Issue 37 Aurora Magazine April 2021

taste
HOW GOOD IS OUR WINE?
The Great Southern Wine Producers Association
STORY AMANDA DARLING
Introducing a new series on the vineyards and wines of the Great Southern. Our
extraordinary wine production region is fast gaining traction as one of the best
in the world, and each month Amanda Darling from The Great Southern Wine
Producers Association will share some of her insights with our readers.
You might be surprised to know we live in the largest wine region in the country.
Maybe you thought the Hunter Valley was, or even the Barossa Valley. But you would
be wrong – in fact, the Great Southern wine region is one of the largest in the world.
Spanning 100km north to south and 150km east to west, it includes some of the most
prolific and successful vineyards in the country from Frankland River to Mount Barker,
Porongurup, Denmark and Albany.
We are well versed on our natural and unique ancient place – a picture perfect playground
of naturally occurring and stunning contrasts, with endless emerald bays hidden amongst
mosaic rock that landscape the shoreline, and mountains that have hugged the town sites
for over one billion years. But what many of us don’t know is just how successful our wine
producers have become, and it’s really something to be proud of.
The Great Southern wine region is winning, and it’s winning world-wide. Our wine is
good, and the rest of Australia and the world are watching us. Intrigued by our cool
climate vines coddled by our pristine biosphere, they are paying attention and the Great
Southern wine region is coming of age.
Like fashion, wine varieties shift in popularity. I remember sipping a buttery oak ladened
chardonnay in a navy double-breasted shoulder-padded blazer, with mega-sized clip-on
gold earrings and a fringe that was teased so high it resembled a backward mullet. Now,
just like the mullet, the Chardonnay is back. But it’s different; fruitier and cooler. The
type of cool that also produces lively and crisp Rieslings, light and complex Rosés, and
sparkling wines that don’t wait for special occasions. These are some of the biggest
moving trends in wine – and we are doing them best. Clean, pristine and innovative, our
wines have scored as some of the best valued wines on the planet. And that is from The
New York Times.
The rock god of wine in Australia is James Halliday – the undisputed king critic and
author of Wine Companion – a literary wine liturgy of Australia’s biggest library of
tasting notes. In the 2021 James Halliday Wine Awards, 111 gold medals with 95 points
(it’s out of 100) or above were awarded to 28, yes 28, Great Southern wineries. Halliday
named 13 Australian wines in his Best of the Best 2021 Riesling and six of them were
from the Great Southern. That is, almost half of the best Rieslings in Australia sit right
here at your doorstep.
“Fresh, bright and acidic – Riesling comes in many forms and thrives in many Australian
regions. The top-rated wines… come predominantly from the Great Southern –
including its subregions of Mount Barker, Porongurup and Frankland River; South
Australia’s Clare and Eden valleys tie for second place.” Says Halliday
After his much-anticipated annual release of winners, we now have within our reach 32
five-star rated wineries that call the Great Southern home.
And just like that, everyone’s property values went up.
So, get to know them – our Great Southern wine producers. Get out there and discover
them, explore, enjoy their wine and be proud of their achievements. And know you live
in not only Australia’s largest wine region, but one of its best.
12 LOVE LOCAL
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