Go Down Under for the wizard flavours of Oz

AUSTRALIA is one of the world's great producers and exporters of wine.

- by Matt Nixson

Aussie winemakers have been at the forefront of breaking boundaries with new and inventive ways of doing things, from the screwcap (an Aussie invention) to wine boxes (ditto).It's no wonder British consumers lap up wines from Down Under as they manage to combine great value with great fun. They tend to be fresh, fruit-driven and easy to drink, of consistent quality and labelled in an attractive and easy-to-understand way.

The main regions are in the cooler southern parts of the country but every state produces wine in a variety of styles with different grapes, taking advantage of the climate differences and soil types. The warmer regions produce full-bodied, richly flavoured and textured wines, while cooler climates generally make medium-bodied and spicier styles.