Wines of Australia's top Winemaking Regions.

As for wine, Australia has a ton from which to choose - too many to list in any single space. It's the fourth largest wine exporting country in the world. It has at least 60 designated wine producing regions, but here are a few key places if you want to tour a vineyard or five.

• Yarra Valley, Victoria. Less than an hour's drive from Melbourne, this is the oldest wine-making region in Australia. It's known best for its point noirs.
• The Coonawarra, South Australia. The vineyards here are rooted in terra rosa soil - Australia's signature red dirt. The first vines were planted here in 1890, and the region is lauded for its Chardonnays.
• Margaret River, Western Australia. About three hours from Perth, this is one of the most popular wine regions in Australia. It's known best for its Cabarnet Sauvignon, though Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillion grape varieties.
• The Granite Belt, Queensland. With a strong Italian influence, this region is home to the Queensland College of Wine Tourism. It's also the site of the "Strange Bird" (the Granite Belt Alternative Wine Trail), which features grape varieties like Nebbiolo and Tannat.
• The Grampians, Victoria. This well-known region is known for its intense, rich wines, but there are lighter varieties as well.
• Hunter Valley, New South Wales. Another of Hunter Valley's best-known wine regions, this is less than two hours from Sydney. It's also among the oldest winemaking regions. It's best known for Semillon.

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