Although Australia accounts for only 1% of the total worldwide beer production, beer is an important beverage in the country. While most of the beer is made by a few large corporate breweries, brewpubs and microbrews have been in existence since the mid-1980s crafting top quality versions of bitter lager, India Pale Ales and pale lagers, to name only a few. Wine is a bit of a quandary when one speaks of Australia. Here is a country that ranks sixth in the world as far as total production, yet it so too often associated these days with inexpensive, mass-produced wines.

This is understandable, given that a few huge corporations produce a great majority of the country's wine, with much of its destined for supermarkets in the USA and England. But this reputation is a true shame, as there are so many excellent wine regions that are home to some magnificent producers.

Shiraz is the country's signature wine; not only is it Australia's most widely planted variety, it is also the wine with the greatest reputation. Especially in the Barossa and Clare Valleys, there are explosive versions of this wine that can age for many years. Other notable reds from Australia are the Rhone blends with varying percentages of Grenache and Mourvedre added to Shiraz.

Certain areas such as Western Australia are ideal for cool climate varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Probably the best white wines are Semillon from Hunter Valley and especially Riesling from the Clare and Eden Valleys. These Rieslings, thought quite different from those produced in Germany, are equally brilliant and are most assuredly world-class.

Per capita consumption has decreased by 30% since the late 1970s, but it has remained at a consistent level for the past few years.