This guide investigates the regional characteristics and quality benchmarks of Australian and New Zealand viticulture as they stood in the early 1990s. James L. Halliday, a recognized authority in the field of oenology, utilizes his extensive experience in wine assessment to provide a structured overview of producers and vintages. The text serves as a technical reference for identifying regional styles and evaluating the market landscape of the period.

This work is regarded as a standard reference for the era, reflecting the author's deep technical knowledge of the Southern Hemisphere wine industry. The content provides a precise, data-driven snapshot of regional development that remains useful for historical context in viticulture.