Best Australian Red Wine Under $20

It can be quite confusing to choose a wine with so many options available in the market. You have to think about the occasion, your budget, taste, your guests (if planning for a party)and whatnot. So to help you out, we have sorted some of the best Australian red wines under $20 that you can buy.

From Pinot Noir, Merlot to Cabernet Sauvignon, we have got it covered. Here’s our list of top Australian red wines under $20.

McWilliams JJ McWilliam Shiraz Cabernet 2014 
It’s a full-bodied medium ruby red coloured wine filled with blackberries, liquorice and cassis flavours. It goes perfectly well with steaks stews and BBQ. You can totally think of getting this one for your next Barbeque.

Talking about the winemakers, the McWilliam family has been supporting Aussie wine industry for six generations and has taken the marked its name in the global marketplace.

Tyrrells Shiraz 2016 Hunter Valley

The Shiraz grapes are sourced from a small section of Shiraz blocks. Matured in large French oak casks this medium-bodied wine is a perfect blend of soft savoury tannins and acid, creating a well-balanced wine. It is well-paired with roast lamb and beef.

Peter Lehmann Art n Soul Shiraz 2015 
An appealing and vibrant deep red colour wine that emanates dark forest fruit aromas with a hint of chocolate. It has a very velvety mouthfeel and a long finish. Coming to food choices, it goes well with sausages, steaks and Cheddar cheese.

The Peter Lehmann Wines company has crafted varieties of ranges and this range is called Art n Soul made for immediate enjoyment. Other options include Peter Lehmann Clancy's Red Blend 2013 Barossa Valley, its a blend of Merlot, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, flaunting a deep cherry red colour.

Rosemount Diamond Label Merlot  
Rosemount wines are made to enjoy on all occasions and full of luscious flavours. Rosemount wines Diamond Merlot flaunts cherry colour with plum red hues. On the nose, it emanates red cherries, blackberries and milk chocolate aromas. This refreshing wine is well-paired with lamb, beef or veal dishes.

Established in 1974, Rosemount Estate has a national and international reputation for its high-quality wines. Their wines are fresh and vibrant, something they promise their consumers in every bottle. They offer many wines under the labels - flagship collection, district release, meal matcher, diamond labels and my collection.

These are some exceptional choices to look for if you want to buy the best Australian red wine under $20. We would sort the best white wines under your budget soon. Tune in for our next blog.

Must-try Red & White Wine Aperitif

To start with, it is important for us to know what does an aperitif mean. An aperitif is a drink (alcoholic) that is consumed before having a meal in order to stimulate your appetite. This French word, aperitif, comes from aperire (a verb in Latin) which means to open. It is more likely to be dry and not sweet beverage, thus a light and dry white makes for a perfect aperitif. Here in this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of some common red & white wine aperitif that you can serve in your upcoming house party.

Dubonnet

A French aperitif that originated almost 150 years ago, this drink is available in both red and white wine styles. The red Dubonnet is a bit sweet with added flavours of quinine and spices. On the other hand is a dry white wine flavoured with herbs. 

Lillet

Another one that is both a red and white wine aperitif. As luxurious and stylish as the name sounds, Lillet is a drink that originated in a small town of southern Bordeaux. The recipe till date is a secret, and the drink seems infused with roots, herbs and fruits while revealing notes of orange and mint. The natives serve this drink in a classic way, with a twist of orange. 

Vermouth

A very popular wine style, vermouth comes in both sweet and dry forms. It is commonly used in making Manhattan, although the Europeans prefer to have it before a meal as an aperitif. Italian and French Vermouth namely Noilly Prat, Cinzano and Martini & Rossi are consumed world wide. The Italians are especially known for ‘Punt e Mes’ (meaning point and a half), a delicacy created using vermouth. They have an old custom as per which bitter component is added in ‘points’ and added to the drink.   

