South Australia

The first vineyards were established in South Australia in the 1830s. Enjoying a wide range of climates including the cool temperatures of the Adelaide Hills, the moderate coastal climate of McLaren Vale and the hot weather of the Barossa Valley, South Australia is arguably Australia's most important wine producing state.

 

Adelaide Hills Overview: This is a region of rapidly growing importance for the production of super premium still and sparkling wines. The veritable maze of valleys and sub-valleys, with slopes offering every conceivable aspect, means there is as much mesoclimatic variation as one can find anywhere in Australia, making generalisations very hazardous.   Terroir & Environment: The altitude is the key to the climate, with Mount Lofty and the Piccadilly Valley being much cooler than the city of Adelaide, only 25 minutes drive away. Rainfall varies throughout the region, increasing at higher elevations, but is mainly dominant during winter and spring. The soils are predominantly grey to grey-brown loamy sands of low to moderate fertility. Most fall into the common south-east Australia family, and are well suited to viticulture.   Renowned for: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Bird in Hand Knappstein Petaluma Wirra Wirra Grosset Longview Riposte   Jim Barry Oomoo Shaw & Smith

 

Barossa Valley Overview: Located approximately 75 kilometres north east of Adelaide, and with a rich winemaking and grape growing heritage dating back to 1842, the Barossa Valley is probably Australia's most famous wine region. It is now rightly asserting not only its importance to the wine sector but also the inestimable value of its storehouse of century-old vines and historic wineries.   Terroir & Environment: The Barossa is characterised by rolling hills and transverse valleys, providing endless discoveries of charming hidden landscapes. In consequence, site, slope and aspect all vary widely throughout the region.  The climate of the region has often been unfairly characterised as very warm but in its lower parts it is only moderately so and at higher altitudes quite cool. This moderately continental climate provides the ideal conditions for a wide number of grape varieties, producing full-bodied reds, robust whites and excellent fortified wines.   The soils vary widely, but fall in an overall family of relatively low-fertility clay loam through to more sandy soils, ranging through grey to brown to red. As in so much of south-east Australia, acidity increases in the subsoils, restricting root growth and vigour.    Renowned for: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Grant Burge Melton St Hallett Torbrek Kalleske Penfolds Teusner Turkey Flat Long Flat Peter Lehman Thorn Clarke Yalumba

Clare Valley Overview: The Clare Valley's winemaking history dates back to 1852 and the area's stone buildings and wineries add to its striking and varied beauty. The Clare Valley is a high quality producer of long-lived, intensely flavoured and strongly structured reds, such as Penfolds St. Henri, and intensely floral Rieslings such as those from Leo Buring.   Terroir & Environment: the climate is moderately Continental, with cool to cold nights and warm to hot summer days. The rainfall is winter-spring dominant, while relatively low humidity (and summer rainfall) means a low incidence of fungal disease. Soils of the Clare Valley range from classic “terra rossa” red topsoil over limestone in the Watervale district to the broken slate of Polish Hill River. The vineyards at the northern end of the valley are planted in deep fertile alluvial ground, where there is little or no need for irrigation. Vineyards in the Skillogalee Valley, to the west of the main valley, are planted into sandy loams with varying amounts of degraded quartz. Renowned for: Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Annies Lane Leo Burning O'Leary Taylors Grosset Leasingham Petaluma Tim Adams Jim Barry Mt Horrocks Pikes Wolf Blass Knappstein Neagles Rock Skillogalee

Coonawrra Overview: The Coonawarra region's small tract of terra rossa soil was first planted to vines in 1890. Located only 60 kilometres inland, a predominantly maritime climate prevails, with the dry and moderately cool summers ripening most grape varieties to perfection.   Terroir & Environment Extensive cloud cover moderates temperatures during the most important ripening period. The idyllic conditions are however occasionally subject to severe spring frosts. Situated on a soft limestone ridge, the Coonawarra's famous “terra rossa” soil is vivid red in colour, split into friable subplastic clay or a shallow friable loam.   Of the two other soils present in the region, the groundwater or “black rendzina” soil lying to the west of the limestone ridge does not favourthe production of quality red wine fruit due to its poor drainage. The “brown rendzina” or 'transitional' soil, as it is called in the region, is similar to terra rossa in all respects and favours red grapes.   Renowned for: Shiraz, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Jameson's Run Long Flat Pepper Tree Wynns Jim Barry Majella Petaluma Yalumba Katnook Estate Penfolds Reshcke   Leconfield Penley Stepping Stone

 

