New South Wales
New South Wales is an Australian wine powerhouse, accounting for almost a third of Australian production. The state has 16 wine regions, which results in a great diversity of terroirs and climates and allows for the cultivation of a range of varieties, each with its own characteristic flavor. Although New South Wales is Australia's second largest wine producing state, it is also the most populous state, causing wine consumption to exceed production.
The sub-region: Hunter Valley
It is Australia's oldest wine growing region as the first vines were planted in 1820. The oldest vines still in production date back to 1860. Just a two-hour drive north of Sydney, the Hunter Valley is blessed with a magnificent and diverse landscape, with a multitude of restaurants and kangaroos frolicking in the fields. At dusk, it even takes on the appearance of Australian Tuscany. Although its Syrahs do not have the power of those from the Barossa, nor their tannic structure, Syrah is the great red grape variety of the region and produces more elegant wines.