Some other common red and white wine based aperitif choices are dry sherry, champagne, gin, pastis and fino. Order now for a huge collection of wines available at Just Wines - Australia’s 2nd largest online wine store.

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Learn about red wines of Australia

Over the years winemaking has gained immense popularity in Australia. Wine was particularly introduced in this country by the European settlers and in the present day, Australia can be dubbed as one of the leading quality and quantity wine producer. Along with this, Australia has also gained fourth position amongst the largest wine exporters in the word. The dry and warm climate makes the country ideal for producing wines. A major part of the land is covered by vineyards located in different wine regions. In this blog, we will be discovering some of the red wine grown in Australia.

Shiraz
Of all the red wine varieties grown in Australia, Shiraz is the one most produced and is produced in almost all the wine regions. Also known as Syrah in other parts of the world, the Australian Shiraz is known for both still and sparkling styles. A very versatile grape variety, it is deep plum coloured wine which shows complex flavours and aromas.

Cabernet Sauvignon
Often blended with Merlot and Shiraz grapes, Cab Sauv is the second red wine variety most grown in Australia. A food-friendly varietal, it is grown in different warm and cool regions of the country thus showing very different attributes. Warmer region Cab Sauv is generally sweeter although when grown in cooler climate it shows savoury and herbal notes.

Merlot
A classic red wine, it is commonly used in the famous Bordeaux style blends. Some of the most popular wine regions of Australia like Coonawarra and Margaret Region are known for their world class Merlot wines. It generally shows earthy characters along with liquorice, chocolate note as it ripens.

Pinot Noir
A cool climate wine, it has finally found its position as one of the mainstream red wine varieties grown in Australia. Regions like Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and parts of southern WA produce very fine Pinot Noir. It is a dry, more acidic, complex and relatively mild wine which goes well with red meats and oily fishes.

Ranging from complex Shiraz to light Pinot Noir, you can order from a huge variety of red and white wine available here. Enjoy!

The Grenache Wine

Grenache grapes are likely to be produced in warmer regions. The wine finds its roots in Spain and was usually grown in the southern europe in parts of France and Italy. Over the time, it gained popularity and is now grown in many parts of the world. In Australia, Grenache was introduced by James Busby along with some other cutting in the mid of 19th century. Some of the best Grenache wines come from Australia’s renowned wine growing regions- McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley. 

Grenache is a dark colour wine with purple undertones. It is generally characterised by lovely aromas of spice, red plum, cherry elixir, raspberry and over a time may also develop meaty notes. Due to the presence of high alcohol contents, it has a medium-bodied palate.  

Grenache was introduced in Australia because of its robust qualities and was mainly used for Fortified wines. Though it was first grown in the Hunter Valley, Christopher Rawson Penfold later brought the cutting to South Australia where the warm climate proved to be best suitable for Grenache. In the earlier days, Grenache became a popular choice with 80% of Australian winemaking industry producing it. However, towards the end of 1970’s it saw a major decline with the industry taken over by more fruitier Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

But in the recent years, Grenache has again come to the forefront. At present 8,000 acres of South Australian wine growing region is covered by Grenache. One of the best Grenache wine in Australia is their signature GSM (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre)  blend. Grenache is also widely used for Rose wines. The Barossa Valley Grenache is quite different from that produced in McLaren Vale. The latter is characterised by spicy notes while the Barossa Valley Grenache is more fruitier. Be it as a varietal wine or a blend, grenache has earned a position in the hearts of wine lovers.

Barossa: the Land of Wines

The picturesque Barossa region located in the South Australia, is one of the main wine-growing regions in the world. It incorporates the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley which lends it a uniqueness in terms of the climate having both warm and cool climate neighbouring regions. Hectares of land covered with the beautiful vineyards make it a favourite tourist spot. The Barossa Valley region houses more than 150 wineries of which some are very old and renowned. One can find some of the award winning wineries and restaurants in this region.

