There’s something strange brewing in them there hills. Two of the biggest, burliest winemaker blokes in the district have donned Toucan beaks over their moustaches. They’re hopping around with excitement about an idea they’ve dubbed “Strange Birds.” Strange, indeed, but it’s turned into a stroke of marketing genius for Queensland’s Granite Belt.

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The rise of Spanish grape varieties has been swift and widespread across Australia in recent years, but never has this category received more attention than when one obscure example shot into the international headlines last month.

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The identity of Australian Albariño was first called into question late last year, when French ampelographer (grape identification expert) Jean-Michel Boursiquot suspected that the vines appeared to be Savagnin Blanc, an obscure variety cultivated almost exclusively in the Jura in eastern France, where it produces the sherry-like vin jaune.

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To understand the full diversity of Australian wine, consider just how distinct its regions are. If Margaret River in the west were Bordeaux, where would the Hunter Valley be? Have a guess. Eastern France, perhaps, or Switzerland? Or even as far as Italy? No, further still.

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If you have had opportunity to travel the great wine regions of the world and taste their finest fruits, you will appreciate just how good we have it in Australia.

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Shiraz is a grape that’s more than comfortable flying solo, but loves the company of grenache, cabernet and even the white grape viognier.

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Australia is rediscovering pinot noir, and there’s never been a better time to do it.

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Australian wine first shot to international stardom on the back of full-bodied reds, and no variety has done more for its reputation than shiraz.

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Why semillon sauvignon blanc? Why blend grapes at all, anyway? Single varietal wines are all the rage at the moment, and there’s no shortage of great drinks on the shelves parading just one grape on the label.

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If there’s one NSW wine region that you must visit in your life, it is theLower Hunter Valley.

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