The Best Value Wines from Australia

The best wines from Australia at the Wine Access 2011 International Value Wine Awards

Chardonnay and shiraz absolutely dominated this national category. Last year’s top 10 Aussie wines included two cabernet sauvignons, a malbec, a red blend and a viognier. But this year the top five are all chard and shiraz.

To what can we attribute the return to form of these two grapes? An increase in entries? Vintage variation? Or is it simply that Australian winemakers have managed to bring balance and restraint to these wines, where once there was an abundance of super-ripe fruit and oak?

With the continued emphasis on regionalism from Australian wine marketers and producers, it’s no surprise to see Mudgee, McLaren Vale, Barossa and Margaret River wines make the list. A Clare Valley cabernet took top honours last year, but in 2011, the region strangely doesn’t make the cut; Langhorne Creek and Riverina were also shut out. (Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson)

Photo: F Delventhal