The Barossa region has a rich history which dates back to 1842. The first wine was introduced here by the European immigrants who left behind them a rich legacy of wine and food. With seven generations of wine-makers having been worked upon this land, it inhabits some of the oldest vines of the world and around century old cellars. World’s oldest vineyards of Shiraz wine are located in this region. Australia is known throughout the world for its best Barossa Shiraz wines. Apart from the star performer Shiraz, this region is also known for grape varieties like Reisling, Grenache, Semillon,  Mourvedre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Fortified wines.

Some of the best Barossa award winning Shiraz wines are listed below:

Wine	Award	Price
Bethany GR12 Reserve Shiraz 2008	Gold Medal	$93.17
Rolf Binder Icon Hanisch Shiraz 2012	97 Points	$97.99
1847 Pappy’s Paddock Shiraz 2013	Trophy and Gold Medal	$40
Jacob’s Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz 2012	Gold Medal	$65.36

With some of the oldest and world’s best winery along with great contemporary food artisans, Barossa region can be pronounced as a perfect gastronomic delight. This rare collection of world’s best Shiraz wines is exclusively available on Just Wines website. Try it now!

All you Need to Know About Organic Wines

What is an organic wine? Organic wines are the ones in which the grapes used are grown using organic methods of farming. Thus, the grapes are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Environment friendly methods are used to produce grapes. For instance, they allow small sheeps in their farms in order to clear the weeds and grass. Even the winemaking process in making organic wines includes minimal interference where the wines are fermented by natural yeast. 

The organic wines help in sustainable growth. The chemicals over a period of time depreciate the quality of soil. The organic methods not only help in preserving the soil but it also lends unique characteristics to the wine. With no use of chemicals, it offers a pure and clear essence of the varietal used and reflects its terroir. Today, best organic wines in Australia are produced and known worldwide. 

Their are legal certifications which the wine maker needs to get in order to promote their wine as organic. Promoting a wine as organic without getting it certified is illegal. These certifying organisations carry out audits to check whether the vineyards producing organic wines comply by the rules laid down by the organisation as well as the department of agriculture. The National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA) and Australian Certified Organic (ACO) are prominent organic certifying bodies in Australia. Before buying an organic wine, one must check whether it carries the certification marks on the label.

Earlier, organic wines did not had a good reputation in Australian wine markets. However, these days there is a growing interest towards organic wines with some of the best organic wines coming from Australia. The customer today has become more aware and educated showing a growing interest towards the organic products.  

The art of tasting a red wine

Talking about wines, Red Wines are the most popular of all around the world. From vine to wine, it goes through long procedures to achieve that particular luxurious taste. The winemakers have been practicing and experimenting with the techniques to create their masterpieces. Tasting a red varietal in itself is like an art. Here are a few tips on how to taste a wine.

The label:
Even if you are not a wine expert, you can know a lot about the wine from its label. A few things which you can notice on the label are
The vintage- it tells you when the wine has been harvested.
Its origin- whether it comes from a colder or warmer region affects the taste of the wine.

Pour and tilt the glass:

Tilt your glass and notice the colour of the wine over a white background. The colour of the wine tells us about its age. A wine with more vibrant or intense colours is younger and as the wine ages it tends to lose its colour.

Sense the aromas:

Take a sniff of your wine. But before doing so, swirl the wine once. It would help the aromas of the wine to rise. Now bring your nose closer to the glass and smell the aromas. The aromas tell a lot about the flavours you can expect from that wine. You may feel fruity aromas or floral aromas. Maybe aromas of leather, spice or earth as well.

Taste the wine:

Finally, it’s time to time to taste the wine. But do not swallow it altogether. The wine consists of various flavours. It might be sweet, acidic, sour or dry. Allow the wine to stay in your mouth for a while so that you are able to enjoy all the flavours.

