Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/688647
48 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } JUNE/JULY 2016 IN EARLY MARCH, THE U.S. WELCOMED A SPECIAL VISIT FROM A FEW WINE ambassadors out of Adelaide, the heralded wine capital of Australia. Located in the country's state of South Australia, Adelaide is home to 18 distinct wine regions with a dynamic and longstanding history of growing outstanding wines—about 80 percent of the premium wines in all of Australia are produced within an hour of Adelaide. In an effort to broaden American palates to the nuances this wine region has to offer, trade organization Wine Australia hosted a multi-city seminar exploring the old vines, classic wines and family lines of regions such as Barossa and McLaren Vale. The whirlwind American tour included a stop in San Francisco, as well as three major wine markets in Texas: Austin, Houston and Dallas. Led by Australian Wine Educator Mark Davidson plus special guests James March, CEO of the Barossa Grape & Wine Association, Jennifer Lynch, General Manager of McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association, and Australian wine educator Chuck Hayward, the first stop on the tour was in Austin. Considering the wide range of options this specialized panel could have made, concentrating their efforts in Texas seemed a deliberate target. "I've been selling Australian wines throughout the United States and they con - sistently sell well in Texas. Consumers here love and appreciate the bold flavors for Australia and that appreciation seems to be growing," says Hayward. "It's as if they've adopted it as a New World Bordeaux." During the set up for the tasting, it was clear attendees would experience examples of some serious Australian wines—all from South Australia. South Australia Comes On Strong SAVORING ADELAIDE IN AUSTIN by Jessica Dupuy / photos by Kirk Weddle Guests savor the flavors of South Australia in Austin. James March, CEO of the Barossa Grape & Wine Association, shared a depth of knowledge for the distinctive characteristics of the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. Jennifer Lynch, General Manager of McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association, shared anecdotes with attendees of the many advantages of seeing this unique wine region as a dynamic tourist destination. { down under }