New South Wales

New South Wales has vastly differing climatic regions; from the high-volume producing interior of the state, to the smaller fine wine areas closer to the Pacific Ocean coast. New South Wales contributes over 30% of Australia’s wine volume.

Important regions;
Hunter Valley
Cowra
Mudgee
Orange
Riverina
Murray Darling

Hunter Valley
Australia’s oldest wine growing region is divided into two broad regions. The climatically warm Lower Hunter, famous for age-worthy Semillon, and the cooler, drier, Upper Hunter producing full-favoured Chardonnay and Shiraz.
Main grape varieties; Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Cowra
Further south and west of the Hunter Valley, the Cowra region was first planted in the early 70’s. Warm days, cool nights and late summers, vineyards on gentle slopes produce rich Chardonnay, and expressive red wines.
Main grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz and Chardonnay.

Mudgee
An interior area on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range where vine growing dates to 1858. Mudgee has some of the highest altitude vineyards in Australia, ranging from 450 to 1200 meters.
Main grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon and Shiraz

Orange
Another NSW high-altitude area with undulating volcanic soils, it produces cooler climate style whites and reds, including medium-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon which is often blended with wine from warmer regions such as Mudgee and Cowra.
Main grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz.

Riverina
The Riverina yields 15% of Australian grape production. Relative low humidity and high sunshine hours together with a soil type consisting of a shallow layer of red-brown loam soil sitting over clay produces wines of weight and style.
Main grape varieties; Chardonnay, Semillon, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Murray Darling
This low-lying region on both sides of the Murray River in western New South Wales is Australia’s second largest wine region. Dating to 1888, the Murray Darling with its irrigated sandy loam soils produces high volume grape yields.
Main grape varieties; Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Briar Ridge Vineyard in the Hunter Valley, Australia.
Briar Ridge, Hunter Valley. Wine Australia.