Wine country Australia between mass wine and top qualities

“Our classified wines cannot hide the fact that the Australian wine industry is having problems”, admits Langton's founder and General Manager Stewart Langton. “However, there is more and more top wines and there is no doubt that the standard quality of Australian wines has improved since 1991 but it is still hard to sell. We are going through a rough time with the high surplus of wines, the aftermath of the economic crisis and the increasing dollar”.

The oversupply and the many average wines really annoy the whole Australian wine industry. This is why institutions, associations and authorities are trying their best with various measures to convince vintagers to put more emphasis on quality (we reported: Wine crisis in Australia - exports plummet).

“Super-Premium-wines like Penfolds Grange or Hardys Nottage Hill are well-known and sought. This industry has no problems to sell whatsoever, but it is particularly rough for standard quality wines”, says Langton. “I am convinced that we will have to focus on quality and not worry about the -wines”.

Langton states a “distinguished”-classified wine as an example, a Cuvée from Shiraz and Viognier, which -according to Langton- sets a whole different pace. “The Clonakilla Shiraz-Viognier has a completely different style, basically like the wines from the Côte-Rôtie, which did not even exist in Australia years ago. Wines like these have a good market chance”.

The classification of Australia's leading wine auctioneer Langton was first launched in 1991. It includes all the wine-growing regions an has a list according to quality and demand for each of the vintages. The market launch rhythm of every five years gives wineries enough time to concentrate on the quality of their wines. Langton's classification has received a high recognition due to regular tastings with focus on the regional identity and is thus the most well-known and respected wine classification outside of Europe. (aw.yoopress)