Australian Vs. New Zealand Wines
Australia and New Zealand are relative newcomers to the world of wine-producing nations compared to "old world" wine-producing countries such as France, Italy and Spain. Both countries produce high quality wines of great value due to their production costs not having caught up to the rest of the world. Australia, the fourth-largest exporter in the world in 2006, exported 757 million liters (200 million gallons) of wine, while New Zealand exported nearly 58 million liters (15 million gallons). Does this Spark an idea?
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Australian Varietals
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Australia was the fourth largest wine exporter in 2006. Australia produces all the major red varietals such as cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir and shiraz, or syrah, which has become their signature wine. White varietals include chardonnay, riesling and sauvignon blanc. They also produce some very fine dessert wines such as port. Australian wines have become very popular and more approachable for new wine drinkers across the world because of their "fruit forward" wine profile. This means the wines, particularly reds, have a softer, fruitier quality upon release, which many drinkers find appealing.
New Zealand Varietals
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New Zealand's climate is condusive to grape growing. New Zealand's temperate, maritime climate and diverse growing regions have allowed a great range of grape varieties to be grown. Their wines share the same appeal to new wine drinkers as Australian wines because of their early drinkability. Though they produce all the major wine varietals as Australia, New Zealand is best known for producing some of the finest sauvignon blanc in the world.
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Australia's Best
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Australia's most famous wine is Penfolds Grange, a red wine that is a blend of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon grapes. "Wine Spectator" magazine rated the 1998 vintage 99 points out of a possible 100. The influential wine critic Robert Parker, who is known to favor Bordeaux wines, wrote that Grange "has replaced Bordeaux's Chateau Pétrus as the world's most exotic and concentrated wine." A bottle of the 1998 Grange can cost almost $400, as of June 2010.
New Zealand's Best
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Though New Zealand red wines do not approach the popularity and quality level as Australian reds, their white wines, particularly sauvignon blanc, have put them on the wine map. New Zealand’s sauvignon blanc is their signature wine and is thought by many to set the standard for this varietal. Oz Clarke, a well known British wine critic wrote in the 1990s that New Zealand sauvignon blanc was "arguably the best in the world."
The Winner
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The nod goes to Australia. Australia makes the best red wine, New Zealand the best white wine. So that can be considered a draw. But just by the sheer quantity, quality and variety of their wines, Australia has to be given the edge.
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References
- Photo Credit wine image by chrisharvey from Fotolia.com Australia map image by Catabu from Fotolia.com map of new zealand image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com auszeichnung image by pdesign from Fotolia.com
