The South Australian Wine Story

South Australia’s pre-eminent place in the world of wine is at its most concentrated and conspicuous in a scenic 175-kilometre arc that runs north from the edge of Adelaide’s CBD. Here you will find the iconic Barossa Valley, its impressive little brother, the Eden Valley, and the picturesque Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills – the latter rapidly emerging as one of the most important cool-climate regions in Australia. You could drive from one end to the other in less than three hours, or spend a week exploring your choice of more than 100 cellar doors. Technically these regions cover two separate wine zones, but the variety of soils and climatic conditions thrown up by this mix of hills, valleys and sub- valleys defies boundaries. The Clare Valley, for example, has more in common with the Barossa than with the Adelaide Hills region at the other end of the Mt Lofty Ranges – but actually is very different to both. The Barossa’s German heritage is well documented and obvious to even a casual visitor, but there is English blood in its parentage as well. The likes of Samuel Smith and Walter Saltram made their mark alongside German pioneers Johann Gramp and Joseph Seppelt, leaving a remarkable legacy. Today Barossa has wineries run by the fifth and sixth generations of the families who are now the custodians of what are believed to be the oldest, continuously producing vines in the world, with vineyard blocks exceeding 170 years old. The neighbouring Eden Valley kept a low profile until two events marked its emergence as a significant region in its own right – the reputation of the Henschke vineyards and the decision by companies such as Yalumba to move their premium Riesling vineyards from the Barossa Valley floor to its cooler slopes in the hills. Now Eden Valley rivals the Clare Valley as Australia’s premier region for elegant and sophisticated Riesling. Clare’s wines are matched by its natural beauty, which moved one winemaker to suggest there are only two kinds of people in the world – those who are from Clare and those who wish they were. This is one of Australia’s best regions for a scenic wine tour. The Adelaide Hills has similar claims to fame, and is just 20 minutes from the centre of Adelaide. Both of these regions have long histories of achievement but have really come into their own over the past 50 years, with the opening of exciting new wineries determined to make the most of prime wine country. There’s a fifth region to complete the picture, and it is geographically the odd one out, with neither a hill nor a valley to be seen. The Adelaide Plains are flat and often very warm, but there’s good wine to be found there, much of it made by generations of Italian migrants. Point of Difference This is where South Australia’s wine industry was born. Vineyards were planted in the Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills within five years of European settlers arriving in South Australia. The common theme, from hill to valley to plain, is just how good these regions are, and how important the wine industry is to them. Here is where South Australia truly embraces wine and there is a genuine camaraderie behind the winemaking excellence. Top Wines The Langton’s Classification is the definitive guide to Australia’s prestige wines. In its 2018 edition, the following wines from the Barossa and Mt Lofty Hills Zones were rated among the best of the best. Exceptional – Barossa Zone Chris Ringland: Dry Grown Barossa Ranges Shiraz Henschke: Hill of Grace Shiraz Henschke: Mount Edelstone Shiraz Rockford: Basket Press Shiraz Torbreck: RunRig Shiraz Seppeltsfield: 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny Exceptional – Mt Lofty Hills Zone Grosset: Polish Hill Riesling Jim Barry: The Armagh Shiraz Wendouree: Shiraz Outstanding – Barossa Zone Barossa Valley Estate: E & E Black Pepper Shiraz Charles Melton:
 Nine Popes Shiraz-Grenache-Mourvedre Grant Burge: Meshach Shiraz Greenock Creek: Roennfeldt Road Shiraz Henschke: Cyril Henschke Cabernet blend Henschke: Keyneton Estate Euphonium (Shiraz Cabernet Merlot) Kaesler Wines: Old Bastard Shiraz Langmeil:
 1843 Freedom Shiraz Penfolds: RWT Shiraz Peter Lehmann: Stonewell Shiraz Rockford: Black (Sparkling) Shiraz Seppeltsfield: Para Liqueur Tawny (Vintage) Yalumba: The Signature Cabernet Outstanding – Mt Lofty Hills Zone Wendouree: Cabernet Sauvignon Wendouree: Cabernet Malbec Wendouree: Shiraz Malbec Wendouree: Shiraz Mataro Barossa Zone / Mt Lofty Ranges Zone Barossa Valley / Eden Valley / Clare Valley / Adelaide Hills / Adelaide Plains The South Australian Wine Story 13