Wine writer Max Allen on Australia’s wine grape revolution

Renowned wine writer Max Allen returns to the Drinks Adventures podcast this episode, three years on from our interview launching his last book, Intoxicating: Ten Drinks That Shaped Australia.

Max’s new book that we’ll be discussing today is called Alternative Reality: How Australian Wine Changed Course.

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It explores the Australian wine industry’s rapid embrace of non-mainstream grape varieties over the last two decades, which can all be traced back to 2001 in Mildura, north east Victoria, where a group of visionaries launched the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show.

And it includes comprehensive information about the 150 different grape varieties currently grown in Australia: what the wines made from these grapes taste like, and who the best producers are.

It’s another engaging and enlightening conversation with Max in which we also consider whether these emerging grape varieties could ultimately challenge the dominance of mainstays like shiraz, chardonnay and friends in the top echelons of Australian fine wine.

More:
The Australian Ark: Andrew Caillard MW on his wine opus
Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz, with winemaker Clare Dry
Best wine in Australia 2024: Huon Hooke podcast interview