1998 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon

Wynns Coonawarra Estate was founded in 1891 when a Scottish farmer named John Riddoch planted vineyards on his property in South Australia. Riddoch made wine and raised sheep, but with his death in the first years of the 20th century wine production on the estate ended. But in 1951 two Melbourne wine merchants named Samuel and David Wynn purchased the original vineyards and winery and started producing wine. Today the estate offers a large range of red and white wines. James Halliday, the dean of Australian wine writing, has noted that “large scale production has not prevented Wynns…from producing excellent wines covering the full price spectrum. Wynns offers extraordinary value for the money.”

South Australia is the nation’s most important wine region. South Australia is to Australia what California is to the U.S. About half of Australia’s wine comes from South Australia and many of the country’s most acclaimed producers are there. Wineries based in South Australia include Penfolds Grange, Torbreck, Amon Ra, Henschke and Jacob’s Creek. The prestigious Barossa Valley is located in South Australia, and is often compared to Napa Valley because it is gorgeous topography covered in grape vines. First farmed by 19th century German-speakers who immigrated from what is now Poland, the Barossa Valley is the crown jewel of the region. South Australia has widely varying climates, from very hot, dry areas to cooler, high altitude areas. There are more than 150,000 acres of vineyards in South Australia, with more being planted each month. Shiraz is king, though the region also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvedre, Chardonnay and Semillon.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.