Australia

There are things happening in Australia.  After years being dominated by big corporations that were the product of the takeover or merging of old companies, making wine that was often mediocre, Australia is now firmly focused on producing great wine, crafted by family firms.  Instead of growing what is commercially desired, winemakers are growing grapes that work in the land they are in, resulting in wonderful diversity.

Old family names are reappearing as craft producers rather than large volume manufacturers, new winemakers are taking the plunge and doing their own thing and grapes with Spanish and Portuguese origin are being put in the ground.  It really is exciting!