Finale:

Here comes the conclusion where you can talk about the texture, taste and your overall experience with the wine. The above wine tasting process can be followed for different wine varietals like the reds progressing towards whites, sparkling, and fortified's. Experimenting with different wines will make you smarter wine taster over time. It will help you to discover the subtle aromas and flavours present in wines.

Barossa Valley Wineries you shouldn't miss!

Settled in the heart of world-renowned Barossa, South Australia's Barossa Valley is one of the oldest and finest wine producing regions of Australia. It is said that seven generations of passionate grape growers and dedicated winemakers have established this fertile land to become one of Australia's top wine regions. The region is known for consistently producing world's best wines and having outstanding vintages for over the past 160 years. So let's have a look at some of the top Barossa Valley wineries whose wines have stunned the world.

1. Seppeltsfield
Founded in 1851, Seppeltsfield is the world's only winery to release a 100-year-old single vintage wine every year. It is Australia’s most iconic wine estate which helped in shaping the history of the Australian wine industry.

2. Jacobs Creek
One of the most successful wine businesses of Australia, Jacobs Creek (formerly known as Jacob’s Creek) has been producing wines since 1847. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard Winemakers since 1989 whose. Wines under Jacobs Creek label are exported to over 60 countries.

3. Turkey Flat
Established in 1847, Turkey Flat winery is located in Tanunda. Described as one of the "cult wines" of Australia by wine expert Oz Clarke, the winery highly focuses on production (more than 40%) of rosés. The winery is considered a leader in 21st century’s "rosé revival" trend.

4. Yalumba
Founded in 1849 by Samuel Smith, Yalumba is part of a multimillion-dollar venture Australia’s First Families of Wine. The winery is best known for The Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz and The Octavius Old Vine Barossa Shiraz.

5. Penfolds
One of the oldest and most iconic wineries, Penfolds' influence on Australia's wine industry is remarkable. From its beginning in 1844 until today, the winery has covered a long way in becoming one of Australia's most respected winemakers by merging science, art and innovation. Penfolds Grange, which also scored a perfect 100 for 1976 and 2008 vintage, is the most celebrated Australian wine across the world.

Make sure you don’t miss any wine from these top Barossa Valley wineries. Shop them now at Just Wines.

Winners of Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year

Every year, famous wine critic James Halliday and his wine tasting panel select the best Australian wines, wineries and winemakers from thousands. Known as the Halliday Wine Companion Awards, it is one of the most anticipated events on the Australian drinks calendar. The awards are given on the evening prior to the release of the annual guide, for which every Aussie wine lover anxiously waits. There’s a lot of buzz about wines in the market already, so this time let’s appreciate the hands and minds behind those award-winning beauties. Featured here are the four winemakers who won the title of ‘Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year’.

Peter Fraser: 2016 Winemaker of the Year:

The driving force behind South Australia based Yangarra Estate since 2000, Peter Fraser was the winner of Winemaker of the Year title at 2016 Wine Companion Awards. Having gained experience working in cellars and vineyards of Australia, France, Spain and the U.S, Peter has collected many awards and procured fame for a number of wines. Most famous of them are 1998 Chais Clarendon Shiraz, 2001 Yangarra Estate Shiraz and 2004 Cadenzia, just to name a few.

Sarah Crowe: 2017 Winemaker of the Year:

Victoria's Yarra Yering winemaker Sarah Crowe was named 2017 Winemaker of the Year. She is the first woman to take this title. She also won ‘Rising Star of the Year’ in 2009 Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association’s Hunter Legends. She has also judged International Cool Climate Wine Show, Royal Melbourne Wine Awards and Royal Queensland Wine Show.

Paul Hotker: 2018 Winemaker of the Year:

Senior winemaker at Langhorne Creek's Bleasdale Vineyards was awarded the 2018 Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year by James Halliday. It is Paul’s extraordinary skill of nurturing high quality fruit into outstanding wines that has given a number of Bleasdale wines ratings of 95 or above.

