delicious Australia - May 2020

UP AND
New methods, indigenous ingredients and
redefining ‘dry’ – a brave new world of drinks is
here, and Lara Picone gets to know some of the
country’s top innovators leading the way.
PERHAPS MORE THAN anywhere, we Australians love to share
a drink. And because we so enjoy socialising, a celebratory toast,
and the sound of ice against glass, we have an uncommon
respect for the arts of winemaking, distilling and brewing.
“It’s very rare anywhere on earth that people have the same
cognisance around wine regions and varieties,” says delicious.
drinks guru Mike Bennie. It’s little surprise then, that from vine
to vat, Australia is a stronghold when it comes to innovation
in the drinks industry.
Merrily, in the past three years, there’s been a real swing
toward innovation that comes with a healthy pour of do-gooding,
from commitment to provenance, land care, indigenous
ingredients, and even social responsibility. “We’ve never been
more innovative,” says Bennie. “There’s a sense of adventure and
general excitement within the industry.”
Here, we speak to five trailblazing labels to keep an eye
on – all intent on giving your drinking habits a good stir. Let’s
drink to that!