Australia is a place that brings all five senses to life. Its food-and-wine culture is the perfect complement to its national character.

Australians have been crafting the ideal wines to accompany their diverse cuisine for many generations. Distinctive and elegant, their wines are the essence of the Australian experience. Shiraz, Australia’s leading varietal, provides the perfect example with luscious fruit, plus hints of peppery spice, cinnamon, and even chocolate. Shiraz is an ideal pairing for beef, lamb, and poultry. Australian Chardonnay is equally versatile, with a crisp, fruit-driven taste that stands up to seafood, pasta, and chicken.

Australia's robust, remarkable land has enriched the dreams and the dedication of Australian winemakers for more than 200 years. Today, the outstanding quality and value of Australian wines are attracting converts from Perth to Paris, and challenging world-class pours from Europe to California.

In many ways, Australia is a winemaker's paradise. Its diverse microclimates and soil conditions allow for an extraordinary variety of wine grapes and wine varieties: white and red, sweet and sparkling. In the past few years, the world's affection for Australian wine has become a full-fledged love affair. Then again, Australia's wines have a head start over their counterparts in the Northern Hemisphere - Australia's grape harvests occur between late January and early May, due its location below the equator. As a result, Australian wines are released six months earlier than California or European wines of the same vintage.