200 grape varieties in Australia

How many have you tried?

In this issue: 200 Beyond Shiraz Varieties, AAWVS additions to Vindata, Wine Selectors Special, Last Gasp Maps, Thank you for supporting me in 2024.

200 wine varieties used in Austalia

200 ‘Beyond Shiraz’ Varieties

I am grinding away on a book called Beyond Shiraz. The idea is to describe all of the grape varieties used in Australia. After amassing a list and scrounging for a few other obscure ones, plus a couple not yet released, I decided to count them. Came to exactly 200. I’m sure the number won’t be spot on 200 when the manuscript is finished, but it gives you an idea of just how many there are.

Subscribers to the Vinodiversity Community will get a heads-up when the book is first published. I will have a special price for the first week to get some sales momentum going. It will be available e-book and printed versions.

AAWVS additions to Vindata

I have just about finished combing through the results of the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show held last month. As I do so I find quite a few new producers of alternative varieties. And many of the wineries I am already familiar with have been expanding their range of varieties. The Vindata database now has 1480 wineries listed in it, about 40 more than at this time last year. Not all of these wineries are still operating. I am quicker to add to my list. The wines from defunct wineries are often still available for a few years after the winery itself goes out of business.

I am constantly revising and updating my lists. Then I revise the corresponding pages on Vinodiversity. The numbers of producers varieties like Gamay, Gruner Veltliner, Malbec and Nebbiolo continue to grow quite steadily.

You can get find a list of the recently edited pages here.

Wine Selectors Special

The latest snap sale from Wine Selectors includes some interesting offers under the banner Abuzz With Alternatives.

Available in red, white or mixed packs, with a two bonus bottles thrown in you can set yourself and your friends abuzz over the festive season. A great price but hurry before it is sold out.

Last Gasp Maps

Still a few maps for sale. Read the full story to see which maps are still avaliable.

Thank You

Finally, thank you to all of those who have supported this community this either by becoming paid members, buying wine or maps after clicking on links in the newsletter or by contributing thoughtful comments to our Taste and Talk Sessions.

Let’s make 2025 bigger and better. You can help by sharing this newsletter to your wine loving friends.

Cheers Darby.