New England
HAVEN IN THE HILLTOPS
Home to World Heritage wilderness and world-class wines, the high-altitude New England Australian wine region will give you a new perspective.
Grape growing has a long tradition in New England Australia, kicking off in the early 1800s and quickly earning international acclaim. Today, the region’s stable of classic cool-climate wines are joined by alternative varieties and creative young winemakers keeping things fresh.
The region’s lush hills are home to some of Australia’s highest vineyards, along with gorges, wildlife and dramatic waterfalls. A network of small towns and villages offer adventures of the indoor variety.
Read on for more about New England.
30° 05'S
latitude
151° 39’E
longitude
77HA
total vineyard area
Climate and Altitude
New England Australia is a high-altitude, cool-climate region, with a continental climate that provides relatively warm summer growing conditions and bracing winters.
584MM
growing season rainfall
21.2C
mean temperature
205-1579M
altitude
The Environment
The New England Australia wine region lies in the hilltops of northern New South Wales and includes the city of Armidale and a string of historic towns. It’s a six-hour drive from Sydney to the heart of New England High Country.
Climate
The weather is cooler than in many other parts of New South Wales, with cold winters and cool to warm summers. Most rain falls in the first few months of the year.
Soil
Home to a wide variety of soils, New England is the only place in Australia where terra rossa soils exist at high altitude.
Top Varieties Grown
CHARDONNAY
New England produces very elegant, well-balanced Chardonnays with classic cool-climate flavours of citrus and stone fruit.
RIESLING
Riesling is a standout variety. These are lively, aromatic wines with rich fruit flavours and refreshing acidity.
SHIRAZ
Shiraz does well in the New England wine region, producing elegant, food-friendly wines with bright red-berry flavours.
ALTERNATIVE VARIETIES
In recent years, the spotlight has shone on a growing list of alternative red and white varieties including Tempranillo, Nebbiolo and Gewurztraminer.