Julian Langworthy: 2019 Winemaker of the Year:

Julian Langworthy, Chief Winemaker for the fastest growing wine business in Western Australia Fogarty Wine Group (FWG), won the 2019 Winemaker of the Year title. Having won a tonne of awards for his rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, this award is yet another feather in his golden cap.

Try their wines and you’ll be not amazed for why they were given this auspicious title. Cheers!

Types of wine personalities

Why is it that people have their very specific wine preferences? Are the wine preferences of the people dependent just on taste, or, is a larger personality factor determinant of what type of wine is liked by them? Marketers of wines are always interested in knowing what personality traits of a person is more likely to buy a particular type of wine rather than the other. Can these personality traits correlated with the wine types across populations bring out same results? Well, here are some of the most common observations by Myers-Briggs on what type of wine is bought by people of a particular personality-

A) Extroverts- Zinfandel, Pinot Noir
B) Flexible, Tolerant & Pragmatic- Malbec
C) Outgoing, Exuberant & Accepting- Zinfandel
D) Warm, Imaginative & Loves to be Appreciated- Carmenere
E) Outspoken, Resourceful & Good at Reading Others- Sangiovese
F) Realistic, Decisive & Organized- Tempranillo
G) Cooperative, Conscientious & Loyal-Grenache
H) Empathetic, Responsible & Helper-at-heart-Merlot
I) Decisive, Systematic and a Leader- Nebbiolo
J) Quiet, Serious & Logically Working Towards Goals- Barbera
K) Quiet, Friendly & Loyal- Petit Verdot
L) Insightful, Conscientious & Visionary- Syrah
M) Driven, Independent & Holds High Standards- Cabernet Sauvignon
N) Tolerant, Flexible & The Quiet Observer- Mourvedre
O) Sensitive, Friendly & in the Moment- Gamay
P) Idealistic, Loyal & an Understander- Cabernet Franc
Q) Focused, Skeptical & an Abstract Thinker- Pinot Noir

You might be wondering what use this can this information be put to. For the marketers who want to establish what other products wine-drinkers might be interested in the most, this bit of information on their personality trait is crucial.
It is important to understand that many of these traits can overlap with one another as personalities are complex and can not be segregated on the basis of compartments. Therefore, the wine personalities mentioned herein are, at best, indicative. While these might aid marketers as secondary or perhaps tertiary source of information, these shall not be held as primary parameters for marketing purposes.

McLaren Vale Wineries - A Brief Introduction

McLaren Vale is an Australian Geographical Indication for the purpose of wine-making. Geographically, vale is referred to a valley. Therefore, this region is a valley of river. McLaren Vale is essentially of triangular shape and is bounded on three sides. Adelaide lies to its north, the St Vincent gulf to the west and the Mt Lofty Ranges to the east and south. McLaren Vale is both a region and a small township within it. In fact, the region derives its name from the township. The grape growing areas within this are Old Reynella, Willunga, Aldinga, McLaren Vale Flat and McLaren Vale.

The importance of the region lies in the fact that this is an important food and wine region of Australia. Due to its well-recognized wine industry, it is also included in the Great Wine Capitals of the World. The region has been named after John McLaren who conducted the surveyed this region. However, some people argue that the naming was after David McLaren, the colonial manager of South Australia Company.

The first vines in this region were grown by John Reynell and Thomas Hardy in 1838, which is a good 180 years ago from now. These two people became the pioneers of wine industry in this area. At present, the region boasts of more than 80 cellar doors and 120 odd wineries.

McLaren Vale wineries grown different varieties of grapes. Shiraz dominates with about 55% of vineyard area of this region under its cultivation. Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache are the other two major varieties. Besides, there are a number of other grape varieties which respond well to Mediterranean type of climate.

