Australia is a very large and mostly dry land. There is a very varied climate. Viticulture in Australia is only possible through proper irrigation. More than half of the Australian wines is red: Shiraz is the most important grape and then the Cabernet Sauvignon. The white wines (about 40%) are from the grape: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhine Riesling and Semillon.

The vineyards are located in the southwest and southeast of this vast continent. There are five major wine producers in Australia who buy grapes from wine producers: South Corp Wines (such as Penfolds, Lindemans, Great Western), Beringer Blass (such as Wolf Blass, Rothburry Estates), Constellation (such as Hardys, Berri Estates, Chateau Reynella) and Orlando Wyndham Group (such as Jacob's Creek, Wyndham Estate and Montrose).

Wine Legislation in Australia
The classification of the wines in Australia is organised according to the so-called Label Integrity Program. This legislation ensures that all of the listed label information is for at least 85% correct.

Wine Regions of Australia
Western Australia
1. Swan Valley
2. Perth Hills
3. South-West Coastal Plain
4. Margaret River
5. Lower Great Southern Region

Southern Australia (60% of Australian’s wine production)
6. Barossa Valley
7. Southern Vales
8. Coonawarra
9. Padthaway

Victoria
10. Great Western
11. North-East Victoria
12. Yarra Valley

New South Wales
13. Hunter Valley
14. Riverina Valley