The South Australian Wine Story

Talking Points • Barossa is one of the few regions in the world to define and codify old vines. The Old Vine Charter was established in 2007, and is dedicated to the recognition, preservation and promotion of old vines. • Colonel William Light, the state’s first Surveyor General, named the valley’s ranges as “Barrosa” after the Barrosa Ridge where he fought during the Spanish Peninsula War. A transcribing error sees the name registered as “Barossa”. • The Jesuits established Sevenhill in the Clare Valley in 1851 to produce sacramental wine. While this tradition continues, Sevenhill is today highly regarded for its premium table wines. Its old stone wine cellars also make it one of Australia’s historical treasures. • Adelaide Hills wineries Tomich Hill and Bird in Hand have opened cellar door outlets in China – in Shanghai and Liaoning province respectively – with local partners. • In 1878 Benno Seppelt laid down a cask of his very best port at the Seppeltsfield winery in Barossa,to be released 100 years later beginning an annual tradition that continues to this day. The Centennial Cellar, the only one of its type is the world, comprising an unbroken lineage of every vintage of Para Tawny from 1878. The Regions Barossa Valley www.barossa.com Area: 11,525 hectares / Altitude: 112-597 Production: 90% red, 10% white (on crush) Principal varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, , Grenache, Semillon The Barossa Valley is Australia’s best- known wine region and South Australia’s most visited tourist destination. This is classic Australian wine country, with old vines and new capturing the eye alongside grazing land, fruit orchards, ancient gums and picturesque towns. The Barossa Valley has been described as an “old New World” region because its success has been built on European cultural traditions of food growing and preservation, mixed farming, music, art, craft and wine. The Barossa Zone was among the first in Australia to define itself based on characteristics such as topography, climate, soil type and land use. The complex system of valleys and hills creates a wide range of sites and an equal diversity of soils. The climate is conducive to vine growth and a variety of styles – but Shiraz is king. In fact, it could be argued that Barossa Shiraz is Australia’s most important single varietal style. It is invariably lush, velvety and mouth-filling. Figures alone do not tell the story of a premium wine region, but it is hard to ignore the fact that James Halliday rates 57 Barossa Valley wineries as “5 star” – more than in any other Australian region – and nearly one in four of the wines rated as exceptional or outstanding in the latest Langton’s Classification of Australian Wine are from the Barossa. Eden Valley www.edenvalley.org.au Area: 2347 hectares / Altitude: 217-630m Production: 49% red, 51% white Principal varieties: Shiraz, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay The Eden Valley’s history parallels that of the Barossa Valley and many of the Barossa’s leading wineries source fruit from the region. But it is the small boutique wineries exploring the potential of the unique terroir that have underpinned its reputation for quality. Defined by the cool climate and later ripening, Eden Valley wines are distinctive, displaying aromatics, elegance, complexity and finesse. Shiraz and Riesling are the signature varieties, but Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay of great character also are produced. The Mountadam winery established South Australia’s first commercial planting of Chardonnay in 1973. The Shiraz differs from that of the neighbouring Barossa Valley, with the cooler climate granting the fruit full flavour but with higher natural acidity and elegance. Rieslings have a pristine quality reflected in their minerality, citrus fruit and spiciness, holding great finesse particularly as they age. Clare Valley www.clarevalley.com.au Area: 4540 hectares / Altitude: 400-500m Production: 65% red, 35% white Principal varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay With its rolling hills, meandering streams and lines of gum trees twisting through vineyards and around old stone houses, the Clare Valley is one of Australia’s most beautiful wine regions. Many wineries are dotted along the Riesling Trail, a 27-kilometre bicycle path that follows the route of an old railway line. 14 The South Australian Wine Story