Australians really do know a lot about wine
The British are sometimes a bit sniffy about “new world” wines, perhaps concerned their makers haven’t had as much time as the French to figure out what they’re doing. This is somewhat irrational: yes, Australians have unusual takes on things like football and what constitutes a reasonable distance between cities. But they’ve been growing wine for generations, and if you actually engage an Aussie in conversation about it, you may rapidly find yourself outclassed.
“Vines have been cultivated in Australia for over 200 years,” says Julian Dyer, UK chief operating officer for Australia’s McGuigan Wines. “Wine is produced in every state and employs a significant number of people, so there can be a greater awareness and knowledge of wine in Australia compared to countries where wine is not so embedded in the culture. This is particularly the case within the wine regions. If you take the Barossa Valley for example, most people living there are either directly employed in the industry, or will know someone who is.”
