Exploring Australia’s famous food and wine regions

Australia is famous for wine producing regions like Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. It’s a destination for foodies.
Australia has vastly transformed itself over past several decades. The country has emerged as a global gastronomic centre. Its food and wines are effusively praised. Tourists visiting Australia from world over now have come to know it as a magnificent land of organic cultivation, award-winning international haute cuisine and graciously balanced fine wines.

It will therefore be appropriate to explore important food and wine regions of Australia that has helped in attaining the country a place of prominence world over. So get ready for a virtual tour of some of these food and wine regions, which includes Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.

Western Australia
Western Australia is a significant wine producing region in the country. This region is renowned for producing above 15 percent of fine wines in the country. This region has flourished in the last ten years and has emerged as a major tourist destination. It figures prominently on the itinerary of every tourist visiting Australia. The first stop here is, of course, Margaret River, situated south of Perth. It’s only 40 minutes drive away and is reached via the Perth-Burbury Highway.
 
Margaret River, a relaxing foodie territory, is home to above 60 cellar doorways and many wineries. It was during the 1960s that for the first time vine planting took place in Margaret River after its superior quality wines producing potential was discovered. The soil and climate here was found to be quite ideal for the growth of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

The Cullen Estate is the first stop for every tourist visiting Western Australia when exploring its many wineries. The winery produces some finest wines in this region. The Cullen Estate is presently owned by Vanya Cullen, who is the first female to win “Australian Winemaker of the Year” award in 2000. She was also presented with the “Green Personality of the Year” award in 2011. The wines and food served at the restaurant at Cullen Estate are simply great.
 
Leeuwin Estate is yet another winery worth visiting in this region. It is renowned for producing chardonnays and classic cabernets. “Wine Spectator”, a reputed publication, has described chardonnays as the best ever white wine to be ever produced in Australia. Presently, Leeuwin wine estate has become a cultural meeting spot. Summer concerts are being held here regularly ever since 1985. This wine estate also boasts of an art gallery showcasing works of famous Australian artists. The art gallery in fact came into existence owing to its Art Series labels found on Leeuwin Estate’s premium wines. The prize-winning eatery is huge and a real treat. It is known for serving contemporary Australian food. The fresh water Blue Ridge marron in bisque served along with crème fraiche is worth trying out. The visitors are also offered a wide choice of premium wines produced here complementing various dishes.

South Australia
The Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley are the two key food and wine areas outside Adelaide in the State of South Australia. The wine production in Barossa Valley owes its existence to Peter Lehmann, who was popularly called the “Baron of Barossa”. He was the only person who is credited with saving the grape-growing industry here and transforming it as the New World’s one of the greatest and highly successful wine regions.

Tourists visiting the Barossa Valley love going on wine trails. These are varied, sophisticated and quite well organized. Treat yourself to excellent far restaurants and enjoy wine tastings at many door tasting rooms located in the cellar. The wine trails will take you to Charles Melton Estate, the Artisans of Barossa, and Glaetzer.

The Lane Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills also makes a fantastic visit in South Australia’s key wine producing areas. You will enjoy relishing the food and wines at its tasting bar and restaurant while gazing down at the vineyards. The food served here is local, fresh and delectable.

Victoria
Get ready for amazing viticultural treats at the Momington Peninsula in the State of Victoria. Some of the most delicious chardonnays and pinot noirs have been produced at the Mornington Peninsula wine estate. The 2011 Moorooduc Robinson Vineyard pinot produced here is said to be the finest wine ever made in the estate.

Consider visiting the Main Ridge Estate owned by Nat White, a civil engineer-turned-winemaker. About 1,000 cases of premium wines are produced here every year. This place is quite charming to visit. Visit the estate for special, wonderful Sunday lunches, where you will be served with good food complemented with some of the older and rarer wines produced at the estate.

New South Wales
Mudgee, a small town across the Blue Mountains nestled in the fertile Cudgegong Valley, is the best place to visit in the New South Wales region. The 23 cellar doors and some fabulous restaurants here are a tourist’s delight. Black Tongue, a group of young winemakers, have made Mudgee quite popular for its wine producing qualities.