While Australia is known for its unique wildlife, a wide variety of food, friendly locals, and breathtaking natural beauty, those aren’t the only things it offers the world. Here are a few of the best Australian wines, spirits, and beers, for you to try on your next visit to this incredible country.
Henschke Hill of Grace
Whether you are a fan of a Liquorland Travla beer, a gin and tonic, or a whisky on the rocks, you can’t deny the fact that Henschke is one of the most well-know and respected wineries in the country.
One of, if not the best wine they offer is Hill of Grace. This single vineyard Shiraz is rich and elegant, and easy to drink. Aged for upwards of 35 years, a bottle will set you back a pretty penny, but to say it’s worth every cent would be an understatement.
Penfolds Grange
Due to not skipping a single vintage since 1951, Grange has built a reputation for its consistency and quality, and is also a sought-after addition for many collectors’ cellars. What sets this wine apart is its truly unique flavour and ageing.
Made from grapes across different vineyards and regions, Penfolds offers a flavour like no other, and with some of the best bottles now aged over 50 years, you may struggle to pop the cork on a bottle, but won’t regret it for a moment.
Torbreck Vintners RunRig
As one of the youngest vineyards in the country, Torbreck has most certainly stamped its mark on the Australian wine industry with its full-bodied Barossa Valley reds. With low-yield and late season harvesting as their hallmarks, a bottle of Torbreck is a must-try for any wine-lover.
While RunRig may not be the most expensive bottle on the shelf, it is a unique wine that offers something others just don’t, and whether you are a drinker or collector, this is one you most certainly can’t miss out on.
Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin
Four Pillars has taken ten years to grow from a small, craft distillery, into one of the go-to manufacturers of gin in the country. Olive Leaf is a flavour explosion like no other, and you will be surprised by just how much you love it.
Using three virgin olive oils and olive leaf tea, they have created a rich, layered gin with a vegetal tang that is hard to miss. Mix in some juniper, bay, and rosemary, and you end up with a complex drink that doesn’t need anything else to let it shine.
Manly Spirits Co. Australian Dry Gin
Manly Spirits has the goal of capturing the true beauty of the beaches of Sydney. From the design of their bottles to the ingredients they use to make their gins, there are very few gins on the market that are more Australian.
Regarding the ingredients, sea lettuce is combined with pepper leaf, finger lime, and orange peel. With each sip, you somehow feel closer to the beach, no matter where you may be, and this is the perfect gin for a G&T or a gin cocktail with a slice or two of orange and lemon.
Victoria Bitter
There is arguably a no more Australian drink than an ice-cold can of VB. Enjoyed on the beach, at a cricket game, or at home while the barbecue is on, VB is easy to drink, flavourful, and a beet you won’t get tired of.
Despite its name, VB is a 4.9% lager, with hints of grain and citrus. You will get hits of malty sweetness, some bitterness to balance it out, and an overall rounded flavour that makes it a great beer no matter your taste.
Tooheys
Tooheys offers a range of beers, but nothing is better than the original. Their New range has 4.6% alcohol, and has been a favorite amongst locals and visitors since it was first released in 1931.
The beer doesn’t have the same bitterness as a VB, but it does offer subtle malt and citrus flavors with a hint of sweetness. Its crisp finish makes it surprisingly thirst-quenching, and it’s an amazing beer to enjoy out in the sun on a warm day.
XXXX
Another very well-known Australian beer is XXXX. Known for its bitter and slightly sweet flavor, 4X is incredibly smooth and easy to drink, even if you aren’t a massive beer-lover.
It is mild, with none of the ingredients overpowering the others, leaving you with a very well-balanced beer that is right at home in a glass, as it is in a meal. 4X isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, but simply produce a world-class beer for all to enjoy.
Coopers
Coopers is the largest Australian-owned brewery in the country, and was founded all the way back in 1862. They manufacturer and sell a variety of beers, but they are most famous for their Pale Ale and Sparkling Ale.
Their Sparkling Ale, in particular, is a fairly unique beer, offering a low malty flavor, but with hints of sweetness and citrus, making it similar to a cider. What sets Coopers apart is its history and consistency, which can be tasted and experienced in every bottle of beer it produces.
