South Australia

Considered Australia’s most important state for wine, producing around 50% of Australia’s total wine production. With a wide range of climatic areas, the state makes both high volume wines of quality, and some of Australia’s finest and most famous brand name wines.

Important regions;
Clare Valley
Barossa Valley
Eden Valley
Adelaide Hills
McLaren Vale
Langhorne Creek
Coonawarra

Clare Valley
In the northern Mt Lofty Ranges, this climatically diverse area experiences warm to hot summers with a large diurnal temperature variation. With 11 soil types, the Clare Valley produces some of Australia’s finest dry Rieslings, along with world-class Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.  
Main grape varieties; Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Barossa Valley
World-renowned, the Barossa Valley is one of Australia’s oldest wine regions dating to the 1840’s. With a Mediterranean climate and fertile valley floor, the Barossa produces some of Australia’s most famous full-bodied Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.
Main grape varieties; Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Mataro.

Eden Valley
Neighbouring the Barossa Valley with some of world’s oldest Riesling and Shiraz vines. Higher and cooler than the Clare Valley the region is Australia’s other important source of dry Riesling, in an aromatic, elegant style.
Main grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Riesling and Chardonnay.

Adelaide Hills
Located between McLaren Vale and Eden Valley, Adelaide Hills is one of Australia’s coolest wine regions able to produce Sauvignon Blanc and good structured Chardonnay. The warmer northern areas allow for the ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Main grape varieties; Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

McLaren Vale
South of Adelaide, with local climates influenced by the sea and altitude, this superstar region produces a wide variety of exceptional wine, from its prized Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and old-vine Grenache, to Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Italian varieties.
Main grape varieties; Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay.

Langhorne Creek
Another of Australia’s oldest regions, dating to the 1860’s, Langhorne Creek’s climate is cooler due to its location near Lake Alexandrina and exposure to southerly winds. This local-climate produces fruit highly desired for full-bodied red wine blending from warmer regions.
Main grape varieties; Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot.

Coonawarra
This small region is characterised by flat terra rossa soils, with a thin iron-oxide layer of topsoil over limestone. With a maritime climate similar to Bordeaux, Coonawarra produces some of Australia’s greatest rich, well-structured and distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon.
Main grape varieties; Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay

Torbreck Vinters Vineyard in the Barossa Valley, Australia.
Torbreck Vinters, Barossa Valley. Wine Australia.