Note: This is purely an opinion piece and I'm requesting your thoughts on it as well.  

Some people may know I spend most Friday nights and Saturday afternoons in bottle shops doing wine tastings. One thing I've noticed in recent months is how open Australians have become about trying varieties outside of the big Barossa Valley Shiraz and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. I'm starting to see more and more people moving to softer varietals like Pinot Noir, Merlot and on the flip side, big buttery Chardonnays for white. 

The beautiful thing for me is seeing how many people are willing and open to try varieties like Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Cotes du Rhone, Sangiovese, Carmenere and more. Even more fun for me is being able to share stories of Varieties and the brands we import 

So, are Australians over Barossa Valley Shiraz? Or are we all just more excited about getting more educated on what else is out there? Are we aware of how 15-16.5% alcohol wines affect us so we are opting for 12.5-13.5% more often? Are we drinking less so our palates are getting used to softer styles? Are we finally appreciating the subtle and elegant Southern Rhone Shiraz rather than the massive wines we produce here in Australia? 

I'm really interested in your feedback. Are Australians just tired of drinking? Is the culture changing? With events like FebFast, Dry July and OctSober, are we feeling shamed for drinking? 

I'm very interested in your feedback so let me know in the comments below.