Vine varieties: Colombard

(66,852 tonnes in 2013). The ability of this variety to retain acidity has the same attractions in the warmer regions of Australia as in California, although its plantings are on nowhere near the same scale as those in California. The fifth most widely planted white variety in Australia, it shares its fortunes with those of Semillon, although it does not have any pretensions to the quality Semillon at its best can offer. Rather, it has a prodigious yield (routinely over 130 hl/ha) while retaining high levels of natural acidity, making it an ideal component in blended white wines sold in casks. Its strongholds are the Riverland and Riverina.