Among the prominent McLaren Vale wineries, to name a few, are Hugo Wines, Zonte's Footstep, Angove Winery, d'Arenberg, Leconfield Wines, Maxwell Wines, Rosemount Wines, Wirra Wirra Vineyards and Geoff Merrill Wines

Importance of Tasting notes- The Common Wine Descriptors

The importance of tasting notes of wines cannot be ignored. These tasting notes describe the wine in detail, for the benefit of knowledge seekers as well as the wine buyers. The tasting notes can be written or told verbally by people who are experts in wine tasting. Even the wineries have their own wine experts who taste the wine at different stages and mention its properties. These properties influence the commerce of the wines. Therefore, the tasting notes of popular wine critics hold a lot of weight. The wine collectors also pay a lot of attention to what the experts say so that they know which wine will age well over time and can fetch them a much higher price as compared to their investment.

The tasting notes describe some of the most common properties of wines, such as:
a. Types- such as red, white, fruit or sparkling
b. Flavour- such as, sweet, dry, fruity, spicy, creamy, or any other
c. Aroma- such as, of tropical or seasonal fruits, flowers or anything which has been commonly experienced.
d. Full-bodied or medium-bodied
e. The extent to which tannins are present
f. Aftertaste- whether it tastes for long or for short time period

The highly descriptive tasting notes clearly point to what a wine is like and what it is not like. These help people in deciding whether they shall buy the wine or not. If the notes are by someone whom you trust because the previous experience of going as per his or her advice has been pretty good, you are most likely to believe it and buy the wine even for the first time. Collectors also go through these notes to ascertain whether it shall be collected or not.
Tasting notes, therefore, help all those people who are interested in wine, whether as educators, buyers or collectors.

Effect of terroir on grapes and wine

The word 'Terroir' comes from root 'terre' which means earth or soil. But in the world of wines, the terroir concept is more than just soil. Where some classify terroir as an interactive cultivated ecosystem in a given place including soil, climate, and the vine; some define it as a combination of natural environment plus biological and human factors. We can say that the terroir concept is based on an assumption that the key wine characteristics attribute to a fixed geographical area where the grapes and the wine are produced.                                     

How to study a terroir?

The terroir is one of the most widely-discussed subjects in winemaking and is highly accepted in established regions, be it any part of the world. Since many factors related to both the plant and the physical environment are involved in defining a terroir, it is advised to opt a pluridisciplinary approach for studying a terroir.

Is terroir responsible for wine's sensory attributes?

Yes. To understand the concept of terroir and its influence on wine composition along with sensory attributes, the spatial and temporal variability of key wine aroma compounds should be known. These are ­­3-mercaptohexanol (‘tropical’ and ‘grapefruit’ notes), 1,8-cineole (‘minty’ and ‘eucalypt’ aromas), and rotundone (‘peppery’ and ‘spicy’ notes). Various studies on these aroma compounds suggest that the environmental and biological interactions along with biotic factors like vintage and winemaking procedures, play important roles in shaping a wine's composition and its sensory attributes.

What takes for a grape to express the terroir?

The precocity of the grapevine variety is the first condition for a great terroir expression. It should match with the local climatic conditions in such a way that full ripeness of the fruit is reached by the end of the growing season. The second condition is that the vines should experience a factor which limits the yield and vigour. For example, water deficit stress or low nitrogen availability in the soil. Please note, even a single wine region may have varied terroir. Sometimes, a single wine grape variety grown on a specific block in a single

vineyard may produce different tastes than the one (with same variety) grown in another block. This is enough to tell how wide the concept of terroir is.

Expensive Wines vs Cheap Wines

What makes a wine expensive and why a wine sells at less price? These two questions might have come to your mind many a times while buying wines, be it cheap or expensive. Another question that hooks is that whether it is possible to find quality wine traits in an inexpensive wine? Let's get deep into this and explore the truth behind expensive wines vs cheap wines. The following tips will help you seek a better wine.

There are three main factors that play a major role in developing the taste and determining the price for a wine.

