Happy Australia Day folks! The 26th of January is the official national day of Australia, which commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.

We’ve got a lot to thank Captain James Cook for. The world just wouldn’t be the same without the Boomerangs, Vegemite (Marmite) and Jason Donovan. Bless.

To celebrate, we’re knocking 10% off our Australian range until 9.30am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning for anyone who uses the voucher code “australia” at checkout. As well as that, you can now view our most recent tasting video. The Aussie one of course!

Did-you-know?

• Australia’s first commercial vineyard and winery were established in the early 1800’s
• Australia claims some of the oldest vines in the world dating back to the 1850s
• Over 60 designated wine regions produce in excess of 100 different grape varieties
• By volume Australia is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world, totaling 805 million litres (A$3 billion) y/e July 2007
• The United Kingdom is currently Australia’s number one export market by both volume and value.
• Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are the top 3 varieties crushed.
• Australia has world renowned wine research and educational facilities.
• Influenced by European and Asian immigrants, Australia’s food and wine culture encourages innovation and excellence.
• Today’s wines express the enormous diversity of the people who craft them and the unique regional characteristics they express.

Information used with permission of Wine Australia. Click here to view our Regional Heroes series.