless of which area you choose,
you'll find plenty of wineries where tasting is welcome. You'll
also find the vistas that make it even more worthwhile.
Read about The North Australia
Wine Country here.
Want to book a trip? Start
here.
The Wine
Experiencesm is your
gateway to wine country travel throughout the world. Whether
it's a getaway weekend in Sonoma, barging in Burgundy, wearing
out your shoes walking the hill towns of Tuscany, or four-wheeling
in Australia, the world of wine offers just about any travel
experience you're looking for.
Got
a destination in mind? Start planning your trip here.
Some more about Australia
on The Wine Experience
Australia
Choosing
Merlot
Shiraz
New
World Style
What
Wines are Hot
Steak
and Shiraz
