 No one can deny that Australia dramatically changed the face of the wine business in the UK. When I arrived in the UK 15 years ago, the wine market was divided. On the one hand there were expensive fine Clarets, Burgundies and Italian wines, and on the other there were the few wines that supermarkets had on offer. In due course, wines from the New World started to fill the supermarket shelves. These wines had modern presentations, were well explained, with the grape variety on the label and, most importantly, were approachable, fruit-driven wines ready to be enjoyed without fuss or snobbery. Australia can take a great deal of the credit for this, having attracted a new, younger type of wine drinker who can afford to drink quality wine regularly without breaking the bank.
This input by Australian winemakers was felt across the globe, not just in the UK. Their modern winemaking techniques inspired many young producers in the Old World to change winemaking forever.
As someone from a country with a rich wine heritage, working in the wine business in the UK is fantastic. It is open-minded to wines from around the world and has no national prejudice. L'Art du Vin has put together an 'Aussie' selection that will hopefully reflect the main wine regions of this large country.
Richard
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