NOT ONLY FRANCE: AUSTRALIAN WINE MAKERS BETTING HEAVY ON NATIVE ITALIAN GRAPES SAGRANTINO, SANGIOVESE, NEGROAMARO, FIANO, BARBARESCO, NEBBIOLO AND MOSCATO FOR A WINE REBIRTH...

Some, like McLaren Vale, have decided to focus on Sagrantino, "a variety that produces fabulous tannins, and are well suited to our climate," explains Corrina Wright, director of the company. For many, however, like Mark Lloyd or Maree Collis, Sangiovese generates more excitement and they create true Super Tuscans, 70% Sangiovese, 28% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, as well as Nero d'Avola and Negroamaro. Tarra Warra instead has focused on two Piedmont vines par excellence, Barbaresco and Nebbiolo, combining them in a blend dubbed "Barbarello."

Besides the great reds, Vermentino triumphs in the heat of the Southern Hemisphere, as it gives great white wines with a far more acceptable-than-average alcohol content. This trend involves also the big Australian wine firms, such as Jacob's Creek that is focusing mainly on Fiano, Nero d'Avola, Arneis and Negroamaro, but also Moscato, which many producers are betting on to make low alcohol content sparkling wines.