Buying Wine Online in Australia

At first glance, Australia’s warm temperatures, abundant sunshine, and periodic rain showers seem most conducive to the hearty dark grapes that go into red wine. But there are plenty of cooler, shadier pockets throughout the southern edges of the country, and also in Tasmania, whose limestone-rich soils have proven that Australia can be a perfect locale for white grapes and the production of white wine. And modern growing methods, helped along by technology, have allowed white grapes to flourish throughout Australia’s wine regions at a rate that was not possible as recently as a few decades ago.  

For newcomers to buying wine online, here are a few varieties of Australian white wines to watch out for. But, when buying wine online, remember that Australian winemakers are incredibly hardworking and resourceful, so they’re sure to be producing many more fine varieties of white wine than these. 

Chardonnay 

Chardonnay, one of the most versatile and easy-to-grow of white wine varieties, has been cultivated in Australia since the early 1900s, but it is only in the last 50 years that the grape has been widely cultivated. And it is even more recently that Australia has begun to produce some of the finest Chardonnays in the world. While the older Australian Chardonnays are known for their strong fruitiness and oak flavor, the newer varieties are renowned for their subtle, citrusy tones. For the best Australian Chardonnays, try anything from the Coonawarra region in South Australia, Margaret River in Western Australia, or the Yarra Valley in Victoria.  
 

Sauvignon Blanc 

Australian Sauvignon Blancs are growing in popularity worldwide, with their classic gooseberry tartness, a passion fruit sweetness, and citrusy acidic undertones. As elsewhere in the world, Sauvignon Blanc grapes grow best in cooler, wetter climates such as the southern reaches of Victoria and Tasmania. In these regions, you can find a relatively new but ever more sophisticated community of winemakers devoted to making fine Sauvignon Blancs. 
 

Semillon 

This peachy, mango-like variety of white wine grows well in the Barossa Valley of South Australia, Western Australia’s Margaret River, and the Riverina and Hunter Valley regions of New South Wales.  Unlike many types of white wine, Australian Semillons age well, evolving over a few years from their youthful sweetness to a brilliantly subtle, honey-like and nutty classic.  
 

Riesling 

Riesling is another variety of Australian white wine that ages well. When buying wine online, look for Rieslings from the Clare and Barossa Valleys of South Australia or from Western Australia’s Great South region. These wines have a delicate balance of fruitiness and honey freshness that makes a perfect foundation for some of Australia’s best dessert wines.  
 

Muscat 

For another sweet wine, Australia’s Muscat’s can’t be topped by anyone in the world. Grown particularly in the Rutherglen wine region of Victoria, these sweet grapes produce a very special, tangily sweet wine that is one of the most popular dessert wines for both domestic and overseas wine buyers.  
 

Viognier 

Several adventurous Australian winemakers have taken on the difficult task of growing this southern French grape, which produces a delicate wine with a strong aroma, low acidity, and a tasteful softness that makes it one of Australia’s finest wines. When buying wine online, you may encounter some pricey Viognier’s, but several Australian varieties, particularly those from the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria and South Australia’s Eden Valley, are well worth the price.