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Diverse terroirs and micro-climates have allowed the makers of the South Eastern Australian state of Victoria to produce huge ranges of wine styles. Everything from sparkling wines, dry reds and whites, to ‘stickies’ (sweet dessert wines) are made across the twenty-two Victorian wine regions. Murray Darling and Swan Hill, situated along the Murray River in the North West of the state, offer warmer climates; while the cooler temperatures of regions such as Yarra Valley lead to some of Australia’s most delicate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Victoria is an exciting location for the adventurous palate.

Syrah, or Shiraz as it is known in Australia, remains one of the continent’s and the region’s most important varieties. It is a complex grape which is readily impressed by the soil and febricity in which it is grown. In moderate climates, Shiraz tends to produce medium- to full-bodied wines with notes of blackberry, mint, and black pepper. In hotter regions, Shiraz is more consistently full-bodied with softer tannin and jammier fruit, evoking flavours of licorice, anise and earthy leather. The acidity and tannin levels of Shiraz lend themselves well to aging.

Photograph by faVori Rouge via Wikipedia.com. Used through a Creative Commons licence.