The notion of great wines is built on the ability to turn sun and rain into ripe grapes and more importantly, the region in which it is grown. Knowing when to water the vines, when to prune off excess grapes, when to shade them from too much sun, when to pick the grapes and finally, what to do in the winery all contribute to the prominence of the wine.

In terms of value and drinkability, French wines have been leading the pack since last century due to ideal weather conditions and advanced growing methods developed over time. And then there are Italian, Chilean and emerging New Age wines like the Australian and Californian wines which have earned high ratings from critics and discerning winos all around the world.

In Asia, wine drinkers generally favour French wine (because of its past track record) and Australian wine (because it is competitively priced).

French wines

Claret is the red wine region although it is only one of a number of styles produced here. The famous dessert wine, Sauternes, is from Bordeaux but dry white Bordeaux is also rated top notch.

The red wine of Bordeaux are produced from a number of grapes, mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, although small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot are also used. The wines produced on the left bank of the Gironde are dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon whereas those produced on the right bank favour the Merlot. The dry white wines such as Sauternes and the other sweet wines of the region are produced from the combination of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grapes and they may contain small amounts of the Muscadelle grape.

Left Bank Claret - the Midoc & Haut-Midoc

The most northerly appellation, Midoc, lies on the left bank of Bordeaux. This applies only to red wines and some are based largely on Merlot, unlike the great wines of the Haut-Midoc further south which is Cabernet Sauvignon country. Towards the south of the Midoc, we have the Haut-Midoc, a larger region which includes the villages of St-Esthphe, Moulis, Listrac, Pauillac, St-Julien and Margaux.

Graves and Pessac-Liognan - south of the Haut-Midoc we have Graves and its enclave Pessac-Liognan. This region is famed for its gravelly soil, hence the name Graves. A gravelly soil minimizes nutrition for the vines and improves drainage - a recipe for good wines. In fact, much of the left bank has gravelly soil, particularly at the top appellations of Pauillac and St-Julien. The other appellations, such as St-Esthphe, have heavier clay soils.

The fundamental difference between Graves and the Haut-Midoc is that many of the top chateaux of Graves produce both red and white wines whereas those in the Haut-Midoc only produce red.

Right Bank Claret

To the east of the Gironde estuary is the red wine appellations of Pomerol and St-Emilion.

Pomerol is home to the most expensive wines of Bordeaux with Pitrus leading the pack. They are popular because of the rich, opulent texture that the top wines exhibit. The reason is down to the Merlot grape which dominates the blend - this variety thriving on the clay soils of the region unlike the gravelly soils of the left bank which favor the Cabernet Sauvignon.

St-Emilion is right next door and it is a Merlot-dominated wine appellation. The St-Emilion region is the only commune on the right bank to have any classification, as Pomerol has none. It stands out as the only Bordeaux classification which is regularly reviewed with worthy and not-so-worthy chateaux promoted or demoted, whichever is appropriate.

Australian Wines

Australian wines are the flavour of the year and of the new century. Sales have been increasing rapidly since the last few years, from virtually nothing to challenge France's lead in the market. What are the causes of this trend? Simply because Australian wines taste good. They taste fruity, smooth and they are not too expensive compared to the European ones. And even when they are a bit pricier, consumers do not mind as we all know that we will not be disappointed. Australian wines have the reputation for being reassuringly reliable.

Wine Regions in Southern Australia

South Australia produces over half of Australia's wines. Its climate is generally Mediterranean with some variation from region to region due to maritime influences and altitude. Popular wine regions include McLaren Vale and Clare Valley. McLaren Vale lies to the south of Adelaide, a temperate area of rolling hills between the St Vincent Gulf and Willunga escarpment. Its soils vary from pure sand through sandy loam, limestone, ironstone, alluvium to heavy red clay. Clare Valley, 90 miles north of Adelaide, is the most northerly vineyard region in South Australia. Its climate is hotter and drier and, without irrigation, often produces a low yield of intensely-flavored, full-boded wines.

Western Australia

Although Western Australia is only a relatively small-scale wine producer nationally, the reputation for producing premium wine is acknowledged all over the world. Australians drink a lot of wine, about twice as much per capita as Americans. As demand and sophistication have increased, many vineyards have risen to the occasion. People in Western Australia are always commenting on how far they are from anywhere else. This distance from all other Australian winemaking regions has made Western Australian winemakers very independent, which in turn has resulted in some different wine-styles from the rest of Australia. Vineyards are being planted in the cooler southern areas of the state and increasingly, small but quality-conscious wineries are springing up. This remote corner of the Australian wine industry is set to produce more and more excellent wines in time to come.

Australian Grape Varietals

Australian vineyards tend to produce grapes with prominent fruit flavors that bring a certain charm even to lesser wines. The winemakers are also brilliant at blending wines from various regions and giving them judicious cellar treatments to achieve a consistent style. The best Chardonnays can hold their own against the best from Burgundy and California. Other than Chardonnay, Simillon is the most prized white variety by the Australians for the herbal, tobacco and lanolin flavors that sneak in around the fruit. Among the reds, top honors go to Shiraz, which is the Australian term for Syrah, the prime grape variety of the North. Down Under versions tend to emphasize rich, mouth-filling fruit flavors in chewy, often sumptuous textures and structures. Penfolds Grange is justly world famous and was chosen as Wine Spectator's 1995 Wine of the Year. The list of other worthy Shirazes seems to double every year.