Eden Valley Overview: The high country of Eden Valley has a long history of viticulture, equalling that of the neighbouring Barossa Valley. Joseph Gilbert planted the first vines at his Pewsey Vale vineyard in 1842.   Eden Valley covers an area as large as that of the Barossa Valley proper, but is less intensely developed. It is justifiably famous for its Riesling, which vies for supremacy with that of the Clare Valley. This region is also home to such renowned Shiraz vineyards as Henschke's Hill of Grace and Mount Edelstone and the Chardonnay vineyards of Mountadam.  Eden Valley shiraz are often the most highly regarded wine of the region. Contrary to expectations, the wines rarely show the spicy and peppery characters of cool climate Shiraz from other parts of southern Australia, notably Victoria. Rather, they tend to more luscious plum and blackberry fruit characters, sometimes with touches of liquorice and more gamey, forest characters.   Terroir & Environment: Growing season temperatures are considerably lower than those of the Barossa Valley, and the final stages of ripening and harvesting take place in much cooler conditions. On the typically exposed hillsides, the wind also has an effect in restricting both growth and yield. Rolling, exposed hills mean there are a number of soil types. The most common range from grey to brown in colour and from loamy sand to clay loams, with subsoils deriving from weathered rock.   Ironstone gravels, quartz gravels and rock fragments are present in the surface and subsurface. These are well suited to dry land viticulture but there are also patches of weaker sandy soils on the slopes, underlain by weathered mica-schists, which have reduced water-holding capacity.   Renowned for: Riesling, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Henscke Poverty Hill Yalumba   Mount Adam Seppelt

 

McLaren Vale Overview: Where the vines meet the sea you will find the beautiful wine mecca that is McLaren Vale. McLaren Vale is one of the most richly varied and highly developed areas in Australia, producing intensely flavoured and coloured red wines and similarly powerful white wines. The area is widely recognised as one of Australia’s greenest wine regions because of its ongoing water use efficiency strategies and commitment to environmental sustainability.   Terroir & Environment: There is substantial meso-climatic variation throughout McLaren Vale, due to varying exposure to the cooling influence of the nearby ocean (or conversely to protection from it). There is a similarly wide variety of soil types, a reflection of  the varied terrain; red-brown sandy loams, grey-brown loamy sands with yellow clay subsoils interspersed with lime, distinctly sandy soils and patches of red or black friable loams are all to be found. Site selection is critical. Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay all do very well in the appropriate location. Renowned for: Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc.   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Battle of Bosworth Hardy's Reynella Maxwell Wines Tyrells Brokenwood Kangarilla Pirramimma Wirra Wirra D'arenberg Leconfield Rosemount   Gemtree Lengs & Cooter Tatachilla

 

Langhorne Creek Overview: Langhorne Creek has a history of viticulture dating back to 1860 and is known for its flat, river delta landscape.  Situated to the east of McLaren Vale, the warm climate and red/brown sandy loam soils of Langhorne Creek create an ideal location for the production of full flavoured red wines. The region ideally suits large-scale, relatively low-cost vineyard developments and as such, the region’s Shiraz and Cab Sauv are valued contributors to many red blends used by a number of Australia’s larger winemakers operating in the region: Beringer Blass, Hardy, Orlando and Southcorp.   Areas under vine tend to be large, with several holdings in excess of 300 hectares (740 acres). In spite of these large holdings, a number smaller wineries are now based in the region and are producing successful single region Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.   Terroir & Environment: The growing season climate is predominantly shaped by the onshore southerly winds blowing directly from the Southern Ocean across Lake Alexandrina. These southerlies decrease sunshine hours and overall summer temperatures, while increasing the relative humidity. Langhorne Creek’s fertile soils are predominantly deep, alluvial sandy loams that vary in colour from red-brown to dark grey, with patches of black, self-mulching clays. All soil types promote vine vigour, generous canopies and cropping levels.   Renowned for: Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Shiraz & Blends.   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Beringer Brothers in Arms Lake Breeze   Bleasdale Hardy's Langhorne Creek   Bremer Heartland Wolf Blass

 

Padthaway Overview: The Padthaway district is situated 85 kilometres north of Coonawarra (and nearly 310 kilometres south east of Adelaide). Padthaway was identified as a viticultural region in 1963 by Karl Seppelt. To this day Padthaway remains the preserve of the major companies: Seppelt, Lindemans, Hardys and Wynns.   The region is at an elevation of only 32 metres above sea level and covers relatively flat terrain. Today a great range of red and white varieties are grown in the area.  Terroir & Environment: Given the absence of any significant mountains, a maritime climate generally prevails. Padthaway is significantly warmer than coonawarra to the south, with more sunshine hours, lower rainfall and fewer rain days. Water availability is a severly limiting factor in an area of otherwise vast potential and irrigation is essential. Spring frosts are a major threat.   The soil type which occurs in numerous small patches consists of a brown sandy loam over red-brown clay over limestone. This soil type is very variable in depth and there are usually some stony portions on each of the small patches in which it occurs. It is a terra rossa soil.   Renowned for: Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon   C’ellar Vie Estates of Interest:

Stepping Stone       Wolf Blass