The Australian wine industry began in 1788 when British settlers planted the first grapevines in the Sydney region of New South Wales. This marked the introduction of viticulture to Australia, which would eventually evolve into a significant sector of the country's economy. The establishment of vineyards reflected the broader trends of European agricultural practices being adapted to the Australian landscape.

The beginning of the Australian wine industry in 1788 marked the emergence of colonial wine references in Australian poetry. Poets like Adam Lindsay Gordon used wine as a metaphor for identity and cultural expression, reflecting the complexities of colonial life and the blending of cultures in their works.