Australia: Labelling laws

A common geographical designation found on lower-priced wines is the barely helpful south eastern australia, which takes in part of Queensland, all of New South Wales, all of Victoria, and that part of South Australia in which it is possible to grow grapes. In practice, it often signifies a wine made from fruit grown in areas as unglamorous as Riverland and/or Riverina.

Australia has had the major components of an appellation system since 1963, initially through the framework of state legislation, but since 1987 effectively embodied in federal law, and since 1990 actively enforced by the official Australian Grape and Wine Authority (formerly the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) through the Label Integrity Programme (LIP). LIP annually carries out both general and specific audits, variously covering regions, varieties, and individual wineries, utilizing detailed production records which wineries must keep.