As the Barossa Valley and Limestone Coast vie for number one spot in Aussie wine’s premium stakes, Barossa Valley Estates is delivering regional specialties at realistic prices

Coonawarra produces shiraz in a wide spectrum of styles from a surprisingly varied landscape. And within that landscape there’s one very special plot of vines planted in the 1890s.

A report on Wine Australia 1996, held at Darling Harbour, Sydney

The Seppelt viticultural and winemaking cultures continue to thrive under Southcorp ownership

As the Springboks defeated England at Twickenham, South Africa and Australia fielded 100 wine apiece in the South African Airways Wine Shield in Capetown. On the numbers, Australia won. But, as in all wine judgings, opinions varies and often it’s more important to note styles than to award points

1995 was a troublesome, small vintage. But it wasn’t all bad. There will be highlights as well as disappointments

As a grape shortage bites prices are on the rise and multiplied by an increase in the Federal tax. But there are still good wines to be found.

While it’s fashionable to lament the loss of the Penfolds reds of old, the lament has no basis in fact. Recent wines and the new releases show the benefits of an increasing grape resource and commitment to traditional styles.

Brand’s Laira Vineyard, dating from 1896, is a special plot of dirt making distinctive wines.

Padthaway began as broadacre plantings in the 1960s to feed the coming wine boom. For the first 20 years the region had no winery and no name. In those days ‘Keppoch’ did just as well as ‘Padthaway’. But now it’s one of the major players on the vast Limestone plains stretching south from Lake Alexandrina to Coonawarra and beyond.