We really could not believe it when, on a recent visit to Adelaide, we discovered the incredible National Wine Centre of Australia (NWCA) (which has apparently been there since 2001!) How did we miss this jewel of the Australian wine crown all this time?!?! Situated right in Adelaide’s beautiful Botanical Gardens, the NWCA is a wine hunter’s paradise right here on earth; and you can walk there from Adelaide’s CBD. The place offers so much to do and see!
First off, the building itself is an architectural marvel. With its giant industrial ribs, spaceship panel windows, floating bridges and hidden nooks & crannies, it reminded us of a sort of post-modern Noah’s ark. Being located in Adelaide’s lush Botanical Gardens only accentuates that almost Biblical grandeur. Inside, the National Wine Centre’s Wine Discovery Journey is essentially a modern, digitally interactive museum experience, where participants can delve as deeply as they desire into the history and tradition of Australian wine.
But back on the ark metaphor, the coolest thing about the NWCA is the vast amount of wine it houses from all over Australia. In its modern self-service tasting area, wine lovers can choose from some 100+ wines to try from over 50 different regions. It’s incredible! A full wine tour of Australia right in one room. If a wine enthusiast wanted to get a feel for how various regions all around Australia translate into the final wine product, this is your big chance – only one flight required – from wherever you are to Adelaide.
If you love wine exploration, you simply must visit the NWCA. We have never seen a place in Australia with anywhere near so many or so diverse a range of wines to try as this.
Obviously, we could not taste through 80 wines, but below are some of the cool wines we did try which hopefully gives you an idea for the diversity of the range on offer.
* SubRosa Wine 2018 Viognier (Grampians) – a beautiful mouth-filling wine with a clear line of acid and polished fruit flavours.
* Silverstream Wines 2010 Reserve Chardonnay (Great Southern, WA) – A showcase of what age can do for a truly fine wine. Drinks like silk-spun gold.
* Moondarra Studebaker 2019 Pinot Noir (Gippsland) – A fine wine with strong aromatic character and brambly dark cherry flavours pulled right from the earth.
* Elderton Wines 2019 Grenache Carignan (Barossa) – A heavenly wine defined by fine balance and a plucky spiciness. Ample complexity is well woven. Thrilled to see an AUS take on Priorat!
* First Ridge 2017 Barbera (Mudgee) – A beautifully plump Barbera upon which age has bestowed a certain nobility rarely seen with this varietal. Satisfying and engaging.
* Yalumba 2016 Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz (Barossa) – An intensely rich wine that packs the perfect punch. Demonstrates clearly why Yalumba is a legend.
* Turners Crossing Vineyard 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Bendigo) – A surprisingly elegant and lovely Cab Sav with hints of stewed blueberry that shows the softer side of Bendigo.
* Terindah Estate 2018 Zinfandel (Bellarine Peninsula) – A satisfyingly meat-eating Zin that immediately calls to mind the legends of Lodi, CA.
* Sittella 2018 Coffee Rock Shiraz (Swan Valley) – A beautifully poised Shiraz with concentrated complexity that engages – a good reason to take the Swan Valley seriously…
Incredible experiences of magic and exploration like that at the National Wine Centre of Australia are #WhyWeLoveWine
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