Queensland wines ready for world domination

摘要

"We are not tied by 200-year-old traditions but willing to learn and experiment. There are over 100 grape varieties planted on the Granite Belt," according to Mike Hayes, who is the chief winemaker at Symphony Hill Wines at Ballandean on Queensland'sGranite Belt."Our youth are saying they don't want to drink the old-fashioned, big tannic reds. They love luscious fruit-driven wines and are not interested in a Cabernet that's going to be good to drink in 25 years," he explained."Queensland wines come from the earth, not from the sun. They are beautiful, delicate, yet powerfully structured wines which are balanced but have longevity from the granite soil."Hayes upstaged a field of nearly 1000 of Australia's finest winemakers to win Winemaker of the Year from the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology (ASVO) in November 2017.He sees the award as a win for Queensland wine and believes it has changed perceptions and brought Queensland winemaking out of the dark ages.