With names such as Wagga Rock, Broken Earth and Nude Estate, there's no chance of confusing the Australian wine producers with their old world counterparts in Burgundy or Bordeaux. However, Australian wines are no longer the poor relation and buying Australian wine online is no reflection of class. Buying Australian wine online is about good sense and having the nose to sniff out quality.

France, Italy and Spain are the only three countries who export more wine than Australia every year. As well as this people can now enjoy Australian wines in more than 100 countries around the world.

Australian wines have been the global success story of the 80s and 90s and helped create and build a worldwide market for wine, especially in the UK. However, despite this, wine is still growing in popularity in Australia every day. The average wine consumption in Australia has increased over the past decade to about 22 litres per person a year, while beer and spirit consumption per person is declining. One of the many reasons for this is likely to be because Australian wine just keeps on getting better.

Each year, Australia exports the equivalent of about one billion bottles of wine and much of the revenue is ploughed back into understanding which grapes grow best where and how best to improve already stunning Australian wines.

The big difference between the old world producers such as France and other producers like Australia, is the hundreds of years of tradition put into knowing which grapes grow best where. Now that this is building too, Australian wines reflect the variety of Australia.

The Canberra District boasts near-alpine slopes and cool autumn temperatures tending to austere and elegant, almost Northern European tasting wines. Lower down the slopes, spilling into New South Wales, winemakers create fine, full-flavoured Chardonnays and Shiraz.

Similarly there's the Australian wine produced in Tasmania, Australia's most southerly State, with a climate most closely resembling that of cooler Europe. Tasmania now produces some of Australia's most outstanding cool climate wines and excels at producing sparkling wines with creamy textures from classic grapes like Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Then there's the other extreme, Western Australia, 20 years ago better known for surfing. This region has become known for zesty Sauvignon Blancs, superlative Cabernet Sauvignons and bold Zinfandel around the world.

From blackberry-touched Shiraz to oaky Merlot there are Australian wines to suit everyone and all tastes.