The South Australian Wine Story

Lower Murray Zone / Far North Zone Riverland / Southern Flinders Ranges South Australia’s largest and smallest wine regions by volume have in common a link to the great outdoors. Both regions mark the fringe of Australia’s ‘Outback’. The Riverland follows 330 kms of twists and turns as Australia’s longest river, the Murray, makes its way towards the sea, south of Adelaide. Panoramic backdrops of limestone cliffs, magnificent wet lands, River-Gum gum forests and some of Australia’s most distinctive wildlife mark the region as unique among Australian wine regions. The Murray is a major water source, feeding not just vineyards but also citrus and stone fruits, nuts, vegetables and field crops. For visitors bird watching is popular, as are camping and a range of water sports. The Riverland has become recognised as one of Australia’s most diverse wine regions featuring a wide range of ‘alternative grape varieties’ with more than 60 varieties harvested commercially, including many recent arrivals from the Mediterranean region. The Southern Flinders Ranges, by contrast, is pretty much lacking in water, if you discount the section that joins the coast. This is one of the most picturesque parts of the great Australian Outback. The unique natural history of the Flinders Ranges is a magnet for tourists, with attractions such as Mount Remarkable and Alligator Gorge situated within the boundaries of the wine region. Not far north are Wilpena Pound, Parachilna and Blinman on the route to Alice Springs. Both regions have established a niche in South Australia’s wine industry that should not be underestimated. Other winemakers certainly rate highly the quality of their best wines. Wine amid the wetlands Banrock Station is one of the Riverland’s great attractions and great stories. The then BRL Hardy company bought an 1800-hectare farm in 1994 and created a cellar door, a restaurant and a brand-new wine label dedicated to environmental sustainability. The property has 12.5 kilometres of river frontage and boasted extensive wetland areas, which were restored, reinvigorated and made accessible to visitors through the construction of boardwalks and interpretive signs. It is a beautiful setting, with abundant birdlife. Part proceeds fromBanrock Station wine sales are donated to a range of national and international environmental projects. The Regions The Riverland www.riverlandwine.com.au Area: 20,640 hectares / Altitude: 70m Production: 51% red, 49% white Principal varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot The Riverland provides the fruit for more than 60% of South Australia’s total wine production and around a quarter of Australia’s. Much of it is blended, creating full-flavoured, generous and approachable wines under a variety of well-known brands. All of Australia’s major wine producers source grapes from the Riverland. More than 70% of production is exported. Alongside the big industry names are a raft of family businesses and a growing band of small winemakers crafting organic and biodynamic wines, making the most of the region’s reputation for having very low levels of grapevine pests and diseases. The region is becoming well-known for varieties including Petit Verdot, Viognier, Vermentino, Nero d’Avola, Fiano, Petit Manseng and Montepulciano to name a few. Early results are impressive. These varieties thrive in the warmer climate, revealing full body, unique characteristics and flavours. They are grown alongside some of the classic older Mediterranean varieties, such as Mourvèdre and Grenache, that are once again popular as blenders. The traditional Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay can be found as well, of course. The secret, in this warm sunny region, is to limit the yield to maximise potential, a technique perfected by the region’s premier wine company Angove’s who have also committed to certified organic wines, an acknowledgement that future wine drinkers will be more informed, better educated and arguably understand the true costs of food production. As on the Adelaide Plains, post-war migrants from Italy and Greece provided much of the driving force behind the region’s development. Significant areas of vines are more than 80 years old. Southern Flinders Ranges The Southern Flinders Ranges is a natural extension of the Clare Valley, with which it shares many geological factors, and has slowly emerged as a wine region over the past 30 years. Not surprisingly, given its proximity to the Outback, it’s a warm part of the State, with most vineyards requiring irrigation from underground sources, but the soil is fertile and well suited to viticulture. Elevation ranges from 20 metres to more than 700 metres, with most of the 180 hectares of vineyards planted on the slopes of the ranges at 350-550 metres It is overwhelmingly a red wine area, with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot all of good quality, and a number of Barossa Valley wineries use grapes from the region for blending or the specific production of Southern Flinders Ranges wines. Wineries to Watch Riverland • Angove’s • Kingston Estate • Banrock Station • 919 Wines Southern Flinders Ranges • Bundaleer Wines 22 The South Australian Wine Story