Oak

Oak barrels are used to age a wine and evolve it with nutty flavours. The most coveted winemakers in the world prefer using new oak barrels to add in vanilla and baking spice flavours. On the other hand, wines that are aged in old oak barrels develop less characters than the wines aged in new oak. Also the new oak barrels, especially the French ones, are in huge demand, hence they come costly when compared to American oak. That increases the value of the wine by $2-4 per bottle.

Time

It is generally assumed that the wine gets better with time. It does, in some reds, but it is equally important to know that ageing wine actually changes the taste of fruit flavours, and reduces tannins and acidity in the wine. Some wines taste better when holded for 10 years but the point here is that holding wines for years takes space and money both. This adds more cost, probably $1 to $5 per bottle (depending on the time for which the wine has been holded) to the wine. As far as white wines are concerned, most of them taste better when enjoyed young and fresh.

Terroir

A wine’s journey begins in the vineyard, and a vineyard’s site plays a very important role in determining the value of the wine. For producing premium and fine quality wines, winemakers focus at making their vines low-yielding. The location of the vineyard also matters. For example, a vineyard located at hill with low nutrient soil tend to produce quality grapes when compared to the fertile soils of a river delta. Also, the variety of the grape grown in a particular region might add to the value of the wine. Take example of Shiraz from Barossa Valley and a Riesling from Clare Valley. Both places have earned a reputation worldwide for the respective varieties. So, even if you have a low-priced varietal from a region where it is best grown, it might be worth trying.

Wine on Tap vs Wine in Bottle

Wine on tap must be gaining popularity, but is it really a great taker on wine in bottles? Let’s find out!

Wine efficiency

Those who are new to trying wines may not find any difference at all. However, wine connoisseurs can immediately notice the difference between the wine served from a bottle and the one served through a tap. Bottled wines open up much faster than a wine on tap. The nose is especially more noticeable and opens on the bottled wines, enhancing the flavours on the initial sips. The wine on tap takes some time, opening after a few minutes of swirling and breathing in the glass. On the palate, both wine pouring styles have a similarity. However, that totally depends on specific wines. Ultimately, the choice is yours, whether you want to enjoy wine to the fullest or partially!

Cleanliness & handling

Wine on taps requires a lot of attention in terms of cleanliness. If taps or tap lines aren't clean, the gas mix isn’t perfect, the temperature isn't right, or if the pressure is wrong, the wine on tap will end up tasting terrible. The same is not the case with a bottled wine, which just needs to be stored in the right place

Economy

Economically, a keg wine or a wine on tap will be efficient for those restaurant owners who have a big footprint of customers and have long queues to tackle and where wine can be sold by the glass. On the other hand, wine in bottles is perfect for restaurants whose customers prefer quality over quantity. Wine on tap can be an economical choice for customers but there will always be some loss of aromas in initial sips when a wine is served from a keg. On the other hand, a carefully cellared wine bottle will preserve and enhance the flavours and complexity of the wine, which is not possible with wine from a tap.

Concluding

Online wine retailers like Just Wines in Australia have made it possible to buy premium and fine wines from Aussie and New Zealand wineries at eye-opening discounted prices. That means wine on bottles have now become a savvy affair for both retail buyers and bulk buyers. Just Wines also offers free shipping to its Trophy Club members, which cuts the cost of travelling to a wine bar too! Now you can judge which one is more economical!

5 facts revealing Australia's drinking habits

If you are in Australia and company with your lady friends, there is a high chance that you might be

drinking wine. If the guess was right, there is nothing to be surprised about!

