Tscharke Montepulciano The Master 2011

Winery: Tscharke

Varietal: Montepulciano

One of the most widely grown grapes in Italy is the Montepulciano varietal, which is much loved by wine producers and drinkers alike due to its drinkability and full, ripe flavors It thrives most successfully in warm and dry terroirs, and as such can grow in most of Italy's wine regions, where it is popular with vintners due to the fact that it produces very high yields. In recent years, it has been grown in many other countries around the world, where it is prized for its color and large plummy notes, making it an ideal varietal for many international palates. The wines themselves are usually soft and rounded, with mild tannins present in the mouth. However, the tannins in the grape skins contain lots of pigment, making these wines remarkably deep and dark in color.

Region: Barossa

The Barossa Valley in Australia is home to the country's finest vineyards, and has been the premier wine region of Australia for several decades now. First established by German settlers in the late 19th century, Barossa Valley suffered a drop in reputation in the 1950s and 60s, with most of their produce being used only for blending purposes. Thanks to the vision and ambition of several unique and interesting wineries which decided to make Barossa their home, the reputation of this excellent region was restored over the past four decades due to the excellence of the produce coming out of Barossa, and the efforts made to demonstrate the real qualities of Australia's Shiraz wines. Today, a wide range of grape varietals are grown on the fine soil and in the temperate climate of Barossa, and they are enjoyed across the globe.

Country: Australia

With over sixteen thousand hectares of Australian land now under vine, Australia has become something of a world leader in regards to wine production. One of Australia's key attributes to their success has been their willingness to leave traditional vineyard practices to one side, and develop techniques which are perfectly suited to a New World country. Modern Australian wineries take into consideration the climate and the unique soil types which cover much of their country, and have had fantastic results from cross-breeding programs and blending practices which make the most of the grape varietals which thrive most successfully there, notably the Shiraz and Chardonnay grapes. In recent years, Australia has been lauded as the 'most influential' wine producing country in the world, and the rest of the New World is looking down under for inspiration, and the ability to produce comparable fine wines on their own terrain.