Australian Wines and Beers
Do not drink and drive - anywhere!
You can certainly enjoy eating and drinking in the West Australian outback. HOWEVER, please do not drink and drive. Take sensible preparations that are needed to allow you to enjoy it even more.
Australian Wines
The Australian Wine Industry produces a wonderful range of wines in many varieties. A visit to WA would not be complete without a couple of wine tasting opportunities in the Swan Valley; the world renowned Margaret River; and the other adjacent emerging south west wine regions.
When travelling through the outback, bottled and cask wine is still widely available; but the choice becomes more limited the further you get away from the major centres.
The best way to ensure you can find the great Aussie wine or beer of your choice and at the right price, is to purchase it before you leave.
Our joint venture with Westclub gives you access to some great WA wines, beers, and spirits at the right price via the Westclub wine club. Your DriveWA membership gets you free membership of the Westclub program. The many benefits of the Westclub website are available to all DriveWA members; and their Westclub special offers section often includes some wine specials.
Australians often serve their white wines chilled and in the outback many people chill their reds too when it is hot; that sounds like sacrilege to many Europeans but don’t knock it 'til you've tried it! In the outback, it's generally too hot to drink red wine at Australian room temperature!
You can usually also get reasonable muscats and ports to enhance your enjoyment of the campfire; and the outback starlit skies.
Australian Beers
Beer plays an integral role in the social fabric of the outback. Here are some tips to remember:
- Beer by the glass basically comes in three sizes 200mL, 285mL and 425mL - but knowing what to ask for when you want one can be a bit tricky.
- A low-alcohol beer is called a light; while regular-strength beer can be called super.
- The common beer bottle is a 375ml "stubby' with a twist-top cap; often sold by the 24-bottle carton or "slab'.
- Each beer (from a variety of regions) carries a different label.
Boutique Breweries
Over recent years some very sophisticated new beers and new boutique breweries have sprung up adding an entirely new dimension to the drinking of Australian Beers. Some of the boutique breweries have become outstanding tourist attractions.
