Western Australia is the largest of the eight administrative zones and territories of Australia. In 2020, it represented just two percent of the national wine production, but has previosly occupied up to 20 percent of the nation's fine wines.
Covering the entire western third of the vast island continent, "WA" (as it is commonly called) spans 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) from east to west. This makes it the second-largest administrative subdivision of any country in the world – bigger than Alaska and Texas combined.
Western Australia
The giant flag at Voyager Estate, Margaret River
© Jonathan Reeve
The Western Australian wine regions are clustered in the state's cooler, coastal, Southwest corner. The Northeastern two-thirds of WA are too hot to support quality viticulture.
The northwest corner is the hottest area of Australia as a whole, with summer temperatures surpassing even those of the country's famous semi-desert "Red Centre". By contrast, the Climate of the southwest WA is relatively cool, tempered by the presence of the Indian Ocean to the west and the Antarctic Ocean to the south and east.
Although it rivals the Hunter Valley in terms of low latitude (lying at 33 degrees South), the climate around the state's southwest cape is more akin to that of Bordeaux, and the most successful Grape varieties here reflect this.
It is no coincidence, that many winemakers from this area aim for a more European wine style than their counterparts further north – or those from New South Wales and South Australia. Margaret River in particular, is renowned for its more-balanced, Elegant wines, which contrast with the Powerful, fruit-driven wines of the regions further east.
Geographically, the wine regions of Western Australia can be split into roughly three groups: those around the state capital, Perth (the Swan Valley, the Perth Hills and Peel); those along the south coast (from Pemberton in the west to Albany in the east); and those around the southern end of Geographe Bay (Margaret River and Geographe).
Müller-Thurgau shows the character of its noble origins. This Swiss white grape variety is a cross between the royal madeleine and the riesling. The idea that the latter was crossed with the sylvaner is irrelevant. The variety can be recognized by its vigorous character and its semi-erect habit. Preferring rich soils and short prunings, the plant sees its buds open quite early. The buds are cottony and soft green in color. The slightly embossed and tormented blade, with 5 to 7 lobes, makes it possible to distinguish the adult leaves. The clusters appear compact, pyramidal or cylindrical in shape and small to medium in size. The flavour of the Müller-Turgau berries is reminiscent of Muscat. The juicy and crunchy pulp is revealed under a greyish skin. When ripe, the fruit has a mottled shell on a golden yellow background. Switzerland prefers to extract the juice from this variety. The wine made from it is rather heavy and does not keep well.
white wines from the region of South West Australia go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of rabbit in white wine (casserole), tomato pie without tomato... or spinach and goat cheese quiche.
On the nose in the region of South West Australia often reveals types of flavors of tropical, microbio or spices and sometimes also flavors of non oak, floral or vegetal. In the mouth in the region of South West Australia is a powerful with a nice freshness.
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Burgy, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are availablein French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWines/ ...
Sequence from the video « At the heart of the Mâcon terroir » which offer a stroll at the heart of the Mâcon terroir. It offers a focus on Mâcon-Lugny, one of the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation. Travel through the terroirs of the Mâcon appellation by watching the full video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF20y1aBZh8 Both are available in French and English. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWines ...
The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) invites you to a survey of this vineyard where the 27 geographical denominations of the Mâcon appellation are produced. A unique journey to discover this region where the Romanesque churches punctuate the landscape and are the witnesses of the link between the vines and Christiannity. Cluny is the gatekeeper. Our social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BourgogneWines Twitter: https://twitter.com/BourgogneWines/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vin ...
