For the first time, Wine Australia gave USA trade and influencers the opportunity to experience and discover Australia’s diverse and thrilling wine scene on their own home soil.

Held in Lake Tahoe, California, the four-day education program was led by 13 of Australia’s leading winemakers, who gave the guests a fresh understanding of the people, the culture and the places shaping Australian wine today.

With the support of the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package, Australia Decanted aimed to challenge and change perceptions, deliver key messages about Australian wine and encourage stronger engagement with the USA wine community.

The 100 key influencers included:

• independent retail buyers
• chain buyers and category managers
• national wine media, and
• influential figures in wine education and distribution.

Special guest winemakers included:

Bruce Tyrrell – Tyrrells Wines, Virginia Willcock – Vasse Felix, Sue Hodder – Wynns Coonawarra, Sarah Crowe – Yarra Yering, Louisa Rose – Yalumba, Michael Hill Smith MW – Shaw + Smith and Tolpuddle Vineyard, Michael Dhillon – Bindi Wines, Mac Forbes – Mac Forbes Wines, Steve Pannell – S.C. Pannell Wines, John Duval – John Duval Wines, Tim Kirk - Clonakilla, Steve Flamsteed – Giant Steps, Jeffrey Grosset – Grosset Wines.

Media releases

26 July 2018 – USA in wine sectors sights

26 June 2018 – Championing Australian wine in the USA

Download our frequently asked questions about Australia Decanted here.

Download the official program here.

Feedback from those who attended Australia Decanted

Sommelier at Mourad, San Francisco, Jose Delgado said, ‘I’ve always enjoyed Australian wine, but it wasn’t until this week that I put the wines on par with the best wines of the world. I have new found respect for what Australia is doing and the quality of wine they’re producing.’

Ryan O’Hara from The Fermented Fruit said, ‘The unexpected quality of Pinot Noir being passionately crafted in Australia’s cooler wine-growing regions is nothing short of a revelation. But the surprises don’t stop there, as an artisanal, more restrained approach to winemaking favouring subtlety and site expression over sheer brute strength benefits better known varieties such as Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The narrative is changing, and consumers will be forced to re-evaluate their conception of the wines from this immensely dynamic region.’

Michael Dhillon from Bindi Wines in Victoria said, ‘Australia Decanted has been amazing in providing an equal footing for producers, sommeliers, buyers and retailers to work together to gain an understanding of Australia’s regions, varieties and history. Everyone attending has been given a platform to understand the quality, the longevity and the nuances that make Australian wine unique. We have all taken so much away from this.’