It may take several years to turn around Australia's reputation as being a source mainly of cheap and simple "critter" wines, but greater exposure should definitely help the country regain its reputation for producing high quality wines.

The World Wine Guys, Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, have done something nobody has ever done before: They've written a book dedicated 100 percent to "Wines of the Southern Hemisphere."

At this time of year in the U.S., the sunlight suddenly seems less vibrant, summer fruits give way to root vegetables in farmers markets, and it feels as if the holidays and winter's chill are just around the corner. Don't you wish you could step into a time machine and head back to spring, with the first splash of green and the promise of summer? That's what we've done for the past few winters, while researching our book, "Wines of the Southern Hemisphere," and there really is something special about springtime in the Barossa.