Here are few statistics revealing some of the interesting facts about Australian people and their drinking habits -

1. Total consumption of wine in Australia is 69 million litres for 2013-14

2. Australian women prefer wine over other alcoholic drinks such as beer and spirits as compared to men.

3Bottled wine is the most preferred drink by Australians succeeded by beer and bottled spirit

4. Average weekly spend by a household on wine is ~$8.5 as compared to ~$12.5 for beer.

5. Australian’s in the age group of 30+ is more likely to drink wine over other alcoholic drinks.

Quick Statistics - Australian wine industry

Australian wine Industry 

Australia is the 6th largest wine producer and 11th highest per capita consumption of wine. Know about the statistics of Australian wine industry such as no of wineries, wine-regions,  grape variety most widely grown in Australia, total wine grape crush by region and wine exports.

Here is a quick summary of the Australian wine industry - 

1.Total wine production in Australia is 1.37 billion liters

2. Shiraz is most widely grown grape variety in area totaling ~40,000 ha

3. South Australia has the highest grape crush among all the wine regions of Australia

4. Australian wine has the highest exports to China accounting  to 33% of all the total exports

(Figures from Wine Australia of year- 2017)

Pairing wine with vegetarian dishes

Learn About Pairing Wines with Vegetarian Dishes

The very first thumb rule that people learn while pairing food with wine is 'Pair a red wine with red meat and a white wine with white meat'. This rule definitely works when the talk is about non-vegan dishes, but what concept is followed when cooked dishes are purely vegan? Which wine tastes best with tofu, roasted veggies or a spicy vegetarian stir-fry? We scrolled through various websites of wine and food experts and have jotted down some basic recommendations for different vegetarian cuisines. This guide will help you in pairing wine with vegetarian dishes perfectly.

White or Red?

It can be any! The wine world has thrown away the old-school wine pairing concepts through the innovative vegan recipes. Tofu and beans can go well with sparkling wines as well, and that includes a Rose too. Rose wines made from Pinot Noir and Shiraz do not overpower the fresh flavours of veggies, so they are an easy choice for many vegan dishes.

Go Local

Try pairing a wine with the food grown in the particular region from where the wine is. This helps in creating a perfect balance between regional flavours and taste.

Pairing Likewise

Pair elegant food with an elegant wine and a daily food like pasta with an everyday-drinking or sober wine.

Sweet for Heat

Pair spicy and hot Indian and Thai dishes with sweet dessert wines. The ripe fruit and residual sugars in sweet whites help tame the heat and bring out the other flavours in spicy dishes.

Trust your Taste Buds

Don’t overthink, just trust your taste buds. If you liked a particular wine when paired with a dish prepared by you, you should mention it. Who knows, you explored something new that can be cherished!

There’s an entire field dedicated to food & wine pairings. An entire range of books is devoted to wine pairing and food selections, so it is almost difficult to mention each and every little bit of the whole world of food matches with wine here. Just follow these simple tips mentioned above and let us know about your favourite pairing in the comment box below.

Know about decanting

Decanting lets the wine breathe and helps in opening the flavours and aromas present in the wine. It helps to separate the sediments present in red wine.White wine do not require decanting as sediments are absent in it.

Decanting times can vary depending on the wine. The decanting time for reds such as Zinfandel and Pinot Noir is 30 minutes and for Shiraz, Tempranillo and Sangiovese is 2-3 hours.

Healthy drinking habits for wine lovers

Drinking wine is good but one should also follow good drinking habits. Below are few drinking habits all winelovers should follow -

• Never drink on empty stomach - It is better to avoid drinking on empty stomach. The reason for it is that on an empty stomach blood alcohol concentration is high. And once alcohol hits the brain, control over bodily movements is reduced. However, if you have eaten something before drinking it can slow down this process. It is  also better to check the suitable wine food pairing to enhance the experience of wine drinking.

• Free days from drinking - Drinking should be done in moderation. Also, there should be days that are free from alcohol as it lets the body recover

• Eat healthy the next morning - It is recommended to avoid taking carbs and sugar in breakfast the very next morning. Better to take high protein food and healthy fats - food that is high in nutrition

It is important to cultivate good drinking habits to enjoy wine drinking experience to the fullest.