Let us tell you about one of our favourite value for money red wines....Malbec. While the historic birthplace of Malbec is Southwest France, it is in Argentina where the grape receives most of its fame. Malbec is originally from France and before the severe winter of 1956, it was the most commonly planted vine throughout south-west France, including Bordeaux. Because of its initial popularity, Malbec was (and still is) one of the six grapes allowed in the blend of red Bordeaux wine. After the severe winter of 1956 killed many of the vines, Malbec was largely passed over by the French...
There's a growing buzz in the wine industry about wines made from so called alternative varieties. Australia alone makes wine from more than 150 different grape varieties.
You could say that history has predicted this trend, given that back in the late 1980s,Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay were all the rage. Shiraz was totally underrated and undervalued, with it generally being labelled 'Hermitage’. And Sauvignon Blanc was that slightly weird stuff Cloudy Bay made over in New Zealand.
However, Australian wine drinkers are generally a progressive mob and moving forward to the last few years, we have seen the likes of Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc become established varieties with a number of new exciting varieties snapping at their heals. Varieties such as Pinot Grigio have started to appear on the wine drinking radar of many Australians, so much so that it is no longer considered alternative.
