Little Boomey Cabernet Sauvignon

Winery: Little Boomey

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon

From the valleys of California and Chile to the rolling hillsides of the Bordeaux region of France, the one red wine grape varietal you will find in abundance is the Cabernet Sauvignon. This darkly colored grape has been cultivated since the mid 18th century, when it was borne from a cross of fine Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc varietals. Since then, it has spread around the world and has been received with pleasure by wineries looking for a varietal which delivers excellence of flavor and aroma, whilst being hardy enough to resist frost and rot and other such difficulties. Indeed, Cabernet Sauvignon is probably the most recognizable red wine grape varietal on earth, and is easily distinguished by its high tannin level and acidic nature, which is often so beautifully mellowed by being blended with Merlot and other such grapes.

Region: South Australia

The vast wine region of South Australia has long since shaken off its reputation problems and is now producing many of the finest wines of the New World. The advanced irrigation systems that run through the more arid areas of the region provide plenty of moisture to support a wide range of vines, and the temperate valley sides and mountainous regions of South Australia are ideal for large scale viticulture. Although Australia is most commonly associated with the big, flavorful Shiraz wines grown across this region, South Australia's wineries have been growing plenty of different varietals for several decades now, and have had great success with everything from Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay to Riesling. By using a blend of traditional techniques with modern technology, South Australia will continue to grow and develop as an important global wine region, and will no doubt continue to impress in the future.

Country: Australia

Whilst most of Australia consists of arid deserts and dense bushland, the oceanic coasts to the south of the country have a terrain and climate ideal for vine cultivation and wine production. It took several decades of failed attempts at the end of the 18th century in order to produce vines of a decent enough quality for making wine, but since those first false starts, the Australian wine industry has continued to grow and grow. Today, wine production makes up for a considerable part of the Australian economy, with exports in recent years reaching unprecedented levels and even overtaking France for the first time ever. Whilst the greatest successes in regards to quality have been the result of the Syrah grape varietal (known locally as Shiraz), Australia utilizes several Old World grapes, and has had fantastic results from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay and more. As the Australian passion for locally produced wine continues to develop, wineries have begun experimenting with a wider range of grape varietals, meaning that nowadays it isn't uncommon to find high quality Australian wines made from Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Viognier, amongst many others.