New South Wales

New South Wales is one of the eight states which make up the Federal Commonwealth of Australia. It covers roughly 312,000 square miles (810,000 square km) in the south-eastern quarter of the 'Island Continent', and despite being one of the smaller Australian states, has been the most populous since the first European settlements of the 18th century.

Although it is not home to Australia's most-famous wine names, New South Wales' viticulture has played an important part in antipodean wine history and its vineyard area is rapidly developing. In the 1970s, the state's wine production was one-third that of South Australia – the nation's most-prolific wine-producing state – but that gap is closing fast. Despite South Australia's annual output nearly trebling in the past 30 years, New South Wales now produces only 15% less than its neighbor in every vintage.

The Hunter Valley, whose regional GI (Geographical Indication) is officially just 'Hunter', is unquestionably New South Wales' best-known and most-prized wine zone.