I’ve often heard that Australia and New Zealand are famous wine destinations but I’m not quite sure where to go?
Ben Packenham, USA
As there are about 60 wine regions in Australia your best bet is to decide what type of wine you’d like to sample before heading off, as each region has its own specialty.
The Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Margaret River in Western Australia, The Yarra Valley in Victoria and the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in South Australia would be up there with the most famous regions in the country, each with their own beauty and uniqueness in both wine and scenery.
Queensland and Tasmania also have spots to have a drop too. Companies in most states run affordable tours visiting wineries and some include breweries in the itinerary too if you get sick of the grape. If you opt to drive between wineries, make sure you watch your alcohol intake because each wine will differ in strength. Check out www.wineaustralia.com for more info on regions to visit.
As for New Zealand, you can pretty much design your own wine tour from north to south. If you’re feeling super adventurous, you can even cycle (though remember you can still get stung for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) on a bicycle).
New Zealand’s most famous region is the Marlborough and the type of wine you can expect to find there is Sauvignon Blanc. The region is at the top of the South Island and isn’t far from Nelson, which is also a worthwhile stop.
If you’re a red fan and you happen to be in Auckland, take a 45-minute boat ride to Waiheke Island to sample what it has to offer. Visit www.nzwine.com for more info.
