Tasmania's Tamar Valley is one of Australia's top wine regions. IMAGINE MORE THAN 400 Olympic swimming pools filled with wine. That’s Australia’s current annual production of shiraz, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and about 130 other wine varieties. We make more than a billion litres of the stuff a year (down from a peak of 1.4 billion litres in 2005). The produce comes from 1.6 million tonnes of grapes grown on 1600sq.km of vineyards. We are also innovators of the industry: Australian winemakers not only invented the wine cask, but also pioneered screw-cap tops because of a lack of quality cork. Australia exports more than two-thirds of its wine. Still each of us manages to quaff 23L per year, making us the highest English-speaking consumers of wine per capita. To put it in perspective, the French drink more than twice that amount per head. GALLERY: See 10 of the best Australian wine regions Australia’s winemaking history began with Captain Arthur Phillip’s grapevines, which suffered from black spot after their journey over on the First Fleet.

Three years later, 1.2ha of vines planted at Government House on the Parramatta River, New South Wales, were faring better. But it wasn’t until well-researched Scottish viticulturist James Busby arrived in 1824, and started planting in the Hunter Valley, that the industry took off. New South Wales was Australia’s major wine producer until the late 19th century, when Victoria took over. Nowadays, South Australia produces nearly half the annual yield, New South Wales about a third, and Victoria around 15 per cent. Australia is consistently among the world’s top 10 producers, making about 4 per cent of the world’s wines. 1. Barossa Valley, SA2. Yarra Valley, VICGALLERY: See 10 of the best Australian wine regions RELATED ARTICLES How to make mulled wine Images of Australia: early 1900s Australia's fashion history Audio: Surprising Aussie inventions Clean and green tag can be misleading Food: Gourmet in the outback King Island: King's banquet On this day: The birth of Vegemite The world's 10 hottest chillies Why chillies are hot: the science of heat Native honey a sweet antibacterial Barrington Tops

: the bushwalker's park Kakadu: the land of extremes World Heritage sites of Australia Top 10 Aboriginal bush medicines Top 10 Australian multi-day walksHome » Experiences » Not all travel can be captured by a camera. Let Down Under Endeavours deliver food and wine travel packages you can just taste. Walk past the waiting lists at the best restaurants in Sydney. Journey through Mornington Peninsula with a top chef in search of the best local ingredients. Dine by starlight in the Sounds of Silence deep in the heart of the Outback. Sip wines straight off the vineyard on the New Zealand classic wine trail. Experience delectable luxury at a bed and breakfast in the incomparable Franschhoek National Park in South Africa.  Take a cruise to enjoy Green Lipped Mussels in Marlborough in New Zealand.   Dine on the beautiful blue lagoon at Corail at the Intercontinental Thalasso in Bora Bora.  Feast on a meal prepared by one of the finalists of New Zealand Top Chef at the Hapuku Lodge in Kaikoura.

Down Under Endeavours handcrafts luxury vacations designed around your wants, needs, timeframe and budget.  To get a taste of what’s possible, check out these sample itineraries. Have a look, see what catches your eye, then chat to the Down Under team to custom-create your food and wine travel packages. Occasionally, we offer traditional “package” vacations focused on a special event. what type of wine is best with turkeyBut those are the exception, not the rule. best wine for gift giving 2016Our food and wine travel packages will be a trip of your lifetime and will be unique to you.wine on tap canada This Australian Wine Tasting Vacation was planned for a couple from Chicago. They had already planned their Australian adventure on the east coast of the country and they wanted to add a bit of food and wine in an interesting place.

So we sent them on a Taste of Margaret River. This is a true foodie delight! Go off the beaten path in Western Australia. Explore vibrant Perth, discover a taste of Margaret River, and get a unique reef experience in Ningaloo Reef. Food and Wine, Family Travel, Islands, Beaches & Reefs Taste the delicious flavors of New Zealand with this unique vacation. Visit famous wine regions and sample the very best New Zealand has to offer. Explore quirky Melbourne, meet Australian wildlife in ruggedly beautiful landscapes, sample wines in the Yarra Valley, and finish with a lakeside retreat. Food and Wine, Wildlife & Wilderness Get a local’s view of Sydney, explore the beautiful Blue Mountains, and get a taste of the Hunter Valley wine region. Cities, Wildlife & Wilderness, Food and Wine Go off the beaten path in Tasmania, Australia. Sample delicious local wine and famously fresh cuisine, take in gorgeous natural surroundings, and enjoy intimate wildlife encounters.

On this New Zealand Honeymoon Package for food and wine lovers, travel the New Zealand Wine Trail, stay in boutique hotels renowned for their cuisine, and take in the stunning scenery of New Zealand. Drive along the Great Ocean Road, take a wilderness safari through the Outback, and indulge in gourmet food and wine in the Barossa Valley. Food and Wine, Outdoor Adventure, Wildlife & Wilderness Taste your way through Australia and New Zealand on this culinary tour. Visit Tasmania, Melbourne, and Sydney, then visit the New Zealand Wine Trail. This Honeymoon South Australia package was designed for a couple, he is a chef and she is an accountant. This was their post tax day Australia vacation. He wanted to taste all of the local cuisine; she needed a place to unwind and relax. They started their Australia vacation with a few days on luxurious Lizard Read More… Food and Wine, Romantic Getaways Indulge in a feast of the senses in Australia, visiting some of the most beautiful and delicious regions of the country.