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Mailbag will answer your emailed wine questions. What is the difference between Australia and New Zealand wines? Australia
is a very ancient--150 million years old geologically--and mostly arid (very dry) vast subcontinent where over a million
acres of vineyards are concentrated in the southeast and far western part of the country. Shiraz--the famous
Syrah grape of the Rhone in southern France--is Australia's universal black grape, making its globally
popular spicy, black raspberry tasting red wine. Some of the best wineries in Australia, such as Yangarra, are
also known for their very old vines Grenache, and everyone in the wine world admires their Tawny Ports or Muscat dessert
wines. Yes, Australia also makes benchmark Chardonnay, and cool valley Rieslings--but in general their hot climate
favors red wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon. Except--on their island of Tasmania off the south coast--where
Pinot Noir is king, and Chardonnay is queen and very good sparklings wines are made from these same grapes. The most
impressive thing about Australia wines and winemakers is their willingness to blend just about any wine grapes together--including
Shiraz & Cabernet, or Semillion & Chardonnay, with many outrageous et ceteras. New Zealand is very different from Australia. It is a much smaller and
geologically younger country of two islands--North Island and South Island--so it is surrounded by ocean and has what
is called a cooler "maritime" climate (with more rainfall) which greatly influences the vineyard
conditions. As a result, New Zealand is renowned for white wines--refined Chardonnays and grapefruit/kiwi/gooseberry
flavored Sauvignon Blancs. The only NZ red wine praised by wine writers is Pinot Noir--especially
from the Central Otago area. Many NZ labels have Maori winery names as a tribute to their native people
who are said to have originated from Polynesia. See the wonderful movie "Whale Rider" about the Maoris.
Mailbag is reserved only for those people who are seriously interested in joining our Cool Rooge
wine club.
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