Australians worldwide were last week called upon to top up their glasses with a “local drop” of their native Australian wine as they celebrated their national day last week.

New research by Wine Australia shows that Australians drank on average 24.5 litres of wine in 2010 compared with 22 litres in 2000 – an 11 per cent increase.

The regional director for Wine Australia said that our National Day is the perfect day for people to embrace locally-produced wine. “It makes sense to drink Australian wine while eating Australian produce, watching Michael Clarke and the Aussies do battle with and wearing as many boxing kangaroo emblazoned items of clothing as possible,” he said.

“There is a shift taking place in the wines being produced in Australia, and Australians need to know about it,” said the regional director for Wine Australia. “We have more balance in what’s being produced with big Shiraz being matched by cool climate Pinot Noir, and full-flavour Chardonnay joined on the shelves by zesty Riesling. We are producing some our most refined, sophisticated wines yet.”

Wine Australia figures suggest wine producers are branching out into lesser known varieties, with Tempranillo grape plantings increasing from 114 hectares in 2011 to 620 hectares in 2010. Figures also show that plantings of Viognier have increased from 260 hectares to 1450 hectares in the same period.